Chapter 46: Barbaric Life

Talia I peered into the pit, my stomach churning at the sight of the darkness below. It was a stark reminder of the consequences of defiance, of the ruthlessness that governed Blackthorn. Gabriel turned to me, his expression unreadable. “Consider this a warning, Talia. Do what you must to survive, but remember—Baron is not to be trifled with.” I nodded slowly, the weight of his words sinking in. This place was dangerous, and I was trapped in the middle of it. If I wanted to survive, I had to play by their rules, at least until I could find a way out. I sat on the edge of my bed, my thoughts a tangled mess of anger, frustration, and regret. The past few days had been unbearable. I could picture two voices on my shoulder. One was an angel, and the other was a demon. "It's beautiful here," the demon said. "I know," the main me responded, "but I can't stay." "Yes," the angel agreed with me and reasoned. "She has to leave. There's no telling what will become of her or the baby. May