Shackled in Silver

BREEDER VESPERIA’S POV

The floor was wet.

Maybe it was my blood. Maybe it was sweat. Maybe it was from Briony pouring water over me that morning while Valerius sat on the steps, arms crossed, watching like I was an animal in heat.

I barely flinched anymore when he touched me. I had no choice. He came down, opened the cage, used me, and left like I wasn’t a person. Just something to fill, to mark,