Vaelira looked up at Kaiden from the bed with eyes that had lost their edge entirely. The fire that once animated her words had burned itself out, leaving exhaustion, fear, and a hollow resignation in its wake. Her breathing slowed into shallow, careful pulls as if any deeper breath might invite another unseen punishment.
She swallowed with effort before speaking again.
"…Are you satisfied now?"
The question came out weak, stripped of challenge or spite. It carried the sound of someone who had reached the end of resistance and found nothing left to spend.
Kaiden repeated the words with raised eyebrows.
"Am I satisfied?"
"Yes," Vaelira said, her gaze drifting unfocused toward the ceiling lights. "You got what you wanted. You shut me up and took revenge by cursing me for life. You made sure I'll never forget this moment for as long as I breathe, and I'll never even dare to think of going against you."
