Kael's POV.
The dungeon smelled of damp stone and rot. Each step I took echoed against the cold walls, the sound bouncing back at me like whispers.
The torches on the walls burned low, their flames flickering as if afraid to stay alive in this place. I hated coming down here, but tonight, I had no choice.
When I reached the last cell, my stomach turned. There she was, Celeste. Tied to a thick wooden pole, her wrists bound with silver rope that burned against her skin.
Even from where I stood, I could see the red marks across her arms, the smoke rising faintly from the burns. She looked wild, her hair sticking out, her eyes glowing faintly in the dim light.
My chest tightened. This was Aria's twin. They shared the same face, the same eyes, but I could not feel an ounce of warmth when I looked at Celeste. All I felt was disgust.
"Why?" My voice came out like a growl as I stepped closer to her. "Why would you hurt your own sister?"
