Blazar pressed her lips together tightly, the muscles in her jaw trembling from the effort of holding back another wave of tears.
Then she gave the smallest of nods, her shoulders shaking like autumn leaves in a violent storm.
Vyne's mechanical eye glimmered brighter, its yellow glow intensifying as internal mechanisms whirred and clicked.
He leaned forward in his chair, studying the cursed mark as though it might disappear if he stared long enough. His voice turned sharp, hard as winter steel. "Who is your owner?"
The question hit Blazar like a physical blow. She flinched violently, her lashes fluttering as she squeezed her eyes shut.
Her fingers tightened on her shirt, clutching the fabric so hard her knuckles went white, as though it were the only thing keeping her from completely falling apart.
Her lips parted, but no sound came out at first. She swallowed hard, her throat working against the words that felt like poison on her tongue.
