Chapter 17 · “You survived being sold,” he said. “You survived

“You survived being sold,” he said. “You survived the contract. You survived every person who decided your life was worth less than their comfort.”

“Don’t use him to control me.”

“I’m using the truth.”

“You don’t know the truth about me.”

“I know enough.”

“You know nothing.”

“I know you still wake up reaching for a door that isn’t there.”

My grip twisted in his coat.

“I know you count every guard between you and an exit. I know you sleep with a knife under your pillow. I know you flinch when someone stands behind you, but you’d rather bite off your own tongue than let anyone see it.”

“Shut up.”

“I know you’re afraid of what’s inside you.”

The power bucked.

The wall behind me cracked from floor to ceiling.

Silas’s arm tightened around my back. His mouth came close to my ear, his voice dropping to a dangerous murmur.

“Be afraid of it,” he said. “But don’t kneel to it.