Kael POV

I watched as Vanessa's fists flew like she had forgotten her own bones could break. The guard stumbled beneath her, his nose already a mess of blood, his arms raised to shield himself. She screamed as if every word had claws, shredding her throat on the way out.

“You laughed at me! You thought I was nothing—”

Her knuckles cracked against his cheek again, the sound sharp as breaking wood.

Daniel shifted beside me, tense, his hand twitching like he wanted to step in. I raised one finger without looking at him, a silent command. He froze.

I let her burn. Let her rage burn itself out on...