Sing, Canary - Ashley Amy Page 0,14

out. Placing it on her palm, she blew it toward him. I witnessed how quick it grew back into her ruffles. "Go ahead and tell them to torture me, Dolion. We both know no one can break me."

With that, she turned back to our bunk.

I took in that someone else was playing a game because they were the only two still in their cells. Another player entered whatever fucked up game we participated in against each other.

Whoever it was, knew something about my sister's fear when it came to Dolion.

9

Lyra

My eyes tracked Roan as he sat in his same spot. He ate in peace of the boisterous crowd. People knocked their shoulders into mine as I took my tray to the same table.

My long hair got pulled a few times, but I kept a straight face. After someone set up my cage to stay closed at the lunch alarm, I knew they were trying to ruffle me up.

I knew how things worked here. It wasn't by accident that Dolion's cell stayed locked with mine as everyone left. Someone knew who the man was to me. Someone knew the part about my past that had been hidden from the world.

Sing, Canary...

I shivered, recalling that phrase. No one would know the PTSD it gave me. That I couldn't even look at a basic knife without thinking of my past. Unlike the person who set me up earlier, I knew what happened when the Canary didn't sing.

No one would ever know what he meant by that, but I did. Anytime I saw the tip of a blade, I cringed with the memory of those words.

Even under the power of the spell, that phrase wasn't tied to the secret. He could sing it from the rooftops, tormenting me in ways no one could comfort me for.

The sandwich tasted plain in my mouth, but I needed the calories. With only turkey and cheese, they didn't allow us to have condiments. I also hated turkey deli meat and only ate the bird on the American holiday. At least my body was receiving the proper nourishment to keep me going.

With quick bites, I settled on just choking it down with the water they supplied me. August would be coming to gather me soon for the project he began yesterday. I wouldn't have much time with whoever pulled that stunt to keep me trapped in my cell.

"Hello, Lyra Stamos," a gravelly voice drew me from my depreciating mind. Of course, I found myself looking up at Barcel.

Not saying anything, I turned back to my tray. I had my sandwich gone, so if this went south, I got enough substance to get me through the day.

He growled at my rude behavior. I didn't care. Caine and Axel could keep him for whatever treaty they were trying to conjure between them.

"Surely, even with how protected you were, you were taught basic manners." His hand reached down, sliding my tray away. "I said hello. The proper etiquette would be for you to return the greeting."

"I was taught many rules, Barcel, one of them being not to talk to strangers." Stiffening my shoulders, I still wouldn't turn around to look at him.

He chuckled, running his murderous hands through the back of my long mane. My skin crawled from his unwanted touch. Gooseflesh pebbled my neck and shoulders as I felt his hot breath along my neck.

"Princess, we both know so much about each other. I'd say we could almost be intimate lovers from how much."

"Keep your enemies close," I whispered in reply.

"Is that how you view me?" he pretended to sound hurt. "I wish I could deny it, but you see, you are correct, Princess. You're in my kingdom now, and your title holds no value beside mine."

"You are no king, Barcel. You're a tyrant, a dictator. You force your views. If you were considered a king, it would be a forged one." Knowing I spoke the truth, my feathers would stay pristine.

"Look at how well you know me." Within his laugh, I heard the undertones of him counting on my words.

Something soured in the pit of my stomach.

He was playing me.

And I did just as he wanted.

At the snap of his fingers, his men dragged in a beaten and bruised Axel. My eyes searched for Caine, but my stepbrother had been with Talon for the investigation. He still wasn't back yet.

That seemed odd, but I didn't have time to question it. Right now, my adoptive cousin had been beaten into a