Thorne
I stared at the mess on the floor, the food scattered like broken promises, and felt the silence press into my chest. My appetite was gone long before it spilled, but seeing it wasted only reminded me of how wasted I felt inside. My fingers twitched at my sides, curling into fists before I forced them to relax.
Varen whistled low, stepping back from the table as if he were impressed by the chaos I hadn't even meant to cause.
"Well, there goes dinner," he said casually, but his tone carried an edge. "What are you going to do now, brother? Waste yourself next?"
I didn't answer him. Words were too heavy right then, too sharp to let slip. Instead, I snapped my fingers, summoning a maid with clipped authority.
She rushed in, eyes wide, bowing low before she began cleaning the floor in silence. I didn't even wait to watch her finish. I simply turned, slammed the door in Varen's face, and walked deeper into my sanctuary—the inner room.
