Page 125 of Crowned In Venom

I am drowning.

And for the first time in my life, I feel helpless.

The shadows press closer, suffocating, their whispers curling against my ears, a chorus of voices I do not recognize.

"You were never meant to be free."

"You are hers."

"You will always be hers."

"No escape, no escape, no escape?—"

I snarl, thrashing.

"No!"

But there is no sound. No light.

Only the blackness, pulling me under.

Until—

A hand grabs mine.

Small. Warm.

Real.

The darkness shudders.

I look up.

And she is there.

Anya.

Her emerald eyes gleam in the void, her lips curling into the smallest, softest smile.

"Varkos," she whispers, pulling me toward her.

Her fingers tighten around mine, firm, unwavering, dragging me up, up, up?—

Out of the abyss.

And then?—

I wake.

Pain explodes behind my eyes.

A sharp inhale, my lungs burning, my body stiff and aching.

I try to move—and something wrenches me back.

Cold iron bites into my wrists.

Chains.

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