Page 446 of The Luna Duet

I hissed and struck at the people holding me down.

I needed to run.

To disappear into the sea and swim to Aslan.

He needs me!

He’s on that wreckage.

Shipwrecked by a storm.

He’s drowning...

“ASLAN!”

“Just give it to her,” Dad bellowed. “I can’t stand this. I can’t handle seeing her like this. DO SOMETHING!”

“Do it.” Hands pushed my shoulders against the bed.

My eyes flared as I studied the crush of doctors through my river of tears. “Nerida...listen to me. You need to stop, alright? Take a deep breath, and we won’t have to sedate you.”

I stilled for a moment.

I played possum until the pressure on my shoulders softened.

And then, I launched up.

I fought and won.

I fell off the bed again and tried to leap to my feet.

I’m coming...

The sea.

I need the sea.

I’ll swim—

“Neri. Stop. Baby. Please, stop!” Mum landed beside me, all while hands wrenched me from the floor and shoved me back onto the bed.

I screamed harder. Louder.

I’d lost the ability of speech.

I forgot how to speak words.

I couldn’t tell them how I burned inside.

How I stung and seared and shattered.

This pain wasn’t describable.

It was utterly indescribable as it tore through me, snapping every bone, scribing its excruciating autograph onto my soul.

I would always wear its mark.

Always belong to the devil.