Chapter 21

A silent war waged within the confines of their bedroom. Brielle was in the kitchen, resting. Talin was in the living room, seated crossed-legged on the floor, staring at the steel door waiting for it to open. Brielle didn't care so much for this. She was a busy woman. After finding a broom in the cupboard under the sink, she got to work, at first discarding the pieces of wood that Talin made for firewood, then later, sweeping the dust and splinters.

The silence began after both...