Luis's POV
The drive back from the palace stretched endlessly in suffocating silence.
My fingers wrapped around the steering wheel like a vice, the leather creaking under the pressure. But no amount of physical tension could quiet the storm raging inside my head.
Ebony never showed. Not once during our imprisonment. Not even a glimpse of her face through those iron bars.
I squeezed my eyes shut for a moment, trying to block out the memory of that hellish cell. The stone walls had been damp and cold, pressing in closer with each passing hour. The guards treated us worse than stray dogs.
Those bastards made sure we knew exactly what we were missing. Every meal delivery became a twisted show. They'd parade trays of succulent roasted beef, golden potatoes dripping with herbs, and warm bread that made our stomachs clench with hunger. Then they'd sit right outside our cell and devour every bite while we watched.
