Bound and Burned by the One I Loved novel Chapter 6

Chapter 6 

Three days. 

I polished silver and gold until my claws bled, until the master grunted approval. I wore a mask to hide the healing burns, but nothing could hide the flatness of my abdomen beneath the work tunic. The other workers ignored me, whispering traitor when they thought I couldn’t hear. 

Then they walked in. 

Eira’s scent hit me first-jasmine and poison. She wore a silk dress that cost more than this shop earned in a month. Cassian’s arm was draped around her waist, possessive, triumphant. 

She saw me immediately. No surprise in her eyes. Only hunger. 

“Mate,” she purred, holding up a delicate golden chain. “Look how this shines on me.” 

Cassian nuzzled her ear, loud enough for the entire shop to hear. “My Eira looks radiant in anything. Like it? It’s yours. I earn only to spend on you.” 

I turned away, reaching for a polishing cloth, but Eira’s voice snapped like a whip. 

“Attendant. Fetch me the moonstone ring. The large one.” 

The other workers vanished. Cowards. 

I cursed silently and retrieved the ring from the locked case. My hands trembled-not with fear, but with the effort of restraint. 

Cassian’s eyes locked onto my abdomen beneath the work tunic. 

His brow furrowed. 

“Asha,” he growled, stepping closer. “Why are you still wearing that binding wrap? Don’t you know it harms the pup?” 

I placed the ring on the counter. “Sir, I don’t know you. Harass me again and I summon the enforcers” 

He grabbed my wrist, claws digging into scar tissue “You think you can hide her from me? 

“Are you mad?” 1 jerked free. “Who says I’m pregnant?” 

“Buy the ring or leave.” 

He ignored me. 

In front of the entire shop-the master, the customers, the watching eyes-Cassian seized my collar and ripped my tunic open 

Buttons scattered across the floor like broken teeth. 

His gaze fell on my belly. 

Empty. Flat. The scarred, hollow plain where his daughter had 

The color drained from his face. His hands dropped to his sides. 

“Where-” His voice cracked. “Where is she? Where is my pup?” grown. 

“Dead,” I said, loud enough for everyone to hear. “Gone in the fire. The day you carried Eira to the healers, your daughter died. Dead.” 

He staggered back as if struck by lightning, pale as bone. 

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