Verity's POV

I couldn't breathe.

Veyran's hand was wrapped around my throat, lifting me off the ground like I weighed nothing. My feet kicked uselessly in the air as his fingers tightened, cutting off everything except the burning need for oxygen that my lungs screamed for.

"You thought you could leave me?" His voice was everywhere, echoing in my skull. "You thought they could protect you?"

Black spots danced across my vision. My hands clawed at his wrist but it was like trying to move ...