[Phreya]

The bass in Embers’ Lounge was a physical assault, vibrating against the hollow space in my chest where my heart used to beat for things like "family" or "belonging." Now, that space was occupied by a singular, aching void.

I sat at the mahogany bar, the neon green light bleeding into my frost brown skin. I knew what I looked like to the men in this room: a prize.

A Rare beauty with iridescent eyes. They didn't see the biological machine humming underneath. They didn't see the ...