"Even if you've birthed my grandnephew," her words held a grim finality, "servant you were, and servant you remain."
Yves' struggle persisted, a futile attempt to break free from the vice-like grip that held him. "Let go of me! I am not a servant!" His outcry was a symphony of frustration and anger, each word a declaration of his unyielding spirit. Yet, the sedative's grip only tightened, darkness descending like a shroud until consciousness slipped through his fingers, surrendering him to a dreamless abyss.
The sting of anger still smoldered within the depths of Yves' chest even as consciousness reclaimed him, pulling him back from the abyss.
His gaze fell upon the familiar expanse of the bed, where he lay nestled as if in a cocoon. In a swift motion, he pushed himself into a sitting position, his eyes drawn to the neat bandaging that swathed his hand.