I frowned. “What?”
“My intel says Igon knew of a place that kept thousands of your kind. Where?” he pressed.
“Don’t you think if he knew something like that, we all would have lived there, too?”
His jaw clicked. “You withholding information will not do you any favors, Lena.”
I studied his face. His stubble had been trimmed, and the scar trailing from his cheekbone to the corner of his lip cut into what little facial hair remained.
“Even if I did know, I wouldn’t tell you shit.” It took everything in me to say those words without my voice shaking.
He stepped forward, and my whole body tensed, my back now pressed against the door. “Whether you like it or not,” he said, his voice a deathly calm. “I will get that information out of you, one way or another. And next time,” he leaned close and whispered in my ear, “I won’t be as nice.”
He pulled back, and his cold eyes locked on mine. The sight sent chills down my spine. I never imagined a day he would frighten me.
He banged on the door, and Hendry emerged, no Roland this time. “Take her to her cell,” he ordered, and I tried my hardest to keep my emotions in as Hendry grabbed my arm.
“Your Highness,” Hendry said. “Lady Erabella wishes to see you.”
Silas didn’t look at me. He just responded, “Very well. Thank you, Hendry.”
Silas left the room first, and Hendry tugged me along with him. Just ahead, a woman with blonde hair falling just past her chin walked forward, wearing a gorgeous blue gown, the shade beautiful against her tanned skin.
Erabella.
I had heard the news that the Prince of Otacia had found himself a wife a year ago. I remember it was Viola who told Torrin, Merrick, El, and me the news. I remember casually excusing myself, heading up to the lake just outside Ames, and falling to my knees, sobbing as my fire consumed me. I had already unlocked its power years prior, but at that moment, it was uncontrollable.
The same night Torrin…
I couldn’t think of that.
“Keep the prisoner away from her,” Silas commanded, as if I were some feral dog.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
She grimaced, her brown eyes looking down at me. She gazed back at Silas, her eyes lighting up as she took him in. “Hi, my love.”
He pulled her into an embrace, and they kissed.
Funny, out of all the painful events leading up to this, somehow, this hurt the worst. And in that moment, I realizedhewas the one that died that day in the village.
He’s gone. He’s really fucking gone.
I felt the tears coming, but my anger kept them in.
“I’ve missed you,” he whispered. Silas glanced at Hendry, not making eye contact with me.“Take her away. Now.”
Hendry pulled me, but I offered no resistance. I wanted away from this nightmare.
He merely shoved me back into my cell. The door slammed, and in those brief moments of silence, I was finally able to break down.
I didn’t know how long I lay on that stone bed, but I felt like my body was full of lead. There was absolutely no desire to move.
I was a fool for letting any part of me believe the Silas I knew was still here. Too much had changed. I needed to get my shit together. I needed to figure out how to get my people out of here.
Just as I sat up, wiping my eyes, my cell door opening caused me to jump. In walked in Rurik, and three other men—soldiers—I didn’t recognize.
“What’s going on?” I asked, and dread overcame me at the sight of Rurik’s sickening grin. He prowled forward, the other men having an equal hunger in their gaze, and I shuddered before pushing myself to my feet and backing away.
