He was somehow simultaneously exactly what I’d imagined, and far, far worse. Thick and muscled, he was like an oversized, paler version of the Bastardmaker, with the same lascivious smile, only more angular. His face was like a rectangle in shape, his torso as well. His hair was a mix of brown and gray that might have once been the same color as Kenna’s. His Glemarian leathers were polished to shine, and his red Arkturion cloak was freshly pressed.
He bowed before Imperator Hart, and offered a quick, but dismissive look at his daughter before he turned to me and grinned.
“Lady Lyriana, we meet at last.” His rough voice held a hint of amusement. “I’ve heard many things about you.” He stalked toward me, nothing but hulking muscles, every angle of his face sharp and cruel. But before he reached me, his gaze fell on Rhyan and he laughed. “Not even back a full morning and you already broke your nose?” He made a fist,his hand almost giant in size. I couldn’t even imagine the damage he could do with a single punch.
“It seems he cannot help himself,” Rhyan’s father said. “Now, my lady. How about we make you more comfortable? Then you can answer the Arkturion’s questions. Kenna, remove her binding.”
“W-What?” I stammered, and my eyes met Kenna’s. She looked just as bewildered. But she nodded and pulled out her stave, a traditional mix of pale sun and moon wood. As she quietly chanted under her breath, I felt the hold of the ropes weaken, and vanish. For the first time in hours, I was able to move, to flex my arms and feel my power surge up inside me.
“That was a show of goodwill,” Imperator Hart said.
“Lyr,” Rhyan hissed. “Don’t trust him.”
“Must we bind your mouth as well?” his father asked. “Dario—one more word from my son …” He didn’t finish the threat, only lowered his eyebrows. It was enough.
“Now, we can do this the hard way, or …” Imperator Hart’s eyes darkened. “Who has the shard?”
I refused to answer. Because my power was mine again, and Asherah’s chest plate was in view. A plan began to form in my mind.
“You stole a crystal from my land. Who has it?” Imperator Hart asked. “And I warn you, you’re running out of time to answer peacefully.”
Arkturion Kane circled around me, his body so close that his cloak touched my clothes, his breath brushed through my hair.
I began to chant.“Ani petrova kashonim, me ka el lyrotz, dhame ra shukroya.” I was sweating, my body already heating. “Aniam anam. Chayate me el ra shukroya. Ani petrova kashonim.”
“What in Moriel are you doing?” Kane barked. “Your kashonim is bound.”
But it wasn’t. Not the one I wanted.
I took a deep breath, my heart thundering. It didn’t always work. I’d called on her before with no answer. But this time I felt it—the surge of power rushing through my body. My hair blew back from my face. My skin glowed red and then gold. I’d barely slept the night before, but I felt as if I’d just woken up. Every inch of my body felt strong, energized, and ready to attack.
I didn’t stop to think. I ran. My eyes on my possessions.
“LYR!” Rhyan screamed and then grunted in pain as Dario elbowed him in the guts.
I touched the dais, our weapons within reach. One blade to Kenna’s neck and she’d be forced to remove Rhyan’s bonds. That would be all it took before he jumped to me. We were getting the fuck out of here. And then we’d get Meera.
My fingers brushed the hilt of my dagger. But then a rough hand grabbed my neck from behind, and I was pulled back and slammed to the floor. Kane grabbed my hips and turned me over, smashing my back to the ground, my head just inches from cracking against the dais.
I saw stars in my eyes as Kane hovered over me, his eyes full of violence. But before he could touch me again, I kicked, my boot hitting his stomach with enough force that he fell backward.
I started to roll over when suddenly his entire body slammed over me.
I screamed.
Rhyan was roaring, even Kenna shouted for him to stop.
I kicked helplessly as he pushed down over me, reaching for my arms. I freed one hand, and made a fist. And with everything I had in me, knowing what he’d done to Rhyan, what he’d try to do to me, I punched him on the nose.
There was an awful crunching sound, and he screamed as blood gushed.
“You bitch,” Kane growled.
He shoved a knee between my legs, both hands around my neck, strangling me.
But I was already reaching for his eyeballs, prepared to gouge them out.
Suddenly, my body seized. My chest warmed. I was on fire. Everything inside of me was burning, heating and lighting up. I couldn’t feel Asherah’s power. Something else had overwhelmed it, had come between us. A golden light glowed beneath my tunic.
