Unfortunately, as I was reminded by my current surroundings, I’d been unable to save myself. We were seen by dozens and dozens of witnesses. Their testimony wasn’t needed though. The Emperor—the newly crowned Imperator Kormac—already knew my secret. Knew I was vorakh. He’d already told Lyr. And with my sudden display of forbidden magic upon landing in Numeria, so did everyone else. No more hiding.
I was sentenced. And before the end of the day, before the sun set again, I would be stripped. At least, that was technically my punishment. A stripping of power and magic. But everyone at the trial knew the truth—knew what was really going to happen to me.
Because the procedure wouldn’t end there. It would end in my execution. My magic would be ripped out of my skin, tornfrom my muscles, cut out of my organs, and sucked from my bones. They’d take it all, take everything that had made me who I was, until it was gone, until I was dead. The Examiner from Ka Lethea had gone over the procedure already, explaining in such detail what would happen that I’d nearly vomited. He said I might survive, that it was possible. But I could see the lie in his eyes. I knew. We all knew. One did not survive these strippings, no matter how strong they were, no matter how hard they trained. And I had trained. Really fucking hard.
I suppressed a cry and sucked in a breath, but the movement was labored under all of my bindings. I guess this was my final rope. The one I wouldn’t be tearing apart.
A tear rolled down my cheek—one I couldn’t even wipe away since my hands were bound. Fuck. I was running out of time. The countdown was on. I took a deep breath and shook my head. It was okay. It had to be okay. I mean I could live with it. Or …diebecause of it. I laughed. Bad time to make a joke. Another tear fell, and I swallowed again, my throat painfully dry, as I tried to steel myself.
I just had to focus on what mattered, on what was important. If it saved Lyr, if it saved her life, I could bear it. It would be worth it. If she was free from my father, free from Kormac, then I could die. I could face down my death with honor, and without regret. As long as she was all right.
I nodded, to no one but myself. She was all right. And she would continue to be—even without me. There was no question about it. Lyr was strong. So strong. A fucking Goddess. She would bring the Empire to its knees when she was ready. And I was so fucking proud of her, of how powerful she’d become, how fierce. She amazed me constantly. I still remembered when I’d first fallen in love with her. Gods. I thought she was so beautiful. So beautiful I’d never tire of seeing her every day. Of seeing her beauty. Her smile. Her eyes. Her body.
I’d been right. But I’d underestimated myself, underestimated her. I hadn’t tired of her—not once, not even close. Instead, I felt insatiable. Like I was starving. I wanted more. More time to see her, to admire her. To talk to her, to listen to her, to hold her … to … fuck. To everything with her.
My chest heaved, and I bit my lip, my stomach twisting.
She was so much stronger than she realized. Stronger than me in some ways. I needed her, like I needed air to breathe. But the truth was, she didn’t need me. Not to fight for her. Not to protect her. She’d survive this. She would. And she’d move on. She’d done it before. And much as that stung, much as I hated the thought of her with anyone else, the thought of someone else holding her at night, talking to her, kissing her … it was strangely comforting to know. To know that one day she’d have love again, and safety, passion, partnership … More tears fell.
When I was gone, she could survive however she needed to. Just as long as she did. And I’d watch over her, and I’d wait. Wait for however long it took for her to join me in whatever world was next. It would hurt. It would really fucking hurt.
It already did.
But that was okay, too. Because it had to be. Because I’d spend an eternity waiting for her if I had to. If it meant she could have a long, and happy life—even if that was a life without me in it. Still, I would wait.
My vision blurred, and a door opened down the hall. Fresh shouts coming from outside sounded within the walls of the Palace prison. The noise exploded as it rushed towards me.
Great. A full audience was gathered in the arena. And if it was possible to believe from their auras, from the frenetic energy pulsing through the walls, it seemed as though they were even more starved than I was. They’d expected blood today—expected violence, gore, and entertainment. It had been promised to them before the Valabellum games were called off. Before EmperorTheotis was murdered. Before Emperor Avery replaced him. Well, they could cheer up now. Because they were going to get their wish—my blood. Hopefully, I’d make a good show. One they’d remember.
It was a small comfort that Lyr wouldn’t know about this in time—there’d be no way for word to reach her of my fate before it happened. Not with how fast they were moving. Not while she remained in Cretanya. It was better that way. Better that she stayed far away from here. Better that she stayed safe and was spared from seeing me like this, along with everyone else I loved. Everyone except for Kenna who was still here. But she would persevere. She was strong, too.
Boots marching across the floor echoed against the walls as they headed toward me. I recognized the approach of my father at once. The sound of his gait was familiar. And hateful. Unwelcome. The force of his aura followed.
His shadow loomed over me before he came into view. I straightened as best I could beneath my chains, and blinked rapidly, until my tears were dried. I wouldn’t cry. I wouldn’t shed one more Godsdamned fucking tear. Not in front of him.
A moment passed as we stared each other down, and I let my full hatred for this man, this sorry excuse for a father, wash over me. I remembered his crimes. All of them. If I wasn’t bound, if I could still access my aura, I would have blasted it at him. But I had to settle for a glare, for the constant growl that curled my lips in his presence.
At last, he stepped up to the bars, his eyes narrowed. “So, Rhyan, this is it. You’ve finally done it,” he snarled.
I noted that despite his bravado, he still kept somewhat of a distance from the bars, and from me—unlike the last time he’d had me in this position. Back in Glemaria, I’d been bound and locked up. Thrown into the deepest levels of the Glemarian dungeons. And I still found a way to choke him. He stillremembered, and he was cautious, afraid to get too close. I was behind fucking bars, chained to the wall, three bindings spelled across my body, and still …
I guess I could take that as a small win. I’d take anything I could get at this point.
“What is this?” I asked, my voice raw. I glanced pointedly behind him, no longer wanting to look at him. His face made me sick. “Making your final goodbye?”
Slowly, he shook his head, and I caught sight of some gray hairs in his beard I’d never seen before. His eyebrows narrowed to a deep V. “Something like that I suppose. And thank the Gods.”
“I wouldn’t thank the Gods,” I growled.
“I certainly won’t be thanking you. Because it was you who finally pushed me to this point,” he continued, ignoring my words. He was always ignoring my words. Refusing to hear me. Even this time—the last time. I guess there was one benefit to death. I wouldn’t have to experience this again.
“I tried to avoid this at all costs,” he continued. “To my own detriment at times. To Glemaria’s. And I did all of this for you.”
“For me?” I laughed. “Fuck. Off.” I gritted. “You’re always the fucking martyr, aren’t you? The savior, the hero and the victim. Are you not tired of your own Godsdamned gryphon shit by now? Of your constant lies? Because I sure as hell am. So just go fuck yourself. Because you did this. You chose this. You always chose this.”
“I did no such thing,” my father said. “I could have turned you in plenty of times over the years.” His mouth tightened. “I didn’t. I kept you safe. Protected! You were the one who compromised everything. You were the one who got yourself caught.”
“And I’d do it again!” I yelled.
