“Iwillkill him,” she seethes, eyeing me as I take a bite of my own sandwich.
I nod again, but she’ll have to get in line.
The first time I had removed her from the cell to bring her here, she fought and screamed every step of the way, convinced that I was indeed going to torture her as the king had suggested from the beginning. Her fiery spirit, even wounded and in captivity, had surprised me. I brought in a healer I trust to clean and patch her wound, her shifter magic helping to at least keep it from reopening. She should be dead—not just from the wound she sustained but because she crossed over the Spell. She’s an anomaly, and my next swallow of food is tight in my throat as I study her.
It tookweeksbefore she believed that I wasn’t going to harm her. More time, and a few secrets of my own, for her to open up the slightest bit about herself and Rhea, but I have no interest in forcing information from her. She has been through enough. They both have. My only goal regarding her now is to help her escape from this place—from the king.
“When?” she asks in a whisper, holding my attention hostage. I lower my half-eaten sandwich to the parchment paper wrinkled on the table, brushing my hands off on my thighs.
“Soon. The last piece of the plan is nearly in place. Once we have that, I will be able to get you on a ship, and the king will never suspect anything beyond an inexperienced guard getting bested by a fierce female.”
She grins at my compliment, the expression so rare that I can’t help but stare at her full lips, my stomach tightening as I do. But the smile falters, and my gaze draws back up to her eyes—her irises wrapped in gold. “He cannot have her again.”
“I know. He won’t. He can’t cross the Spell. He can’t make anyone turn her over from the Mage Kingdom. As long as she stays there, she will be safe.” If the princess ever steps foot in this kingdom again, she’ll never leave. He’ll make sure of it. It’s better for my cause and better for her life if she stays where she is. “We’ll have to go back soon.”
She nods, finishing her meal and then pocketing the rest of the food I brought in her trousers. “Thank you.”
“It won’t be much longer; I give you my word.” I pause, forcing a shaky smile as I stand from the chair. “For whatever that’s worth.” I imagine it can’t be much, considering I had helped the king murder Alexi and had done nothing while he brutalized Rhea.
“It is worth more now than before,” she answers quietly, extending her hand out to me. I take it without hesitation, and we make our return back through the tunnel and into the torture room.
“Don’t forget to put on a show again; you’reveryconvincing when you do.”
She chuckles, giving my hand a barely perceptible squeeze before dropping it. “I look forward to your next visit, Xander.”
I wrap my fingers gently around her upper arm, her warmth radiating through more than just my skin as I unlock the door, my eyes still honed in on hers. “As do I, Siyala.”
I keep my body rigid where I stand guard in front of the throne room. Though familiar faces pass me, none of them look my way. I don’t acknowledge them either. It’s the number one rule of those who have joined the cause—in daylight, we are nothing but guards, servants, cooks, and workers of Vitour. But when the sun goes down and the castle falls quiet, those ready for something new, somethingbetter, gather in secret beneath it. Traversing those underground tunnels and utilizing the forgotten wings, we plot how we will take down not only Dolian but his advisors. The men who are letting this kingdom rot away from the Cruel Death.
King Dolian’s voice carries through the slender gap in the middle of the double doors, and I take a small step in its direction to try and hear what he’s saying.
“Are yousurethat is what it means?” he asks.
There is a slight pause before a distorted voice answers, its lilt smooth. “If what you said about the shifter female is true, then yes. Do you know nothing of their kingdom, Your Majesty?”
Siyala.They must be talking about her.
King Dolian grunts, the sound of his boots tapping on the floor drowning out his response. I force myself to take a steadying breath, my heart still pounding in my ears as I lean in a little closer. “Fine. We’ll do it your way. I’ll ready the ship and—”
“Eavesdropping, are we, Commander?” My eyes snap to the owner of the oily voice as I grit my teeth together and glare at perhaps the most vile man I’ve ever had the displeasure of knowing, including the king.
“Of course not, Simon. Merely stretching.” I keep all emotion from my face, something easily done with the many years of practice I’ve had.
“Good. We wouldn’t want His Majesty to regret promoting you so soon or for others to begin to question it, now would we?”
I stare into his soulless eyes, the evil that I know lurks within him tamed for now. But his threat is pointless. Simon is the only person who knows the true connection between the king and I, and Dolian would sooner kill him than have anyone else find out about hissecret shame.
The doors open behind me, hazel eyes meeting my darker ones briefly as he strides from the room. No one follows him out, his conversation happening within the Mirror, then.
“Xander, when was the last time you spoke with our prisoner?” He doesn’t need to specify which one.
“Two days ago,” I lie, resuming my position behind him and Simon as we walk down the white painted hallway with floors lined in deep red and gold rugs. Servants and other workers stop and pivot to go in the other direction as they avoid our entourage. “She still hasn’t said anything of value, despite my attempts to break her.”
Simon snorts, his hands coming behind him as he looks at me over his shoulder. “It doesn’t take much to break someone who is already as weak as she is. I’d be happy to use my talents on her if His Majesty is so inclined.”
Nausea burns my throat and curdles my stomach, but I force my expression to remain blank. Simon’s reputation precedes him when it comes to thosetalents. I’d sooner kill him and then myself before I’d let him anywhere near Siyala.
“That won’t be necessary. Her usefulness is nearing its end.” The simmering rage in my blood morphs into icy fear at the king’s words. “Instruct the other guards to keep her starved for the next few days. I want her weakened for the next part of my plan.”
