“Your wife needs assistance,” one of the dragons says, saluting Perun. “She was deprived of magic and badly damaged.”
Perun waves his hand. “I don’t care for her dramatics right now. Leave her where she is.”
I snort under my breath, and his triumphant gaze cuts to me. “Do you find it funny, brother? Have you gotten used to defeat so well, it makes you laugh?”
I shake my head, still grinning, because now that the fear is gone, I suddenly feel free, more free than I’ve been in centuries. I’ve waited to be back here all those years. In a way, it was as if I’d never left.
“It’s funny that we have something in common,” I say. “This is your moment, and you should enjoy it to the fullest. Mokosz would try to make it all about herself, so I agree that you shouldn’t revive her. She’s insufferable. Of course, I’m not the idiot who made her my wife. Accept my heartfelt sympathy.”
Perun’s eyes narrow in rage. I chuckle under my breath, knowing he’ll torture me now, but even this fails to rouse myterror. Perun is an old dog who can’t learn new tricks. Like everything about him, his torture methods are boring. Jaga was so much worse. I can withstand him.
“See if you’ll laugh now.”
My brother doesn’t take a step toward me. He turns to Jaga, and my grin freezes on my face as a new fear, sickening and urgent, twists around my heart. Perun grabs her by the hair, baring her throat, and spits lightning right into her chest. For an eyeblink, Jaga is lit from within, the outlines of her sternum and ribs dark against the brightness. She spasms, a ragdoll in the grip of his power.
It ends within seconds, and she hangs limp in her chains, her arms pulled painfully up. Her entire body steams from the surge of heat, and she shakes all over, muffled, incomprehensible moans of pain pouring out through the gag.
Perun gives me a sly, triumphant look. He was right. I’m not laughing anymore.
“Come on, little brother. Make another joke. Let’s laugh together.”
I grit my teeth and stay silent. It doesn’t matter that I’m not afraid for myself anymore, because this fear for Jaga is all consuming and sickly, and so much worse. A chasm of helplessness opens in my mind. It seems like the only escape is death.
But if Jaga dies, she will be gone forever, no soul left to revive, nothing. And I could die, too, according to Nyja’s prophecy, but only if Perun wields the blade from the past. I’ll never allow it to happen. I’d rather suffer for eternity than die from his hand.
Perun grins at me, strolling slowly in front of Jaga. He looks from her to me, thinking, while my allies writhe in pain, defeated, shackled, void of magic. Jutrzenka saunters up to Perun, her steps dancelike and carefree.
“Daddy, bury her! Bury her somewhere no one will find her and give him to me, like you promised.”
She pants, watching Jaga with excitement. I shake my head in regret. Jaga was right all along. A scorned woman is a dangerous beast, but I was arrogant and thought a few smiles would make Jutrzenka loyal and happy to be on my side.
She fooled me. I trusted her too much ever since she helped so eagerly to distract Perun while we took down his temple. I suppose that was calculated, too. Or maybe she defected back to him later. Not that it matters.
Perun shakes his head, tugging on his silver beard. “Ah, not yet. We cannot get rid of an important asset, my darling. This woman is supposed to give the ultimate victory to whoever claims her.”
I laugh without mirth, shaking my head. “She’ll never let you claim her.”
Perun clicks his tongue, giving me a scornful look.
“It’s no surprise that you’ve failed at that, since you can’t do anything right. I won’t fail. Now, to make sure we have no ugly surprises…”
He presses his hand to Jaga’s mouth. White light flashes between them, and she releases a pitiful, squalling noise in the back of her throat. Perun laughs, patting her cheek with mock friendliness.
“Cheer up. You won’t have to be gagged anymore, because I’ve made you unable to say any god’s name but mine. Try. Give yourself to Weles.”
He removes the gag from her mouth. Jaga finds her feet and stands shakily to give her arms some rest. She lifts her head with difficulty and gives Perun a haughty, hate-filled look.
“I belong to W… to W…”
Perun laughs with satisfaction, and Jaga heaves a trembling breath, lowering her head.
“It’s just as well. I will not be claimed. Ever.”
He rears back in mild surprise. “No? Not even by me? I can promise you power and riches. Nawie could be yours. I am generous to those who are loyal to me. Be mine, and I will reward you.”
She huffs with a grimace. “I’m done being the gods’ plaything. But you don’t need me, anyway. You’ve already won.”
Perun steps back, watching her with a dark frown. At last, he nods, his face smoothing. “No, I don’t need you.”
