The king reared back as Aya spit in his face, his grip tightening to the point where she swore her bones would snap.
‘And this is exactly why I won’t bother to spare your miserable life,’ he snarled. ‘I’ll use you tomorrow. I admit, there’s something poetic about taking something from Gianna after what her father’s actions nearly took from me. And with your limitless power, Aidon will fuel our army for me. Perhaps Viviane will be willing to donate to our cause as well. Either way … I won’t have to be bothered with the sight of you.’ He shoved her head back roughly as he released her. ‘Take her to the dungeons,’ he muttered to the guards. His green eyes were cold as they found hers. ‘Consider this a parting gift, my dear.’
She couldn’t find the meaning in his words. But she didn’t have any fight left as the guards grabbed her and shackled her hands before tugging her from the room.
They marched her further underground, the stone passageway dark and damp, their grip on her arms tight enough to bruise.
She didn’t care.
Safe. Viviane. Will. They were safe.
Will would find some way to seek retribution. She only hoped he would wait until the time was right. That he wouldn’t do anything reckless. That he would find a way to use the time she had bought him to get as far away as possible.
Aya didn’t struggle against their hold. She didn’t ask questions about where they were taking her. She should feel something, she realized. Fear. Anger. Anguish. But there was a hollowness in her chest, and it echoed through every inchof her as they walked her further into the dungeons, the echo of their footsteps the only sound.
Perhaps this was for the best. If that was what her power was capable of, then she’d rather die than have to wield it again.
Safe. They were safe.
She would face whatever came next. Even death.
The guard turned her roughly around the corner, leading her towards a solid wooden door. There was no window – just a large lock. Her stomach turned as they unshackled her hands and unlocked the door.
It took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the low Incend flame that sat in bowls high on the cell walls. Took a moment for her to take in the rough bed, the small bathroom chamber, and the chains that hung unused on the wall.
Her heart stuttered.
Because there, beneath the chains, his head resting against the wall and eyes closed, sat Will. A broken sound left Aya’s lips, and Will’s eyes snapped to hers, her name a mere rasp as he scrambled to his feet.
The guards pushed Aya into the room, her legs trembling beneath her as she stumbled into his waiting arms.
Consider this a parting gift, my dear.
He was not safe.
He was as good as dead.
They both were.
74
‘Aya.’
Her name was a prayer to the gods – of thanksgiving, of desperation, of anger – as Will caught her in his arms.
She was alive. She survived the hells they’d put her through, and she was here, in his arms, and …
She was staring at the guards, the color draining from her face. ‘No,’ she whispered, and his heart clenched at the brokenness in that one word.
She lunged for them, her movements so fast he hardly had time to tighten his hold on her waist. She fought, her body thrashing as she lunged again and again toward those guards, who merely chuckled as they backed out of the cell.
‘No!’ The word was torn from her throat, her scream echoing off the walls. Will could hardly hear the lock click as she bucked in his arms like a wild animal, screaming promises of death, promises of pain, promises from every dark place she swore she had inside her.
Her feet left the floor as Will dragged her deeper into the chamber. His body screamed in protest as echoes of pain still lanced through him, but he forced it down as he tugged her against him, his arms a vice grip around her waist.
‘Aya.’ His voice was a soft, calm command. She doubled over, and the sound of her sobs filled the chamber. He bowed with her, his lips pressed against her ear. ‘Aya.’ Broken. She was broken. Her hands found his forearms, her nails digging into the muscle as if she could keep him there.
‘They can’t have you.’ Her body trembled as the words spilled from her in a rush. ‘They can’t have you.’
