Kira ignored him as she met Eurus’s eyes. “My memories aren’t fodder for entertainment. They’re private; I’d like them to stay that way as much as possible.”
Eurus considered her with a gaze that felt like it saw too much. “I can’t empty the room all the way, but I can dismiss the lesser Houses and those whose opinion carries no weight in these matters.”
That would leave an audience far larger than Kira was comfortable with.
“I can also extract a vow, witnessed by the Mea’Ave, from those who remain that states they will not share anything of what they learn here. Should they break their vow, the Mea’Ave will bind their ki and their status as Overlord will be revoked,“ Eurus continued when Kira held silent for too long.
After a moment of hesitation, she nodded. “Very well.”
That was probably the best offer she was going to get.
Eurus waved his hand in dismissal. Obeying some rule of hierarchy only they understood, those Tuann located in the back rose, filing out of the room.
To Kira’s disappointment, the Overlords of the five major Houses and several of their higher-ranking members remained seated.
When the room was only a quarter full, Jarek approached Kira. “Are you ready?”
Kira narrowed her eyes at him in confusion.
“My affinity lies in the realm of the mind,” Jarek explained. “I will access the memories you have surrounding this event and display them for the rest to see.”
Oh joy. The man who hated the soul bound the most would be the one infiltrating her mind. Could this day get any better?
Kira steeled herself and nodded. “Do it.”
Before she lost her courage.
Jarek touched his fingers to her forehead. There was a crashing sound as Kira’s memories swamped her, yanking her under before she could even take a breath.
A cruel smile split their captor’s face. “We have a winner. Bring him.”
A boy with golden eyes was dragged out of formation, already sobbing as they put him on his knees and proceeded to beat him.
Rain poured down, mixing with the red of his blood as she held perfectly still, weapon extended before her.
There was a low pained-filled sound like that of an animal in agony that didn’t seem to go with the scene. It was followed by a soothing voice. “Sire, I know this is hard, but this is only a memory. His pain would have faded long ago.”
To her left, whispers started as the others began planning. “We must leave tonight. We can’t delay any longer.”
Her weapon dropped to the ground with a clatter as she stepped out of formation to face their captors with a challenge.
There was a flash, and she was running through the woods. Desperation beating at her, accompanied with the knowledge they were being hunted like mice in front of a fox.
A hand being ripped from hers as a boy tripped.
Eyes the color of daisies were filled with tears as the boy looked up at her. “Go. Don’t wait. You’ll never make it with me slowing you down.”
He was right. She wouldn’t.
She cast around for a hiding place, finding one in the hollow beneath the trunk of a fallen tree.
“Stay here. I’ll be right back.”
Another voice intruded. “How ashamed Roake must feel for naming an heir so lacking in courage.”
The disbelief and lack of hope on the boy’s face made it clear he thought she planned to abandon him. She didn’t have the time to argue, already sprinting through the forest.
She stopped as soon as she detected the presence of another.
