“Look! That is why we won the war. Brave men,” Galen speaks. “Come, Titus, prince slayer.” He waves me over.
Adrian subconsciously steps closer. Is he worried?
Gods help me. The closer I get to this… thing, the more the air shifts. “The air is colder near it. That is a sign we can use if one lurks nearby.”
“Very wise observation, General.” Adrian widens his chest.
“Yes, yes, now, go on,” Galen huffs.
This is a different version of Galen. I’m so used to the showmen, the friendly king who woos the crowd as he holds feasts and parties. This version is just a spoiled brat who would rather be fucking a line of women than defending his empire.
Slowly, I bend down; I expect my fingers to slip right through it, but instead, I hit a form that feels hard yet moldable. “How was it killed?” I ask.
“They kept stabbing it. I surmise one of the cuts must’ve hit its heart, but as you can see, it remains solid. It does not tear open, nor bleed, yet it can be killed when the correct spot is struck.”
“That’s enough touching, Titus. When was the last time you fucked a woman? I’m worried,”Galen jokes, and the room laughs, except Adrian.
“It’s hard to find a woman when you’re readying for battle, King,” I bite. I cast my gaze downward, too ill to view the individual I slew for.
“That’s the best time to search for pussy.”
My jaw ticks.
“Make sure you bed someone soon. You caused me concern that you would request seclusion with the beast.”
More laughs.
Would he mind if I used the sword he gifted me to kill him? Right here, right now?
“Where is this witness?” Galen shouts.
Two more guards usher in a girl, perhaps eight years of age. Her feet are bare, covered in dirt and blood. Her clothing is in the same terrible state.
“She’s a human,” Adrian states by way of explanation. “Her family lived in Noria; they were killed on the premises with all the other humans and vampires.”
“Come here, child.” Galen orders. She takes one step before Galen says, “That’s far enough.” He sneers down at her rags for clothing. It was a test to see if she’d obey him.
Adrian and I exchanged a glance of disillusion.
“Tell me what happened,” Galen orders in a cold, authoritative voice.
She steps closer to the creature. Adrian and I remove our weapons in sync. She doesn’t flinch.She's shocked like Ember was, mute and dazed when she was thrown to us.
“She needs a healer,” I mutter.
“Resources are costly. Let’s see if she can pay in the form of valuable information,” Galen sneers.
Adrian’s glare tells me to bite my tongue.
But even tongueless men can conjure a scream.
She bends down, stealing my attention. With a smile on her lips, she begins to stroke the shadowy creature.
The room’s atmosphere crackles with more magic. Every noble pull their sword out, all untrained. Their fragile wrists couldn’t endure over five minutes of combat.
“I am not scared of a child; put your blades back,” Galen grunts. He scoots back with ease. “Speak,” he demands.
She presses a long touch to the cold form, then stands. With dirt-filled nails, she pushes her knotted brown hair back, giving us a perfect view of her face. Her stained cheeks suggest she tumbled into blood face-first.
