“I think I’ll join you,” Arianna smirked, her eyes growing bright. “Sybil needs to be punished for her little outburst last night, after all. Don’t you think, my king?”
I chuckled, glancing over to Sybil’s tight form, now stepping out of her carriage with Ivara. Her face was already white as aghost, as if she already knew of our plans for her. “I believe you are right, my queen,” I mused.
Letting Arianna thread her arm around mine, I guided us toward Hale, leaning down to whisper in his ear. “Have Evander prepare the soldiers and Lowell’s servants for interrogation while you bring Sybil and Lords Vito, Bramwell, Elnir, and Loic to the dungeons. Prepare another cell for me to use after the interrogations with the usual items, as well.”
“Yes, Your Majesty,” Hale said, inclining his head.
He remained there until I passed before rushing to Sybil, letting her know of my request for her presence. I didn’t look back, but when I pushed my magic toward her, I felt a flicker of dread before turning into that nothingness I couldn’t explain. I swallowed my growl and continued making my way to the dungeon.
The interrogation room was a large and empty room, except for the eight bodies chained to their chairs and a table filled with various tools to aid in our questioning. Like the rest of the dungeon cells, it was made of the stones from the original palace. Luckily for me, unlike the rest of the cells, this room was closed off. The stone was so thick that no one could hear a single word or scream once the doors were sealed shut.
The smile that rose to my face when I entered the room was one that made my prisoners falter, their eyes so bright with fear that it fueled my magic as soon as I stepped through the door. I drank it in, every bit of it, the emotions making me drunk with power. Rolling my shoulders, I stood in front of them, passing my gaze over each one of them. I only needed two. Two weak and pathetic imps that would willingly confess their involvement, along with the rest. Nothing an empty promise couldn’t solve. I could already pinpoint who would leap toward that hope dangling in front of them.
Sybil and the lords filed into the room, the lords circling in front of me, each of them eager to see the show. And a show it would be.
My gaze flicked to Sybil, and I jerked my chin, summoning her to my side. Her mouth thinned, and she took a reluctant breath, refusing to lower her piercing gaze as she made her way toward me. Amusement sparked my blood, sending it racing through my veins. Oh, I was going to enjoy watching that defiance blink out of her eyes.
Keeping my back to the prisoners, I studied the lords, catching Bramwell hungrily eyeing Sybil. My lips twitched, but I brushed past it. I would deal with him privately, reminding him who she belonged to. “Thank you all for joining me today. Before we begin, I have some unfortunate news to share with each of you. Our dear friend, Lord Lowell, passed away just this morning. We found some ratherdamningpieces of evidence that suggest the rebellion may have been involved.” Lowell’s servants hissed behind me, their sharp denials interrupting my speech, but quickly turned into gasps from the ice that climbed up their chains, searing their skin. “We have arrested the servants we believe to be involved, but I invited you all here today to show you whatIcan do as king.”
“And will you be having your grand paladin show off her skills?” Lord Bramwell asked, his eyes raking down Sybil’s body.
Sybil sneered, though her eyes flicked just behind Lord Bramwell. “I won’t be doing a damned thing,” Sybil growled, her blistering gaze returning to Bramwell.
“Actually,” I said to her, smirking. “You will.” I turned back to the lords, pleasure bubbling in my chest. “You see, my darling little grand paladin here belongs to me. She graciously formed a bargain with me quite recently, giving me all control of her magic.”
The lords whispered to each other, each of them studying Sybil closely. Arianna, catching my intention, walked behind Sybil, grabbing her arm, forcing the sleeve of her jacket up to show off the mark of the bargain. Sybil cursed, pushing away from Arianna, but the lord’s eyes were wide.
Lord Oziel laughed. “What an interesting gem you’ve found, Ambrose. Will she be available for us to use, as well?”
I glanced at Sybil, considering his questions. “We can discuss it. But for right now, I will start teaching our grand paladin how to interrogate our suspects. She is new, untested, and still has much to learn.”
Sybil paled, her eyes clashing with mine. “I will not, Ambrose. Just as I said last night, these are innocent people. I will not harm them.”
“Well, it’s a good thing we have that bargain then, isn’t it?” I chuckled. “It doesn’t matter what you want. You’ll do it whether you wish it or not.”
Sybil bared her teeth at me, her nose curling in disgust.
You don’t own her. She will break your command. You don’t own her. She’s not fully yours.
I silenced the voice with a low growl, my hand snapping forward, grabbing Sybil by the neck to pull her to me. “You will do as I command,” I hissed. “Or have you forgotten the last time you defied me?” Pushing her away, I ran my hand through my hair, willing myself to keep control of my temper. “I think it's time we begin, and after, I’ll remind you what happens when you go against my wishes.”
Sybil’s face blanched, and my lips rose as I faced the prisoners. “As some of you may know, our war general, Ezra Darktree, escaped from his prison cell.” Standing in front of the four guards, I eyed them, letting the silence break them down, along with their hopes. “But,” I paused, my focus snapping to one of the guards.
I felt it then, flickering in one, a pasty male with limp, ashy hair, a small hope to get out of this interrogation alive. This male has seen some of my work, enough to know of the promise I offer. The others were filled only with panic. I went to the pasty one and took hold of that hope, pulling it forward.
“All I need is for someone to confess. Just one small confession, telling everyone here who was involved. Do that, and you’ll be free. The same goes for you four, as well,” I said, glancing at Lowell's servants. “I just need to knowwhoacted on the rebellion’s plans to kill Lord Lowell. Though, of course, the evidence found in your rooms showed that all of you were involved.”
“You’re a filthy liar,” a male servant spat. His tanned face twisted in anger. So different from yesterday’s emotionless veneer.
My lips dipped while I held his piercing glare, the chill in the room growing. Breaking his stare, I chuckled and walked to the table in the far corner of the room. I felt the male’s eyes on me, and I even felt Sybil’s, but I ignored them, running my fingers over the different knives, spiked clubs, and whips. I stopped at the dagger with the runes carved into the hilt, a smile splaying across my face.
“Sybil,” I murmured, handing her the dagger. I watched her throat bob, my heart dancing at the horror rippling across her face. “I commandyouto put this in his leg. Be a good girl and make it hurt, please.”
I saw the moment my command took effect, saw how she grimaced, pulling her hand to her chest, her breath whooshing out of her lungs. I watched how she refused to move until her knees buckled and she cried out, her breathing turning to wet rasps.
“Now, you know what happens when you refuse my command, darling Sybil,” I tutted. “Let’s not go through thisagain. You are my grand paladin, after all,” I said, crouching beside her.
Sybil yelled into the floor, her eyes closing. Movement from the corner of my eye caught my attention, but as I turned, a choked sob escaped from her, the rueful sound filling the room, bringing my focus back to her.
