A shiver shot down my spine, goosebumps pebbling down my arms. Samian brushed his hand against mine, and I let thattouch calm me. I was safe for the time being, protected by Ambrose’s odd need to keep me to himself.
Samian pulled back his hand and walked past me. I moved to follow when Ambrose called my name, stopping me before I could make it to the door. “We need to have a little talk,” he ground out. “Samian, you may see your way out.”
Samian stood at the door. I could feel his eyes on me, assessing if he should ignore Ambrose’s command.
“Go,” I whispered. “I’ll be okay.”
Samian hesitated briefly before giving Ambrose a quick bow and leaving the room. The door behind him clicked shut, and I turned to face Ambrose when a force rammed me into the marble wall behind me. The breath in my lungs burst out of me, pain splintering down my back, and I wrapped my hands around the arm that held me harshly, keeping me from moving.
Icy fingers dug into my cheeks as Ambrose stood in front of me, breathing heavily. My eyes widened when water appeared along his arm, inching closer to his hand. The air in the room dropped, ice forming along the walls and on my uniform.
“Ambrose,” I whispered, my body trembling against his hold. “Ambrose, please.” The water drew nearer, and the chill of it pressed against my face. “Ambrose, stop this,” I pleaded, gasping when the frigid water crawled up along my jaw, covering my mouth and nose. I held my breath, trying to keep my heart steady when Ambrose bared his teeth at me, slamming me harder against the marble wall.
“When are you going to learn to keep your fucking mouth shut?” Ambrose growled, slamming me into the wall again. A whimper tore from me as my lungs burned and pain ripped through my body. “You are mine to control, mine to do with as I wish. If I fucking tell you to run, you run. If I tell you to kill, you kill. If I tell you we are going to have a public execution,you will DAMN WELL KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT,” Ambrose bellowed, slamming me harder into the wall.
Spots danced along my vision, my ears ringing from the force, and I felt hot liquid drip down my neck. My breath rushed out of me, making bubbles in the water. Bubbles that Ambrose drew out as I kicked out my legs, scratching and fighting against his hold.
Having had enough, Ambrose threw me to the ground, watching me as I bucked and clawed at the water, fighting for air. My vision was beginning to blacken when he waved his hand, letting the water drop away from my face.
I turned toward the floor, gasping and gulping down air, coughing up the water that burned my lungs.
“The next time you speak out of turn, I will let Lord Bramwell have you, and trust me when I say this, he is far worse than I. Now get out,” Ambrose spat.
Standing on unsteady legs, I rushed out of his office, colliding with a wall of muscle. I looked up, finding Samian, his eyes blazing with rage. Before I could say anything, the world faded away until we stood in the middle of my room.
Unable to hold myself up, I fell to my knees, Samian following me, moving the hair from my face. My eyes burned, heavy tears falling down my cheeks. I heard someone curse behind me, but I let my head fall against Samian’s chest as I broke down.
Chapter 18
Soren
“Ineed you to go to Nemos.”
My eyes cut to the soft voice, a snarl escaping my lips from her intruding on my fun. Whimpers echoed around the room, the bloodied demon chained to the stone wall begging through the cloth stuffed into their mouth for help. Growling, I snapped my teeth at the sound of their pleading, letting my magic swirl around us. Black clouds enveloped the room, twisting and crawling toward the demon as they jerked in their chains. Their black eyes widened, fear lacing every feature on their face.
“And why would I do that?” I sighed, looking back to the feminine figure stepping through the shadows.
“Because Cassia hasn’t answered any of my letters,” Morg frowned. “And because I asked.”
“Did you?” My magic clouded around me, allowing me to slip into the veil, concealing me from view. I drifted silently along the room until Morg stood unknowingly in front of me. Stepping into the dim light, I towered over her, leaning down enough to whisper into her ear, “I don’t take well to demands.”
A sharp point pressed against my stomach, and my gaze flicked down. Morg twisted, her deep green eyes narrowing on me. “Don’t make me remind you of how I became queen.” Morg stared up at me, her head tilting back, but the fire in those green eyes promised nothing short of violence and blood.
“You became queen because Iallowedit, Morgiana,” I reminded her, ignoring the dig of her blade.
The dagger slid up my body until Morg pressed it against my throat. “I became queen because I made every single one of you brutes kneel.”
My lips rose in a lazy grin, the sharp points of my teeth pressing into my bottom lip as I leaned into the sharp point, savoring the warmth of blood sliding down my skin. “Of course, myqueen. Now, why mustIgo to Nemos? I’m a little busy if you haven’t noticed.”
Morg sighed, turning to look at the demon cowering against the wall. Blood dripped down their face, falling into a pool of crimson below. “Because you’re the only one I trust with this.” Bringing her gaze back to mine, Morg lowered her dagger. “My husband is having dreams about Cassia. He fears that something is happening that she can’t get out of. You are one of the few strong enough to be unaffected by the magic of Nemos.”
“Then ask one of them to go in my place,” I growled, my lips dipping into a scowl.
“No, it has to be you,” Morg said pointedly. The tension in her voice was subtle, but I’ve known her long enough to notice when she was on edge.
My brow rose, my head tilting to the side, causing the chains along my horns to chime. “I doubt my sister will be happy with my presence in her realm.”
“Then make sure Zarina doesn’t find out,” Morg snapped, her lip curling back.
