My gaze slid to hers, and my nose curled in disgust. “Should I? What would you be willing to give if I do?”
Cassia huffed, her lips thinning. “What would the God of Chaos want? An answer to a question or a treasure of gold, or maybe a crystal?”
My eyes narrowed on her, a wicked smirk curling my lips. “Why not both? I did saveherat your request.”
“Fine,” Cassia said, her voice flat. “I will give you both.”
My smile sharpened, and I crouched down, sealing the wounds on his body. I couldn’t fully heal him, and with his pulse this weak, he would probably die. However, Cassia knew this, so it didn’t matter to me. Once his wounds were sealed, I stepped out of the cell, finding the soul-meander watching me closely, terrified of my presence.
“You’re her mate?” I asked, though I already knew the answer. When he nodded, I flashed him a vicious smile. “I guess I’ll be seeing you soon, then.” The soul-meander’s face turned sickly pale, his chest unnaturally still, as though he’d forgotten how to breathe. I dismissed the male and turned back to Cassia,my grin hardening into a glare as shadows curled around me, dragging me back to Dubnos.
Chapter 41
Sybil
Ahand brushed against my face before gripping my shoulder, gently shaking me awake. Groaning, I forced my eyes open and looked up. Samian stared down at me, his face ashen and filled with alarm, his breathing coming in short pants. I made a move to sit up, Samian reaching out to help me. As soon as I was up, Samian threw his arms around me, squeezing me tight. I wrapped my arms around his waist, my heart dropping as I felt how his body shook.
“What happened?” I asked, my throat feeling scratchy and sore.
“I was going to ask you the same thing.” He pulled back, his gaze roaming my body, looking for any wounds. “What do you remember?”
I sucked in a breath and looked past him, but Hale’s body was gone.
“Don’t worry, he is okay for now. His pulse was barely there, but Daelan took him to Aster.” When I looked back at him, Samian cupped my cheek. “Tell me what happened.”
“Ambrose used the bargain to force me into telling him what I knew about the rebellion, but I refused. When he learned Hale was involved, he tried to kill him for answers—and when I stillwouldn’t give him what he wanted, he told me to die, leaving the bargain to finish the job. I remember breaking through his command and going to the place Solaris showed me, with the vines killing off the trees, and—” I stopped and winced, the memory of that ice searing my skin flashing across my mind. “I tried to break the bargain, but it hurt. It was the worst pain I have ever felt. I didn’t think I was going to make it.”
“And you almost didn’t,” Queen Cassia scoffed, her soft face full of anger. “You were so close to death, youfoolishchild.”
“I was just following your orders,” I snapped back, inwardly cringing at my harsh tone. I knew it wasn’t her fault, not to mention she was still the queen.
“Solaris explained how to know when the time was right, did she not?” Queen Cassia raised her chin, peering down at me. “Did thatfeellike the right time to you?”
I sighed, letting my back fall against the stone wall behind me. Pebbles crumbled, falling to the floor. Looking around the cell, I noticed cracks that weren’t there before. I pressed a hand to my chest, struck by the strange emptiness left behind where the pain had been. “I’m sorry, you’re right,” I murmured, my shoulders sagging. “It wasn’t the right time, but I didn’t care. I wanted to end this and destroy Ambrose for what he had done—for what he had made me do.”
A deep sadness filled my heart, and Samian’s eyes flickered, confusion filling his gaze. “I-I killed Vivi,” I whispered through the bond. “Ambrose sent the command through the bargain, and I tried to fight it—to break the command—but some male attacked me. I was defending myself.” I stopped, swallowing thickly. “But Vivi came out of nowhere to block the male from me. I couldn’t stop in time.”
A mournful look lined Samian’s face, his jaw clenching. “It’s not your fault. I’m sure she understood that.”
“It doesn’t matter,” I hissed. The sound of steps echoed through the dungeon, our heads snapping to the outside of the cell. “Go before they find you. I’ll be fine.”
The muscles in his jaw feathered, but Samian nodded and disappeared from sight. My eyes collided with Queen Cassia’s, her face still tight with anger. But she limped back to her bed, settling in before Ambrose stepped into view.
“So it’s true, then,” he scowled, his gaze flicking to the bloodstained spot where Hale had once lain before returning to me. “You broke through the command.” Ambrose waited for me to speak, but I curled my nose in disgust, my lips remaining sealed. “Fine, I’ll figure out your secrets in time. As for now, you can sit and rot in here. I’ll be busy for the next few days cleaning up the mess you caused. You can use this time to reflect on your actions and consider whether the consequences were worth it. I’ll fetch you in time for the ball.”
Ambrose lingered, his face twisting with revulsion before he left without another word. I relaxed against the wall and closed my eyes. My body felt weak and exhausted. It was all I could do to keep myself from falling over.
“Sleep,” Queen Cassia said sharply, her eyes focused on the book she was holding.
“Do you have someone bring you different books, or do you have to reread the same one?” I said it as a joke, hoping to ease her anger, but when her piercing gaze cut to mine, I winced.
“Sleep,” she repeated. “You’ll need all the rest you can get.”
I fell over on my side, hissing at the chill of the floor. My eyelids felt heavy as I closed my eyes, but my thoughts wouldn’t settle. I forced them open and stared at the stone floor instead. “Why won't you let Samian help you escape? Or let him heal you? Are you afraid someone will find out?”
Queen Cassia exhaled; her annoyance was hard to miss. “I have my reasons, reasons that I must keep to myself.”
“Because of your visions?”
