Aster hissed, alarm twisting my stomach to see how inflamed the skin around her wound became. The skin was healed, but the underlying tissue was gruesome.
“Did you even take the serum I gave to Samian?” Aster asked, her tone harsh as she put her hands on the injury. Ignoring the magic of the stones suppressing her power, Aster forced out a heavy breath as a greenish glow seeped into Queen Cassia.
The wound healed, the color returning to the queen’s face, and I rushed to help her stand. “And you call me foolish,” I said, frowning at her. “I know you can see things we can’t, but we needto have a serious talk about your self-destructive tendencies once we get out of here safely.”
The queen clucked her tongue, swatting me away once she was on her feet. “If everyone weren’t acting so senselessly, I wouldn’t have to take such measures.”
Ivara snorted, but Daelan leaned his head into the cell, his face tight. “While it’s good to see you alive and well, Queen Cassia, I’m almost positive that all of this can wait until we get the fuck out of here. Let’s move!”
I looked back at Queen Cassia, tilting my head to the side. “You can either walk out of here with us, or we will have Daelan carry you. Either way, youwillbe leaving this dungeon with us.”
The queen straightened, peering down at me with narrowed eyes. “I will leave with you, but only because I will not be carried as Aster was.” Raising her chin, the queen ripped her dress, tying it off to match Ivara and me. She walked out of the cell with her head held high, giving Daelan a brief nod to let him know she was ready.
“We’re taking a different route,” Daelan said, his eyes meeting mine. “The plan is to meet Hale and Evander near the servants’ quarters before leaving the palace. We need to hurry, however, and stay hidden. The rebels are a touch jumpy after the shitshow in the colosseum.”
“Got it,” I said, swallowing down my nerves. Explosions still fired overhead, sending chunks of stone crashing to the floor.
Weaving through the dungeon, we made sure to keep close together. Once the soldiers realized what was happening above us, they rushed off to help, leaving the lower halls deserted. We didn’t encounter anyone else as we moved through the passageways. Eventually, we reached a small chamber where Kieran, Orin, and Samian waited with Hale and Evander, along with a handful of servants already gathered there.
My heart swelled at the sight of Kieran, and I ran to him, wrapping my arms around him. Kieran held me, his shoulders sagging with relief. My eyes met with Hale, and he grinned, giving me a small wave. A quiet joy crashed through me at the sight of him alive, but I forced myself to focus on our task. We started forward when a dark laugh echoed from the shadows on the far side of the room, bringing us to an abrupt halt.
“My darling Sybil, where do you think you are going?”
My blood ran cold at the sound of his voice, the voice that has haunted my every nightmare since the day we met. My body trembled as the truth sank in—our plan to leave unnoticed had failed, and the weight of it choked me. I closed my eyes, swallowing down the nausea that rose, my stomach twisting hard. Taking a shuddering breath, I turned to face him.
Stepping out of the shadows, Ambrose’s glare cut straight into my soul. But it wasn’t him that had my heart dropping. It was the male who stood beside him who held my attention, who made my stomach churn.
“You motherfucker,” Kieran growled, baring his teeth at Ezra as he stood beside Ambrose.
I couldn’t move. My body stood frozen as Ezra’s gaze shifted over everyone behind me, to Samian and the queen, to Aster and Orin, finally landing on Kieran. Guilt flickered in his eyes, but then his face turned hard when Ambrose laughed.
I looked back to Ambrose as a mirthless smile cut across his face. His eyes lit up with such viciousness that I didn’t have to guess at what was coming.
“Sybil. My dear, darling Sybil.” He said, his tone haughty and filled with scorn. “I had hoped ourcaptivatingnights together had taught you better than this, so imagine my surprise when this traitor found his way into my office, telling me all about your little plan tonight.”
The air seemed to leak from the room as each of us realized how Ezra had used us—how he had gathered our plans in secret and betrayed us. Low growls came from behind me, Kieran and Samian moving to my side, ready to fight, though Samian’s eyes remained on Ezra, his treasured friend. Still, I held my ground, steadying myself despite the panic curling tight in my chest.
“I command you to come to me,” Ambrose whispered, low and angry. “Now.”
I forced down my fear, willing my mind to stay strong as I walked toward him, leaving everyone behind. As soon as I reached Ambrose, his hand snapped out, grabbing me by the throat to pull me closer. Shouts rang out through the room as if they could protect me from what was to come, but I kept my body loose. I needed Ambrose distracted to buy them more time.
Moving his hand to cup my chin, Ambrose slowly turned my body so that my back was flush against his chest. He leaned my head to the side, pressing his nose against my neck, and breathed me in. I could feel his wicked smile forming as he looked toward my mates, taunting them, daring them to make a move.
“This won’t do, my darling Sybil,” Ambrose whispered, his voice deep and low. “I had hoped your time in the dungeons would have taught you the consequences of your actions; however, it looks like I’m going to have to teach you another lesson.”
My body trembled as my gaze caught Kieran’s before drifting to Samian. Their faces drained of color, horror overtaking them as they saw me in the arms of their enemy. I closed my eyes, bracing myself for the words I knew would come next. I had hoped this moment would never have to come, but I couldn’t fight against it anymore. It was here, and I needed to do everything I could to protect the family I had found and come to love.
Ambrose leaned into the side of my neck, his revolting breath brushing against the shell of my ear. “I command you to kill them, Sybil. Every last one of them.” Ambrose growled quietly. “Everyone except Samian, of course. I want him alive and well.”
Time stood still as his words echoed in my mind. A pained groan left my lips when I hesitated, refusing to take a step. Ambrose gave me a slight push toward my mates and friends, and I swallowed the bile rising in my throat. Opening my eyes, I looked at Samian, silently begging him to stick with our plan. Samian paled but nodded. I moved my gaze to Kieran, his eyes wide with anguish.
“What did you do?” Samian snarled, his head whipping to Ambrose.
Ambrose laughed, low and deep. “I gave her a lesson. One that she will never forget, Samian. I hope you will learn it as well. I will make sure both of you will come to understand what happens when you betray me.”
An ache in my chest started to form as I kept myself from moving. I lifted my hand and placed it over my heart. “Please, Ambrose, don’t make me do this,” I begged. “I’ll do anything—anything but this.”
“No, my darling,” Ambrose said, frowning. “Now, do as I command.”
