I narrowed my eyes. “What do you want?”
She lifted my chin with long fingers. I jerked my head away, glaring.
“For you to use your power to serve me.”
“Never.” My hair flew into my face, but I didn’t care.
My magic was drained but not gone. If I could buy enough time, gather just a little more strength, maybe I could stop time long enough to—what? I didn't know. But I wasn't giving up.
Alanna tilted her head, studying me like I was a mildly interesting insect. “What fire she possesses.” She glanced over her shoulder at Darius. “I can see why you’re enamored with her.”
Darius pulled against his chains, the metal clanking. “Leave her alone, Alanna.” His voice was low. Dangerous. “I swear, if you hurt her?—”
She laughed—a bitter, brittle sound. “You’ll what?”
“I’ll fucking kill you.”
The laughter died. Alanna turned to face him fully, her eyes narrowing to slits. Her beautiful face twisted into something ugly—pure, venomous hatred. “You dare to threaten your queen?”
I bit my lip to keep from screaming at her. Anything I said would only make it worse for him.
Darius pulled on his chains like a madman, the metal scraping against the stone. “You’re not my queen.”
“Says you.” Alanna’s voice was ice. “You should know what happens to people who defy me, Darius.”
“I don’t care what you do to me.”
“Oh, I’d never hurt you.” Her gaze slid to me, and a barbaric smile curved her lips. “But she’s another matter.”
My stomach dropped.
Alanna walked to the far wall, her heels clicking against the stone. She reached up and pulled something from a hook—a wooden rattan cane, long and thin and terrifyingly familiar.
Joy. They’d whipped Joy brutally. Left her back in ribbons.
The blood drained from my face. My legs shook so violently I could barely stand. I reached for my power—desperate, frantic—but pain rippled through me like fracturing ice, and I cried out.
“Untie her, Ari.”
Ari’s hands were on me before I could react.No. No.I thrashed against his grip, skin crawling where he touched me. I drew on my magic again, pushing through the agony, but more pain pulsed through my body, stealing my breath.
“Don’t bother.” Ari twisted my arm behind my back, his breath hot against my ear. “You’re wearing binding bracelets. You can’t break free.”
No. No, no, no.
“Alanna, don’t.” Darius’ voice cracked. The fury was gone, replaced by desperation. Fear. “Please. I’m begging you.”
Ari dragged me across the chamber, and I fought him every step—digging my heels in, twisting, clawing at his grip. It didn’t matter.
He hauled me toward what looked like a metal barrel, cold and rusted. He shoved me against it, bending me over the curved surface, and strapped me down. The restraints bit into my wrists, cutting off circulation.
All I could see was the floor. Stained. Rust colored. Except it wasn’t rust, was it? Oh god. My blood would soon mingle with the rest.
Tears welled in my eyes. I didn’t want to cry. I didn’t want to give Alanna or Ari the satisfaction. But this was going to be bad.
“Strip her down,” Alanna ordered.
Ari jerked up my tunic and yanked down my tights. I shivered violently, exposed and humiliated.
