“You see, not long ago I heard that our beloved Devourer had accidentally let some of The Hidden go. And so, now he’ll atone by using his gift on this man associated with The Hidden.”
Gasps from women surrounding me has my head jerking to look at them while snickering from the Lords standing nearest me has my blood running cold.
“This man refused to give up any information on the rebel group. It’s unfortunate. He’d rather become a martyr for a failing cause than grow to see himself vowed with a woman or start a family.”
King Euron’s cruel laughter bubbles up, and the crowd erupts in laughter of their own. My feet are stone and I think my heart very well slows to a stop.
Kassiel keeps his eyes trained on the horizon, the ever dutiful soldier, ready to take an order. He’s completely still, unmoving, even as the Zedriel shifts uncomfortably causing his bound wrists to start bleeding again from the dried scabs.
I can’t bring myself to turn around to witness Leeson or Jessamine’s despair. We know what’s about to happen, we’ve witnessed it before. Now knowing Kassiel’s burden, it makes the air rush from my lungs in a whoosh. I’m stuck here, watching the man I crave so fervently, about to commit the biggest sin in his eyes on someone who considered him a friend.
Clouds begin to form, unleashing a strong breeze that whips my hair around. I can’t help it when the first tear slides out of the corner of my eye, the traitorous thing that threatens to sabotage our plans.
I swallow down the looming heartache, trying to don the mask of indifference I’ve seen Kassiel possess so often, but gods damnit, it isn’t working. I’m feeling too much. Feeling like my world is tilting.
Memoriesburnin the back of my mind, and phantom smoke wafts and I inhale deeply, willing away the pain that’s eager to brim over.
“Devourer, I know you were recently absent for an extended period. I worried that maybe you’d had a change of heart with regards to your allegiance to me.”
Kassiel’s head straightens as if a puppet and I can see his hand flinch. I turn to face King Euron and see the sadistic shadows bleed over his face.He’s using his command over Kassiel.
A sob threatens to tear from my throat and I choke on it for far too long.
Watching this is too much, too near to my own hurt.
For the first time I want to run and flee, fuck The Hidden’s plans.
I don’t want to be strong any more than I want Kassiel to be a puppet.
But I can’t, because running right now means Leeson and Jessamine aren’t safe.
My silent tears fall again as the sky turns a ghastly red. I release a shaky exhale so I don’t sob.
“Well?” King Euron asks Kassiel impatiently, annoyance tainting his tone.
“Prove to me, Devourer, that The Hidden is meaningless, that you’re still loyal to me. Honor me this night by snuffing out blatant defiance.”
A soft groan comes from my chest, unable to contain any more of the horror I’m being forced to witness.
Chapter 31
Kassiel
My eyes snap to Alora’s, andgodsI hate to see her here this close, about to witness all of this undoing.
I step quickly toward Zedriel, looking away from the only tether to my humanity, from her eyes filled with horror.
If I could save her from King Euron, to save her even now, I would.
I meet Zedriel's eyes. They’re wide, pleading as they bounce between mine. He’s endured much today, a glimpse of what Euron could do to any of us here.
And I was there for all of it, with him through it all.
Unwilling to let him go through the torture alone.
He cried out for me, cursed me, and eventually broke into silent tears. Every wretched sob that wracked his shoulders as he was bound and hung was enough to make me hate myself in more ways than I ever had before.
Euron had tried to break him in ways that were ruthless. The inhumanity of each violation dealt on Zedriel was far worse than flogging and being beaten. The torture went deeper than the flesh–it teetered between depravity and viciousness that seeped into your mind.
