Not on me?
His hand slowly moves to touch my face, as if it can’t be stopped, but hesitates before it makes contact with my chin. It causes my skin to pebble with his proximity.
“I know you believe me to be a monster—cruel and unfeeling. I am not that.” He’s right on one account. He is a monster. He’s shown as much in his compliance with my people’s treatment.
“Then let me be free, at the least, give me a chance to escape even if it’s from the menagerie...” The soft whisper leaves my lips, my eyes pleading with his.
His jade eyes sparkle and beckon me. They speak words left unsaid, a sadness that feels too familiar.
“I cannot.”
As if I had been slapped, I recoil out of his grasp and spit, the saliva dripping down his face.
“You are a beast, deserving of everything the cold void promises. I pray to the Goddess you never see the Plains of Elmir.”
I turn away, my face flaming.
The sound of retreating footsteps fills the tense air.
I can’t bring myself to look at him. A tug in my soul, ever so faint, begs me to turn around to face him though. It calls to me, sings to my soul to fall into his depths.
How foolish.
“You’ll be hung tomorrow in the soft heather of the town courtyard, that way the last thing to touch you will be a soft caress before you reach the other realm. Goddess be with you.”
I’m still looking away as the door to the chamber shuts with a deft thud. Only then does the wall holding back my despair break and the tears finally fall.
Chapter 8
Kassiel
“Icannot.”
Gods those words gutted me to utter when she looked at me with such fervor.
And it made no sense.
She’s not the first to beg me to let them go and nor will she be the last—but there wassomethingin the way she called to me.
In an attempt to clear my head, I left her under the care of two guards, some of my best men. They were loyal to Rune and me but equally afraid of Orlin. Which means they at least had their wits.
That fucker was always eager to bend someone’s sanity if he felt so inclined.
I’ve become defensive over the little warrior that resides in our grasp. In a sick perverse way I suppose.
I had wanted to be the one to see her death. To make sure it was quick and according to my plans.
Orlin couldn’t know my curiosity had been piqued or he’d insist on convincing King Euron to prolong her suffering, not because he hated her—no, but because he’s set on taking anything from me.
Envy blackens his heart and mind, twisting it into something so savage even Rune and I have made it a point to stay out of his way.
His jealousy seemed to come alive whenever he found me and King Euron in discussion. Even recently he’d begun to lash out at Rune until Euron put a stop to it. It was shocking when Euron had told Orlin to give us space, as if he could feel the building tension himself.
The king generally let Orlin do as he wanted because of one reason alone—he enjoyed watching people suffer, got off on it really. I had witnessed it more times than I cared to particularly with those taken to his menagerie.
And although King Euron had stepped in a few times, it was also apparent that he had found immense pleasure in watching the three of us play this game of cat and mouse.
Perhaps that’s why the king kept him close, letting his leash loose just enough that he could sink his teeth into anyone who dared walk by him. King Euron enjoyed the discourse between his puppets. He would rather us be pitted against each other than risk us forming bonds of our own. It was a perfect plan, crafted by the very man who controls us.
