Elon said no more.
They satin silence for the rest of the day, listening only to the wails, snarls, and groans echoing through the prison. Rawn leaned against the wall to cool his sweaty face. The rest of his body was cold and trembling. The infection must be worsening.
Both stiffened when the gate to their tunnel clanked open. It was followed by the shuffle of footsteps. They both moved back to the darkest corners of their cell, not wanting to draw any attention. A soft female whimper echoed in the dark and Elon’s head whipped up. Rawn’s heart raced faster, and they slowly turned toward the cell door.
Grod appeared with a torch first. Then Anon slinked out of the shadows, gripping the arm of a she-elf. She wore a dark red dress, and a golden circlet adorned her waves of long, dark hair.
Elon inhaled a soft breath. “Garaea…”
Her amber eyes shone wet. “I’m sorry.”
He snarled at the red prince detaining her.“Damn you.”
Anon stroked her cheek, and she whimpered, recoiling away from him. “I caught a little mouse lurking about, perhaps searching for a way to break you free. Our sister always did favor you, Elon. She has certainly grown into a beautiful woman, hasn’t she?”
Sister?Rawn’s mind was reeling.
“Why have you brought her here?” Elon seethed.
“I thought you might need a little motivation to do what I asked. But if Garaea is not enough, I can acquaint myself with that other elf you love. Sylar, was it? We brought him to the keep last night. He’s upstairs now, waiting for me. And he is certainly lovely. I can see why you chose to betray us for him.”
Elon’s one eye widened. “You swore...”
Anon laughed. “I swore I would not harm your family, and I kept my word. But that green scat is not part of our family, is he, sweet sister?” He kissed Garaea’s head, and she flinched.
Elon slammed his fists against the bars, making his shackles clang loudly. “If you harm him?—”
Anon straightened, washing all emotion from his face in a blink, as if he had none at all. “Oh, you are not in the position to make threats when I have the means to take everything from you. You should be on your knees begging for my forgiveness.”
His voice dropped to a menacing pitch that made the sweat chill on Rawn’s body. He remembered what Anon had done to his sister and feared now for Sylar.
Elon’s loud breaths filled the silence as he sank to his knees. “Brother, please. Forgive me…”
A cruel, satisfied smile rose to Anon’s face. “There, was that so hard? Alas, it’s not my forgiveness you need to spare him, Elon, but father’s.” His dark eyes moved to Rawn. “At the moment, your prison companion cannot be touched, so I will propose another to take his place.” He grabbed Garaea’s throat, and she screeched as he yanked her close to the bars. “For each day he remains silent, I will mark the pretty flesh of everyone you love, Elon. Find out what I want to know, and it ends.”
Garaea silently wept, and he clenched his shaking jaw.
“I don’t know where the key is,” Rawn exclaimed. “I have no memory of where it is hidden!”
He had tried for hours to remember, with nothing to show for it.
“I am sure my little brother can help with that.” Anon sneered at Elon. “Do what you do best. You have three days, and today is day one.”
The prince strode away into the dark, with the Bloodhounds following him. Grod grabbed Garaea, and she cried out.
“Unhand her!” Elon reached through the bars.
Grod yanked his sister away, tearing their hands apart. Her soft weeping echoed through the tunnels.
Rawn shut his eyes. He braced himself against the wall, pleading for his mind to remember, but it gave him nothing.
Elon’s hands shook as he gripped the bars tight. His low, ragged voice filled the cell. “You must tell me where the other half of the key is, Rawn. Or I will be forced to tear the information out of you.”
CHAPTER 66
Lucenna
Lucenna woke completely dry and warm beneath Klyde’s mercenary coat, enveloped in his scent. Her pulse jumped when she opened her eyes to a view of his bare torso in the morning light. Remaining still, her gaze drifted across his smooth skin to the defined V line of his hips that disappeared beneath the fabric of his trousers.
