Ezra left our new accommodations this morning in a frenzied rage. Something I hadn’t seen from him in a long time. After knowing him so intimately for the past five years, I’m able to spot the signs of him unraveling. And if he can’t keep me tucked away, successfully compelled into being his pretty little pet? Hewillunravel.
“Ah, the prodigal queen returns.” The sound of the voice is like silk, draping over my skin.
I snort, “I’d hardly call myself prodigal. I’ve been here every night.”
“Yes, well, as we’ve discussed… martyr doesn’t suit you. You’re much more fond of mischief than you are of being a sacrificial lamb.”Fair.
Axel grabs my wrist just under the shackle and lifts it to him. His deep brown eyes narrow as he examines the faded rune. “Can you still feel him?” He asks tentatively.
Dread fills my pit of a stomach as I reach for the seal.Cold. So bloody fucking cold.A shiver rolls down my spine, and I pull my wrist away from him. “No.” I exhale painfully, “I can’t feel him or Vada.”
Axel hums in reply, his left arm wrapping around my shoulder, pulling me into him. “He’ll find you, E.”
“Doesn’t matter.” I shrug, shucking out of his hug.
“What does that mean…”
I push up off the ground, walking a few steps towards the right side of the split. Axel’s hand snaps out, grasping at my wrist again.
“Calm down.” I snap, staring down at him.
He cocks his head at me, a disapproving smirk gracing his features. “Well, forgive me, E. You have self-preservation skills worse than a child.”
“Rude.”
“True.” He quips.
My eyes roll back so hard that stars dance across my vision, and I have to blink several times to focus them on Axel again. “He’s losing.” I start.
“Oh-kay…”
Bringing my wrists up, I jingle them at him, mimicking the magic cuffs. “These can only hold off my Wield as long as he shoves that elixir down my throat. And tonight… nothing.”
Realization lights across his face as he catches on to what I’m saying. “He’s running out of supplies.”
I nod, the pressure in my chest easing as I think about being out of Ezra’s fucking grasp. “And time… he’s panicking. The bloody fool used so much on me in the beginning, he didn’t think about what would happen when he ran low. Or worse –out.”
“The only advantage he’s ever had over you was his stature in hand-to-hand combat. But with your Wield…” His words fade out, drifting off in the thought.
“Now I just have to hope my magic doesn’t need to recover and that it comes in at full force,” I mutter, the flame of my newfound hope quickly burning out.
Axel hums in agreement, adding, “well if the latter happens – let’s hope your Wield doesn’t kill you in the process.”
Mhmm… and there’s that little possibility too… fan-fucking-tastic.
Rorin
“You can’t kill her, Rorin.”
I toss Will a withering look, and he matches it with one of incredulity. “Youcannotkill her.” He reiterates. “She is royalty.”
“She is the spawn of scum.” I snap.
He tosses his hands in the air, his frustration at me radiating through the room. “Fine. Do it then,murderher. What will that get you? You think it’s going to win any favors to your side? Making a martyr of the innocent princess? Didn’t your belovedwifehave some sort of moral complex about killing innocents?” He sneers.
My fists clench at his mention of her, the two of us staring each other down like beasts preparing for a fight.
“Do you two ever stop fighting?” The sound of Max’s voice jars us both.
