Jude swings swiftly with his other hand, and I realize he has another knife. That man is always prepared.
But it’s not enough. Oliver’s power sparks to life, and the room turns bright as electricity courses through their bodies. Jude is frozen, mouth wide open around a silent scream.
I know what will happen next. I’ve seen it countless times in the two years when I traveled with Oliver. If he keeps at it, Jude’s blood will boil and his flesh will burn. He’ll be cooked alive. Ten seconds is enough to kill any man.
“Please! Don’t!” I scream at the top of my lungs. “Oliver!”
His name is enough to finally catch his attention. Oliver lets go and Jude falls on the floor, unconscious. I know from experience that he must have fern-like patterns all over his skin and face.
Oliver gets out of bed, still naked. “Who is it?” he asks. “Your lover?”
I shake my head a little too fast. “He’s a friend. That’s it.”
Because I know that any other answer would mean a death sentence for Jude. Oliver’s jealousy always ran deep.
He grabs Jude by the neck and drags him like a broken doll. “Really?” he says. “Because he came all the way here to save you.”
In the dark, I can’t see the new scars that now riddle his skin.
“I promise. He’s just a friend. We met on the way here.”
“Your promise means nothing,” Oliver retorts, dropping Jude at my feet. “I remember all your empty promises.”
It’s true. On the darkest nights, I used to promise him many things when his tears wet my shoulders. But I was fourteen.
“Please, don’t kill him. He’s a friend. I don’t mind never seeing him again, but I want him to be alive. Please…”
I don’t reach for Jude. I don’t want his death on my conscience.
Oliver puts on some boxer shorts, then he pulls Jude by the foot to the door and throws his limp body outside. He gives a shout, and two guards come running.
“Lock him up in the dungeons. And make sure he doesn’t escape again,” he says. “But do keep him alive. I might need him as an incentive,” he adds to me.
I bite my lip to keep in check the rage and angry retorts. I don’t want to give him an excuse to rethink his decision and kill Jude. If his brain even survived the voltage…
But even as I do my best to keep my mouth shut, Oliver storms back into the room and grabs me by the throat. He shoves me against the wall, and his face comes dangerously close to mine. So close, we could kiss. But there is murder in his eyes, not passion.
“Were you already planning on leaving me, Helios?” he asks.
“Were you… expecting a heartwarming reunion?” I say between painful intakes of breath. “After… your mercenaries… dragged me across the country… to be your slave?”
“I guess not. At the very least, you should grovel at my feet and make amends for how you treated me.”
“How I treated you?” I rasp. “You must be… kidding me.” I gather all the saliva I can spare while I’m still conscious, and spit at his face.
Oliver flinches. Then he smiles, and his hand tightens around my throat. My vision darkens.
“You’re feistier than when you were younger,” he tells me, just before I lose consciousness. “I think I like it. I love a challenge.”
I open my eyes sometime later, as the sun is rising through the large window. My throat is sore and painful. I have no doubt I have fresh bruises. They’ll just add more colors to the painting that is my body since the slavers beat me up. My ribs, too, hurt like hell. I rise with difficulty. There is a small box of painkillers and a bottle of water at my feet. Oliver’s peace offering.
I sigh. He hasn’t changed. His cruelty is sprinkled with remorse and affection. His love is a poison that gets you slowly. Thankfully, I’ve been immune for years.
I swallow two tablets. Painkillers are a luxury nowadays, and I’m not missing out.
I wish he had given me clothes. But no. It looks like he wants to keep me naked on his cold floor. I guess his affection only gets me so far.
I must find a way to escape and take Jude with me. Because if Griffin can’t reach me, I’m doomed to spend the rest of my life as Oliver’s pet.
