No. But I had to try. “This has to be worthwhile for me to risk so much, otherwise—”
“More worthwhile than possibly gaining the power to end me?” He chuckled, shaking his head. “Letting me underestimate you so you can get everything you want out of this, is actually quite brilliant… I have to admit, I find negotiating with you to be a refreshing change. Invigorating, if you will.”
Advancing his staff, he stepped closer.
“I will meet you halfway, Braxton. I will not touch a hair on your princess, your people, or your flying pets. Nevertheless, I willneverrelease the beast.” Drumming his fingers against the wooden handle, he tilted his head. “But will you accept, say… a hundred slaves in his stead?”
The offer took me aback. “You would set a hundred people free, willingly, just to get me to train with you?”
“Why not? My fortress is finished, and they are worthless to me. Especially the sick and the decrepit.” His face contorted in disgust because he couldn’t use their life force anymore to feed his.
“I want two hundred slaves then.” Yeah, I was pushing it, but I wanted to know how badly he truly wanted me.
“Sure. I am feeling generous today,” he replied, greed and hunger coloring his intensifying gaze. “In turn, you will spend the entire day with me each time you train. In person. No mindscape, as you call it.”
Both hope and dread awoke in me at the notion. Training in person with the Warlock King was far more dangerous than I was comfortable with, except knowing that I would die during the battle and not here gave me the conviction I needed.
“You will free them right now.”
His gaze narrowed as he contemplated it. “Agreed… Consider it a gesture of good faith, but this will be our first training. Today, you are mine.”
Every muscle along my body tightened in response, but I curtly nodded. It was worth it if two hundred innocents would be free and able to come home with us. Plus, Evanna and our people wouldn’t have to worry about him attacking the Hidden Kingdom anymore.
I would fulfil my promise to her.
Raithian’s eyes suddenly brightened, and he turned his head.
“Domenico!” His expression hardened a moment later, as though someone had answered his call in the throne room—where Raithian’s body actually stood. “Gather two hundred slaves and load them onto the beast, I will have him release them in the Outlands at once. The scrawnier and older they are, the better. And make some of them women, I have no use for them.” Rage transformed his features. “Do not question me! I do not care what your men do with the women. Just do as I ordered!”
His statement sent pure anger through me, fueling my need to end him, and every man who served him.
The word mercy did not exist for them.
Forcing a settling breath down my lungs I contained the ire and pain stirring inside me. It was done. Raithian was staying true to his word, and so should I. Now I just needed to find a way to leave so I could tell Imogen and Kingston to go get the people he was freeing.
Raithian’s hand shot out to my arm when I began to turn away, holding me in place. “You are not going anywhere. You are mine today, Braxton, we agreed so.”
“I need to let the princess know—”
“Then do as I did,” he seethed.
“I don’t know how,” I snapped. “That’s the whole reason I need to be trained.”
Letting out an impatient breath, he let go of me. “Let this be our first lesson, then. I assume that wherever your body currently is, you are not alone.”
I nodded.
“Good, then this will be brief. Reach for your core magic and focus on the place where they are. What that room looks like, how it smells, how it feels to be there with them. Only, do not let go of this reality we share right now.”
Calling on my magic I tried to do as he described.
I angled myself towards the tree, the same tree my mother rested against the day Azazel found her, and I envisioned my room on the other side of the trunk. The air instantly swayed, shimmering with magic until all the pieces began to come together. The bed, the nightstand, the dresser, and mirror. Inch by inch our quarters in the Hidden Kingdom formed, including a shocked Imogen, Kingston, and Evanna.
Then the cause of their shock became evident. Golden smoke swirled up and down my body, exuding from my feet and holding me in some kind of trance before them. Not exactly a trance, but in an inanimate state.
Holy shit. That was definitely not what I experienced the other times I joined the mindscape. Maybe because this time I wasn’t being pulled into it by Raithian, I was creating my own.
I didn’t let the feat distract me though, focusing on the sound of the lake lapping against the shore behind me, a warm breeze rustling sand and leaves alike, and the unmistakable heaviness of Raithian’s presence.
