“Yes- yes,” she stumbles over her words.
Sigvid gently pushes her back toward the wall, away from the gruesome scene. “Stay back until it’s time.”
“Samson!” Sigvid’s booming voice shakes their hostage. “You have information for us.” He curls his fists. “And I am fucking tired ofyour shit.” Sigvid punches him between the legs, smashing his shriveled cock and balls with his muscled hand. “Willing to talk now?”
“Never,” he wheezes. “Not to you, Beast!” Samson’s high-pitched voice struggles to restrain tears.
Grim steps past Sigvid until he is nose-to-nose with Samson. “I am going to rip your fucking lungs through your back if you don’t start talking to one of us!”
He stalks around Samson with the point of his dagger gouging into his skin. Samson grinds his teeth as beads of sweat trickle into his eyes. Grim twists and jerks the blade until he creeps along his backside. The steel dives between Samson’s ass cheeks, and a high-pitched shriek pauses his actions.
“Okay! Okay! Fine!” Samson cries. “You both are inhuman monsters. Drauger of the Abyss.”
Grim smirks. “That’s the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me.”
“What do you want from me?”
Sigvid slaps his cheek so hard he winces, “You are not a stupid man, Sammy boy. You must know we have brought you here for different questions but similar reasons. My questions first while my Queen is present.”
He glances back at Avina, who is bearing the same determination she wore when interrogating him in Scarwood.
“Why did you force an engagement on me?” She strides forward, her head held high.
Sweat glistens over Samson’s body, adding to the stink in the one-room cabin. A revolting, cackling noise rises from his chest.
Is this motherfucker laughing?
He manages to lift his head off his chest to find her. Sigvid moves to block his gaze with a snarl. “You don’t fucking get to look at her.” He lifts on the rope binding Samsons’ wrists, wrenching out a scream.
“Wait, Sigvid.” She throws back her hood, her eyes narrowing. “Answer my question, Samson.”
He licks his bloody lips with a deranged, twisted smile. “You don’t know, do you?”
“If you play games, I will happily stand aside so Grim can resume vengeance for his wife. You do remember Evie Woods, right?”
Sigvid grins proudly.
“Your mother was Lady ViktoriaRedwood. Do you require more information than that?” Samson spits out a chunk of blood.
“Grim, you may resume.” Avina waves her hand at him.
Samson tugs on the rope and screeches.
“Wait! Your Majesty!” His deep-set eyes flicker wildly. “Lady ViktoriaRedwood,” Samson adds hurriedly, “is the only direct descendant of Queen Emelia Redwood. That surname is not coincidental.”
She and Grim do not breathe at the pronouncement while Sigvid cackles. “Experiencing centuries-old guilt, Manchineel?”
Queen Emelia Redwood was the infamous necromancer who allegedly destroyed the Timber Sacred Stone to keep her husband, a Manchineel, from seizing control.
Sigvid intercedes. “Your family saw that the rightful heirs to the Timber throne were all but exiled.”
Samson shakes his head. “The story is more complicated than that. Emelia was power incarnate. Somewhere along the way, her mind grew unbalanced. My ancestors believed the Redwood bloodline was corrupted.”
“But the rightful heirs to the throne!” Grim growls.
I can’t believe I am agreeing with Samson on this matter.
His gaze falls to Avina, the direct descendent of the Redwood bloodline.
