“And if you kill me?”
“Oh, you’ll both still die, of course. It’s not foolproof.” The whip drops from my back. “But I can certainly use my techniques on you without losing that beast. I’ve grown quite fond of his power.”
“He’s your son.”
He chuckles. “He’s a means to an end.”
My stomach drops. His son sacrificed everything he wasto bow to his father’s demands—for his people. For his throne. After everything he gave, his father doesn’t appreciate any of it.
He’s just a weapon—one that gives the king power.
“Kaden will kill you,” I promise, words dark. “When he returns, when he sees what you’ve done, he’ll kill you.”
Zelos laughs, cold fingers tracing a scar along my shoulder. I hiss as if burned, pulling from his touch.
“And risk his coup?” He shakes his head.
I still, eyes wide and the king laughs. “Oh, you thought I didn’t know? That’s adorable.” Grabbing my hair, he yanks my head, exposing my neck as my body bows. I curse him, whimpering in pain. “You’ll learn, my dear, that I knoweverythingin this palace. My son planning a coup has been a dirty secret for years. Why do you think I spent so much time sending him away, battling in my name? Can’t steal a castle he’s never at.”
He shoves me forward, my chin crashing into my chest, gnashing my teeth together.
“What I didn’t expect was mybrotherto be in on it.”
The tone of hurt radiates around us and I take comfort that Zelos didn’t know everything.
Snorting, I mock, “Because Oslo would rather your son lead your people thanyou.”
The backhanded slap surprises me, whipping my head to the side.
I taste blood on my tongue and my power struggles to rise.
Glaring at the king, he smiles cruelly at me. He’s enjoying this.
“Wondering why your magic isn’t reacting?” My tongue darts out, tasting the drying water on my skin. The herbal tang of the binding drug sours my gut and my face falls. “You thought I would come into this unprepared?”
“I thought you’d be dead by now.” I scoff, shrugging. “This doesn’t scare me.” I pull on my chains, tossing my wet hair back, feeling more confident than I am. “I’ve faced worstmonsters than you. And survived.”
“That you are, my dear. A survivor.” He comes close, breaths fanning my face. “But you can’t endure everything.”
He stands back, walking once more to my back at the sharp tips of the flogger skirt my skin.
“My apologies the tips are iron. I know it doesn’t bother your kind. But it will still do effective damage when beaten against raw flesh.”
The hit is sudden, metal bits tearing into my skin as the leather straps slice into my back. Biting my lip hard enough to draw blood, I hold back a scream that sits on my tongue.
“No sounds?” Zelos frowns. “That won’t do.”
He hits me over and over and I bow forward, letting the chains take my weight as I try to move out of his way. It’s useless. I’m held immobile as the king swings the deadly weapon into my back, cutting into my flesh, skin shredding.
Finally, after a half dozen or so times, a small whimper leaves my lips and my knees buckle.
The chains holding me up wrench my arms and I cry out. My body ignites with harsh pain and wicked agony as I swing.
“There, see?” he asks, a smile in his words. I can’t open my eyes, tears streaming down my face. “Make the noises and it stops.”
He’s a sick bastard. He wants to break me.
“Now,” he begins, leaning down to stare into my face. My vision wavers as unconsciousness tries to pull me under, but I fight it back. There’s no telling what he’ll do to me if I’m not awake.
