“Eefa,enough.” I’ve never heard Briony speak with such firmness.
“Master Iywan gave me the lead on this one, Priestess.” She keeps her focus on me as she speaks in Ellynne’s voice.
I fight to keep my tears at bay. I can’t do this. I cannot look at Ellynne’s face, but as I turn away, Eefa forces my face back to hers.
“If only Erleya knew what a whore their future queen is.”
Future queen… My chest constricts painfully. “My mother,” I say breathlessly. “What’s become of my mother?”
“Alive.” Eefa shrugs, unbothered. “Sort of. Kept alive by magic.” She wiggles her fingers, delight on her face. I turn an accusatory look Briony’s way, but she shows no sign of guilt. Figures.
Ellynne’s olive green eyes morph back to bright green, her red hair replaced by honey blond, her curves lessening until the face and body of Eefa stands before me again.
“What do you want with me if you have her blood or whatever?”
“Well…” Eefa’s grin spreads slowly across her face. “Her blood provides the medium we need, just in case. But it can only tear down the wards that protect the Veil; it does nothing to the Veil itself. Your living, breathing body provides the tether and the command we need to permeate the Veil and summon the enchantress.”
“What makes you lot think that I will cooperate with this world domination nonsense once I have Enidwen’s power. Aren’t you afraid I’d just smite you?”
“No.” She flips the dagger in her hand and catches it casually without even looking. “Not when you’re leashed like the rabid dog that you are.” She homes in on my wrist and my blood chills as I put together everything they’ve told me about this piece of metal.
“Leash?” I whisper.
“Yes…” She slowly drags the dagger over my skin, drawing imaginary patterns. The blade grazes me every now and then, and even though I tense every muscle in my body to avoid shuddering, my body acts on its own accord, and blood wells beneath the knife.
“Tell me this, Carys. Which of your lovers were you most attached to? Did you call out my name when Callum fucked you?”
I cringe so hard that my shoulders scream at me.
“What did you think of his last words? That helovedyou? What a pathetic little puppy dog.”
Poor Callum. Poor Ellynne. I should’ve done more to show them how much I cared about them. But I don’t want Eefa to know how deeply guilt has its claws in me. I muster a smile down at her and say, “And you callmeobsessed.”
Ire flares on her face. She draws back her hand and slams the pommel of her dagger into my ribs. I scream as pain bursts across my abdomen and stars dance before me.
“Eefa!” Briony shouts. “Stand down!”
Oh,nowshe intercedes.
I blink, trying to clear my vision, but Eefa rams the dagger pommel into my ribs again. The air rushes out of me and I’m unable toeven catch my breath before she strikes me for a third time. My lungs struggle to inflate, my chest burning from the effort.
Over the roar of my pulse in my ears, I’m able to make out Eefa’s sneering words. “You can fight all you want to, Carys, but with that conduit on your wrist, not only are we immune to your flamewielding, but you’re anchored to Master Iywan.”
So, that’s why they’ve been unbothered by the possibility of me summoning these powers. But…anchored?
The corner of Eefa’s lips twitch upward. “I can see you thinking… Let me spell it out for you, darling. As long as you wear that, you’re his puppet. He canwillyou to do whatever he pleases. He just hasn’t done it yet because he hoped you would come around on your own. But by all means, keep fighting. Keep being the stubborn bitch you are. Soon you will be a vessel for ultimate power, and you won’t be able to do a damn thing of your own volition. Ironic, hmm?”
My body goes numb.
“You might be a Flamewielder, darling, but Master Iywan will wield your very soul.”
Briony swears and storms out of the cell, her footsteps echoing. Each jagged breath sends a shooting pain through my abdomen and my head grows woozy, nausea gnawing on the pit of my stomach.
All the defiance and rage rush out of my body, only to be replaced with icy cold trepidation.Iywan will wield your very soul.
The strong scent of urine fills the cell as warmth spreads down the front of my trousers.
I dare to face Eefa again, and the most satisfied grin stretches across her wicked face while the very last of my dignity is lost along with my bladder control.
