After her screams fade into silence, I peel my gaze away and look at the king. His eyes are wild with hunger, expression euphoric with his addiction.
A tear I can’t control slips past my defenses.
My mission is set. We’re not leaving here until I free these people and Nerian is nothing but a bitter memory. Wewillend this.
Nothing will stop me.
“Oh dear, I’ve upset you,” he admonishes, swiping his own cheek to mimic my tears.
“No, it’s the most striking thing I’ve ever seen,” I say, forcing a steady and assured tone.
Nerian sighs, staring longingly below again before he looks me in the eye, gaze flashing red. “I know. And wouldn’t you say our assets are more alignednow?”
I hum at him in agreement, bottling my rage. “Is this where Christine came from?”
Nerian’s proud smile makes me nauseous as he tsks. “No, no. Special stock is kept elsewhere.”
Dread pools in my gut. “Let’s see that next,” I demand, mustering excitement into my tone.
Nerian runs a finger along the railing, gazing at his farm. “I’d love to show you the cellar. We will visit it later this evening.” His chin tilts toward me, and his red eyes spark. “First, I have an activity planned.”
Oh gods.
“Oh?” I ask.
A thud below catches my attention, and I swivel my focus as Balor walks away from the finished “meal” he’s tossed aside.
“I thought it best for you to get to know me, too, Veya,” Nerian begins.
You’re a monster, that’s who you fucking are.
Del moves toward the stairwell, and I don’t miss the disgust on his face behind his king. I force myself to pay attention, facing Nerian again and feigning interest. It feels like my body doesn’t even belong to me anymore with the performance I’m compelling myself to give.
Nerian leans casually on the railing, flipping his cloak over his shoulder. His muscles flex under his suiting, and his mouth purses like I’m supposed to be drawn to his physique andhis story. “When I was human, I loved hunting my food. Deer hunting was my favorite. Would you like to reminisce with me today?”
The king’s eyes practically twinkle with his memories. I haven’t hunted in a long time, but whatever gets me into that cellar tonight, I’ll do.
“It’s been a while since I aimed a bow at a deer,” I confess, and Nerian chuckles softly.
“Oh, same for me. It’ll be fun, regardless—I promise. It’s a challenge in the night, finding them while they’re sleeping.”
I nod in acceptance.
He spins on his heel away from the farm, speeding up the stairwell. “Come, my dear! To the stables!”
With a final glance below, I stow my rage and horror, strapping it down tight, saving it for later. I straighten my shoulders with a deep breath and look up at Second. “We’renotleaving.”
Second’s gaze flicks to the farm. “I support that decision,” he snarls and whips around to lead the way to the surface.
Nerian and Del trot ahead on a cleared path, leading our party west of the castle toward a dense forest. Snow falls thickly, blurring my surroundings, and the only warmth is the animal underneath my sidesaddle as we trudge through the wintry storm.
Well, thatandmy enormous gown piled and draped around me, a sea of red in the moonlit white. And it’s not socommandingwhen it feels like I’m drowning in vulnerability.
Nerian didn’t even offer to let us change clothes before this hunting expedition.
I’m unsure how much more placating I can put up with, and we’re only halfway through our second night in this hell. As we travel the frozen landscape, I let a tear fall while I battle the overwhelm surging through me. Nerian’s bloodlust, his army, Christine, the farm, the correspondence in Nerian’s office with the Old Tritan territory—that region was neutralized. Or so I thought. We haven’t been over our eastern mountains in two decades, but Nerian’s correspondence postdates that.
We missed something.
