I wouldn’t have survived watching him become something else.
That’s why I love August and Nevaeh’s relationship so much. She had the courage to do what I couldn’t.
Nevaeh was broken like me, but she still had the heart to love that boy so fiercely. If it weren’t for her love for August, they never would’ve made it out of that dungeon alive.
Suddenly, Zale’s head snaps in my direction, and I duck back before he can spot me.
He might’ve been kind to me when I was a kid, but he’s also been under Tiberius’s thumb for fifteen years.
I don’t know what a sentence so cruel turned him into. And I don’t want to find out. He was the only good thing this place ever gave me. I can’t lose that.
A hand touches my shoulder, and I spin, my dagger ready.
Nevaeh steps back, frowning at my reaction.
“What’s wrong?”
I shake my head, pulling her into cover. “Nothing. I just saw someone I used to know.”
Nevaeh stares at me for a long second before nudging me away from Zale and back in the direction we came from. “Come on, we need to finish our task and find the others.”
She right. We’re running out of time.
Anxo, Dean, and Seiji must’ve reached Tiberius by now, and we need to get out of here before they move on to the next step.
36. See you in hell
Dean
“Keep moving.” A guard shoves me forward, and I barely catch myself before I fall.
The heavy enchanted chains bite into my wrists, the stench of old blood turning my stomach. I don’t even want to think about how many innocent lives were bound with these chains before they were sent to their death.
And I’m not going to be one of them.
Everything was going perfectly… until it wasn’t. We barely stepped into Tiberius’s room before the guards flooded in, forcing us to disarm like they were waiting for us around the corner.
Tiberius looked far too smug as they bound us and dragged us towards the grand hall. I wanted to break his jaw on sight, but didn’t want to give the bastard the satisfaction, so I kept my cool.
Can’t go off script. Not yet.
The grand hall is packed. Motherfucker has gathered every soul in this cursed kingdom to watch the spectacle as he parades us like trophies.
Anxo and Seiji are shoved to their knees, two warriors with spears standing behind them, waiting for one wrong move.
One of Tiberius’ sons forces me to my knees, earning a proud nod from daddy dearest.Barf.
Zaleglares at me, a sharp warning in his eyes. I smirk right back, not afraid of getting under his skin.
“No need to be so rough,brother.” His jaw clenches. I can practically hear his teeth grinding to dust.
When he finally steps away, I take in the crowd of thousands watching their king boast about capturing us, eating up every word.
I almost laugh when he calls himself the most powerful king in all realms.
A scoff slips out. Most powerful king? Please.
His ass would’ve been chewed up and spit out a long time ago if he weren’t hiding underwater like a coward.
