“I have a summoner,” Bramley boasted. “Rare. But he serves me. Because I am the one creature that should be worshipped and feared.”
Great, Wonderful. This guy was scary. Yep. Theo got it. “But how did he summon me?” It was important to get as much information as he could. And maybe give the king time to calm down.
“Blood,” Bramley replied. “We collected your blood to use in a summoning spell.”
“Where did you get my blood?” How was it possible? Wouldn’t Theo have known if someone had gotten his blood.
“You fell.” Bramley clapped his hands. “Clumsy little shifter. I sent the triplets to bring you to me first. They failed but did collect some of your blood for me.”
“You sent the dark triplets after me? They almost killed me!”
“They were ordered to bring you to me. I might have miscalculated when I didn’t state what condition you should be brought,” Bramley said. “I didn’t make that mistake with the dryad. Look at you, unharmed, in one piece.”
“But what was with trekking through half the realm? Couldn’t you have just summoned me here?” Theo wasn’t a little irritated with how much walking he’d just done.
Bramlet frowned. “The summoner’s power was exhausted before he could deliver you directly to me. I had anticipated this which is why I sent the dryad this morning ahead of the summoning.”
Theo rubbed his sweaty palms against the legs of his jeans. “You’ve gone to a lot of trouble for me. Why?”
Bramley smiled again. He lifted his hands in front of him with his palms facing up.
Energy swirled around the cold room.
Like static electricity but Theo was certain it was magic. Like Bramley was powering up.
“Why?” Bramley repeated before giving Theo another mocking laugh. “I have searched a very long time for you, Theodore Bailey.”
“Me?” Theo pointed at himself. “I’m no one.”
Bramley nodded. “No one. Nothing. A worthless shifter that doesn’t even know who his family is.”
That was harsh. “Okay?”
“I know,” Bramley told him. “I know everything.”
“What? How?” Theo was getting a really bad feeling. This guy was not only mean but he might be on the crazy side as well.
“Because, brother, I am the reason that you grew up an orphan.” Bramley clapped his hands and sent a wave of magic at Theo.
He was lifted off his feet and thrown against the bars of the cell.
Theo rolled onto his back as his entire body felt like it was on fire.
A shadow passed over him as he peered up to see Bramley standing over him.
Gasping for breath, Theo wiped the tears of pain from his eyes.
“Oh! Did that hurt?” Bramley leaned closer. “How about this?”
Theo screamed as Bramley held his hands over Theo, sending fire into his body.
Brother? Wait! Brother!
“Or this?” Bramley said before Theo’s body seized up as ice filled his veins.
Chapter Five
Mitch
