“Tighter, I think,” he crooned in her ear.
No – too tight–
The wood pressed hard into her back. He hummed with pleasure under his breath whilst he worked.
Sebastian. Where are you?
He adjusted the knots, pulled at them viciously, just to hear her breath catch. “Much better,” he murmured, clearly pleased. “Still, obedient... helpless.”
When he was done, she couldn’t move an inch. The ropes made every breath agony. Her pulse hammered wildly.
“This isn’t justice! Please–”
He leaned in from behind and jerked her head upwards. “You’re right. This isn’t justice,” he told her, his breath hot against her neck. “This is mercy. It’s better not to know when it’s coming. You should thank me.”
He stepped back around and looked at her, bound and terrified, and smiled in approval. In enjoyment.
He picked up the torch.
Kara struggled uselessly against the rope, panic exploding. “Don’t do this – please, Cade – please don’t–!”
“Begging already?” he chuckled. “It’s not even warm yet.”
He held the torch close to her face. Too close. She could feel the heat on her skin, smell the smoke on his sleeve. She tried to turn away but he seized her chin, forcing her to look at it.
“No–”
“Look at it,” he commanded. “Now.”
He touched the flame to her cheek and pain seared across it.
“Breathe it in,” he said softly. “You only get one first time.”
A sob escaped her.
He bent down and lit the edge of the pyre.
“No! NO!” she screamed at him.
Sebastian – help–
Cade’s eyes glinted. “Let’s see what kind of screams you make.”
The fire caught quickly, kindling crackled hungrily. A rush of smoke curled up into her nose, her throat. She coughed violently, tears streaming down her face.
“Scream for me, Healer. It’s no fun if you stay quiet,” he called.
The heat crept closer.
She did. She couldn’t stop herself. She screamed for help. She screamed for Sebastian most of all. But no one came. Her voice grew hoarse and desperate, and was slowly drowned out by the growing roar of the fire.
“He’s not coming, Healer. But I’ll make sure he knows it was him you screamed for.”
No–
Can’t breathe–
Her vision blurred as she started to choke. Smoke filled her lungs.
