She didn’t answer.
“Or did you dream about it?” he went on. “I did. I woke up wondering if you still smelled like smoke.” He leaned in, pressing his nose to her shoulder. “You do.”
Kara jerked away from him. “Don’t touch me.”
“What, no screams today? Not even a thank you for the dress rehearsal?” His laugh sent chills up her spine. “No one will put out the flames this time.”
She braced herself, stepping back into the wall, searching the cell for anything – anything – she could use. But there was nothing. Only stone. Only him.
“Your execution’s been moved up. Little sunrise special. I told you – the crowd loves a spectacle.”
Still, she didn’t respond, but her pulse was deafening.
“Shame about your traitor by the way,” he said casually. “He burned last night.”
No! Not Sebastian. Please–
He paused, savouring her reaction.
“Got the message from Lord Thorne this morning.”
He can’t be dead.
He lunged, pinning her against the wall, his hands either side of her. He tilted his head, amused. “Oh, don’t look like that. You can have fun with me instead.”
Icy fear filled her. And she saw it in his face. He’d seen it. He wanted her afraid. It pleased him.
“I was disappointed,” he said, stroking a hand down her arm. She flinched away. “That I didn’t get to watch him die.”
Kara wanted to scream. Not from pain, but fury. The way he talked about Sebastian, the way he touched her like she was his.
“But at least I get one last hour with you. I took the guard shift. It’s just us.” He grabbed her hips hard and pulled them against him. “Thought I’d give you a proper send-off.”
Don’t touch me, don’t–
He leaned in closer. Slowly, deliberately, his hand came to her jaw. His fingers dug hard into her skin.
“You like Thorne men, don’t you?” he asked cruelly. “What’s one more before you burn?”
No. Not you.
She tried to pull away. His hand flared crimson, magic flooding his muscles – strength beyond anything she could fight. Her wrists throbbed powerless against the nightshade. Mocking her weakness. She pushed at his chest with everything she had – he didn’t move. He glanced down at her wrists. Up at the wall. Smiled.
No–
He wrenched them up with his free hand.
“Get off me,” she snarled.
He chuckled. In one motion, he lifted her and hooked her wrists over the blackened torch bracket on the wall. She fought. Bucked and twisted to get free, her breath coming hard. But it was useless. The nightshade held fast against the metal – she couldn’t move her arms. Her body crushed against the stone wall.
She was trapped.
“You’ll stay right there,” he said. “Waiting for me.”
He kicked her legs out so hard she cried out, forcing her to stand spread-eagled. He leaned back and raked his eyes up and down her body hungrily.
“Oh, thisisgoing to be fun.”
