CHAPTER FIVE
Kazia
Triumph fades swiftly. The farther Kazia gets from the great hall, the louder his doubts clamor. He shoves some back and harnesses the rest, weaving fear into strategy. When he and his prisoner reach his quarters, Kazia is ready to bark orders at the drasgard and servants. Some disperse to prepare a cell. Others go to consult with Kazia’s guard captain.
Only those loyal to Kazia remain when Kazia turns to regard his prisoner. Weapons bristle to strike Lucien at the slightest gesture from Kazia. Drasgard Captain Salarin looks less than thrilled about the new security risk.
They stand in a fancy parlor Kazia never uses. He never has enough guests to need two parlors. Mostly, the room serves as a through-way for servants. Sometimes the heralds take tea on the lacy sofas.
Lucien Vaire looks entirely out of place. Bound and disheveled, he’s more a wild wolf in chains than a dog. His bright blue eyes are intent on Kazia, and Kazia’s skin crawls at thethought that Lucien has been watching him this entire time. Of course Lucien has. Kazia would do the same.
Leather and metal are stark against Lucien’s throat.
Thankfully, the obedience collar worked. Kazia hadn’t been certain—though, most of Radovan’s experiments worked. That was the problem with Radovan Ark. He never knew when to fail.
The collar is one of the items Kazia claimed before Radovan’s departure. Not a gift, but Radovan knew Kazia was taking it. The collar is a triumph of control magic, far more complex than simple sleep or nullification enchantments. To a limited extent, the spell understands common-senseintention. Kazia should be careful, but he doesn’t need to worry about nitpicking loopholes.
He has other worries—chief among them the lie he told his father. Hopefully, nobody noticed Kazia slipping the silver key-token into his pocket. The collar isn’t bound to Kazia’s control at all; anyone with the key could use it.
There are also a mere three months before the enchantment wears off. Kazia doesn’t have much time to use his new tool.
“So, what are you going to do with me?” Lucien asks, chin lifted in a challenge.
Great fucking question. “Whatever I want. That’s rather the point.”
“Menial labor? Torch-lighting?” Lucien grins. The pure hatred has faded from his glare. Such self-control is a bad sign. “Or did you want me to warm your bed?”
“You aren’t going to touch me, scum.” Kazia pulls the flask from his belt. Unscrews the top. Reconsiders, and screws it shut again. “Here are your basic orders. Follow these orders at all times. Don’t remove or try to remove your collar. Don’t remove or try to remove your null-bindings.”
“You sure about the bed warming?” Lucien asks. “Not to brag, but I’m a great lay.”
Kazia unscrews the flask again, fidgeting before he can stop himself. “Don’t harm me. Don’t harm anyone else unless ordered by me. Don’t escape, don’t plan to escape, don’t try to escape. Don’t damage my people or property.” Kazia puts the flask to his lips, barely tasting the sweet liquor. “Don’t harm me.”
Orders last at least a few days. Kazia intends to repeat the important ones as many times as he needs to.
Lucien’s smile turns brittle. “Is that all?”
For an instant, Kazia feels guilty. He knows what it’s like to be summoned against his will. But Kazia can’t allow himself the weakness of sympathy. Lucien is a mage. He’s dangerous.
Kazia screws the flask shut and throws it on a lacy sofa. Then he stalks up to Lucien to prove he’s unafraid. He has to crane his neck to meet Lucien’s eyes, but that’s only a problem if Kazia lets it be a problem.
“Address me with respect,” Kazia orders.
“Is that all,Your Highness?” Lucien repeats, his voice even.
“For now.” Kazia gestures to his drasgard. “I’m tired of him. Put him away for the night—and find him something less foul to wear.”
Only when Kazia’s alone does he fling himself onto the sofa. Grimacing, he fishes the flask from under his ass and drops it on the ground. Then he pulls out the key-token.
The token looks like an oversized coin. One side is engraved all the same runes as the collar itself. The other has a single symbol, cementing Kazia’s control.
What will he do with Lucien Vaire? Kazia doesn’t know yet. The important thing is that Lucien is a tool—now in Kazia’sgrasp, instead of Imrik’s. A small change, perhaps. But Kazia knows the power of ripple effects.
***
Kazia’s surprised Marek takes so long. It’s two hours past dawn when Marek storms into the sculpture gallery—and stops short in the doorway.
“What the fuck are you doing?” Marek demands.
