Page 329 of The Gods Order

His plea is cut off as a bellow of pain leaves his lips.

“Don’t worry, Mellcom,” Sevryn says as he squats in front of him. “You get to see my friendly face every day.”

I arch a brow as he stands back up and shrugs.

“I’m going to overlook the lower level from here on out.”

A huff of a laugh leaves me.

“Is that right?”

“Yeah,” he says, nodding around. “It feels fitting. Plus, I know how miserable you’d be here without me.”

I shake my head but squeeze his shoulder in appreciation. Hell could use him.

I could use him.

“Are you all coming?” Thayla calls as she and Mara reach the exit.

“You two go on ahead,” I say, peering over my shoulder at her. “We’re going to get Mellcom settled into his cell.”

She arches a knowing brow at me.

“Don’t kill him and don’t get bloody. That won’t be a great first impression.”

“We won’t,” my brothers and I say at the same time.

A giggle tears from Riven’s throat as soon as she starshoots away.

“Gladdy, Sevryn, be my dears and embed these with your powers, pretty please.”

He slings his backpack off and pulls out four whips.

Mellcom’s eyes grow wide as he attempts to scramble to his feet.

“Oh, no, no, no. My angel didn’t fly away when you whipped her, did she?”

Another menacing sound leaves Riven’s throat as his Chaos tears through the space.

Chains wrap around Mellcom’s wrists, snatching him down to his knees as a post shoots through the air in front of him. His head thrashes back and forth, slinging snot and tears all over the dirt.

Amick and Kyzen approach him and kneel at his sides. He attempts to snatch his face out of Amick’s grip as he clutches his jaw, but it’s no use when Kyzen tangles his fingers in his hair and snaps his head back.

“How many times did you whip her?” Kyzen asks.

“I…don’t—”

“You don’t remember?” Amick asks, then nods when Mellcom shakes his head furiously. “Well, that’s unfortunate. For you. I suppose we’ll decide how many you’ll receive then.”

“No. No. Please.”

I laugh as he begs.

“How many lashes do you believe you deserve, Mellcom?” Kyzen asks.

Mellcom hangs his head.

“Everything I did was for her.”