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Soltor was busy opening up deep slices along every inch of Cavis’s body. I slid behind Cavis and launched myself at Soltor. His attention turned to me, slicing me from throat to waist. I screamed as my skin split open, and Iswung, using my manacled hands like Cavis had, slamming them toward Soltor’s face.
Pain exploded through my head, and I fell backward. Eadric had grabbed my hair, and he pulled me toward him. But I was feral now, and I lashed out, aiming at his groin.
“If you’re going to act like an animal,” he grunted as he shifted and I hit his thigh. “You’ll be treated like one.” He used his hold on my hair like a leash, dropping me to my knees. I was still screaming, roaring, and Cavis…
His eyes were blank once more. And he was staring straight ahead, gaze distant. My chest tightened. It was better this way. He couldn’t feel what was happening.
But now I was all alone.
“That’s better,” Eadric said, satisfied. He grabbed my face with his huge hand, fingers digging in on either side, holding me still. “Let’s get back to work.”
He leaned over me.
Movement.
Soltor let out a choked warning, and Eadric turned, just in time for Cavis to barrel into him. There was no life left in Cavis’s eyes. He was there, but no longer there. It was as if his body was functioning without his knowledge now. He slammed his fist into Eadric’s cheekbone, and I scrambled away, using the wall to get to my feet.
Soltor lifted his hand, and I leaped at him once more, blood dripping down my chest from the wound he’d just opened.
Cavis made a sound. Somehow, I heard it over Soltor’s snarled warning, my own desperate screams. And I knew.
I whirled. Eadric stood over him, his knife buried in Cavis’s heart.
Cavis’s eyes met mine, soft and dreamy once more. Those eyes were locked with mine as the life drained from them.
I screamed and screamed. The horror was torn from my lungs, burning up my throat.
Next to Cavis, Eadric stared at his own hand, as if the realization of what he’d just done was only now occurring to him.
Soltor looked mildly uncomfortable. I met his eyes, swallowing a hiccup.
“Dead,” I choked. “You’re dead. I’m going to kill you. But first, I’m going to kill everyone you love.”
The color drained from Soltor’s face. He believed me. Good.
Eadric recovered, strode over to me, and slapped me across the face. I just laughed at him, the sound high and thready. “And you.” I laughed some more. “You’re just going to wish you were dead.”
At this very moment, I had so few things left to live for. But I wanted to see him die. And first, he would suffer.
“Interesting threats for someone wrapped in chains in a human king’s dungeon.” Eadric smiled, obviously recovered from the shock of his own actions. His hand shot out, clamping around my throat, and I sucked in a breath through my nose. I kicked, and he merely dodged my feet, leaning down closer until he was breathing in my ear. “Zathrian sends his regards.”
He let my throat go, and I coughed.
Ringing sounded in my ears. My whole body turned numb.
Zathrian.
Eadric was working for my cousin. Did Regner know? Or was Eadric one of Zathrian’s plants?
I should have killed Zathrian. Should have made it a priority when I’d learned he’d gotten to the elders before I could. And that he was trying to take my crown.
If I had, Cavis might be alive.
The agony of it was eating through my body. Through my soul.
Eadric smiled, clearly enjoying himself. With a gesture to Soltor, they both stalked out.
Crawling over to Cavis, I curled up against him and screamed my rage.
