Blue flames erupted around Akadian’s frozen shackles and melted them within seconds as the fire inside of him surged, warming his veins and hismuscles once again. Fighting through the pain, he forced himself to his feet and blindly launched himself at Casimir.
The prince collapsed to the ground as all-too-familiar vapor claws wrapped themselves around his mind and forced him to his knees. He placed his hands on either side of his head as his scream tore through his chest and his vision danced. The claws dug so far into his mind they weighed him down, demanding submission.
Casimir hadn’t flinched. “Not so fast.”
Everything around Akadian swam. The walls warped and swayed. When he tried to pull himself to his feet, the claws sank deeper and forced him back down. He raged against the magick holding him, desperate to reach Casimir but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t break free.
“I’ll kill you,” Akadian hissed as blood trickled from his eyes, nose and ears. Gritting his teeth, he forced his muscles to obey.
Move.
He managed to make it two steps before the talons in his mind twisted and threatened to break it completely. Hanging on the edge, Akadian stopped resisting as the same claws dragged him back to his chair and sat him firmly on it once again.
“I’m going to kill you,” Akadian promised as his vision blurred.
Casimir tossed his hair over his shoulder, laughing. “You are? Look at you. Completely helpless. The fire prince of the warrior kingdom… You’ve been at my mercy since day one. You will learn very quickly exactlywho I am.” Casimir flicked his wrist and the dagger lodged itself into Akadian’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, I won’t hit anything vital,” Casimir promised. “Yet.”
Casimir spent the next few hours, days—honestly, Akadian really couldn’t be sure—torturing him. Cutting away at the prince and lavishing in pleasure at his pain. Akadian had no concept for how long it lasted but his near-immortal body had a long way to go before it gave up.
He wouldn’t give up.
No matter what.
He had to survive.
Forher.
He wouldn’t give up hope.
Thinking about her was the only thing that kept him sane as the time passed and Casimir cut away at him, piece by piece.
The way she smiled when he cooked for her. Her laughter when training with Lily. The soft way she’d come to look at him over the months.
Like he wasn’t a monster.
He held onto her, refusing to let go.
“My, my, my…” Casimir purred. “You lasted so much longer than I thought you would.” He placed a bloody set of shears down on the desk. “I must say, I’m actually a little proud.”
His voice muddled in Akadian’s ears. He didn’t open his eyes.
“You should be proud. I see he did a great job when he made you. Truly something incredible. It’s almost a shame to lose such a formidable power. You could’ve become one of us… I had such plans for you.” Casimir sounded almost disappointed through his excitement. “Though, I do suppose all good things must come to an end. This has been fun, but I’ve grown weary of it now. I’m done with you.”
Akadian tried to hold on. He tried to fight it. But the claws that had buried themselves so deep inside his consciousness twisted in his mind, tearing away at anything they could grab. His screams tore through the air as the sharp edges cut through his mind like razors, slicing away at everything that made him, him.
He wasn’t strong enough.
This was it.
He fought to stay awake but darkness came for him so quickly, he didn’t have time to be relieved when the pain finally subsided and something inside him snapped as everything went black.
Chapter 37
It was time.
The day of the Champion’s Ball.
Ambrose woke later than expected, her nerves making it impossible for her to sleep the night before—only finally allowing her some rest when the morning sun’s glow broke out just under the horizon. Her fingers curled to the spot where Akadian had fallen asleep next to her but grasped nothing but empty space.
