“Enough,” a voice booms.
Something ripples over my skin, a power that triggers my basest sense of flight or fight. Mainly the flight. My bones would escape my skin if they could and run for the hills.
Things turn almost quiet. The Mice and vampires are still fighting down the way but all of my friends are frozen in place. I grab Kai’s hand and pull, but he doesn’t move.
I tug harder, but when I turn, I see Kai is under the same power as all the others.
Thrall.
King Valdor Charming takes the steps down the dais with a lazy pace, a sneer on his face. “Bite yourself.”
I turn to see Kai's hand rise to his mouth, his movements rigid and mechanical. With a sharp flick of his wrist, his fangs slice through his own skin, spilling scarlet blood down his arm in winding streams. The crimson droplets splatter against the ground with a haunting rhythm.
Kai’s muffled scream is that of an animal beyond reason or thought, only one enduring unrelenting torture. His face is twisted in agony, every muscle contorted in torment.
“Stop,” I scream, even as I run to Kai and try to pull his arm away. I continue to scream and pull, but Kai is unmovable as he is forced to inflict agony on him.
“Enough,” comes another command.
At last, Kai lets go with a ragged breath, but Kai doesn’t move again. Wetness streams from the corners of his eyes. His eyes plead with me to run even though he’s stuck where he stands.
“Interesting,” the king muses, sight trained on me. “Seems you are resistant to my thrall, but no matter.”
I turn to face the monster as anger and fear flicker inside me in long hot snapping whips.
I also don’t know why he can’t thrall me. Maybe my powers do have more punch than I gave them credit for. I step in front of Kai, protecting him with my body though I know there is little I can do. I’m desperate to get Kai to safety.
“You killed my father.”
A scoff erupts from the merciless King. “Is that what all this is about?” Then he turns serious, his beady eyes glinting with malice. “I hate to disappoint you, but you have completely missed the mark. But I shouldn’t expect anything less from a weak-minded, insipid human. No, Cinder. I did not kill your father, as I’ve said before.”
“You fought the day he died. It was about the Red Room.” Why won’t he give up the truth? Why won’t he confess? He seems to have no problem confessing to his other sins and cruelties.
Valdor’s jaw clicks as he levels me with a cool look. The tension in the air is palpable, his gaze piercing and calculating as he sizes me up.
“ThatI can attest to. We did argue.” He pauses as if debating whether he should continue, but then he seems to throw restraint to the wind. “When he was instructed to bring in. . . younger blood, your father balked.” A sneer curls up his piteous mustache. “No children, he said. He’d no problem selling out any person from his homeland, but he dug his heels in at adhering to a certain age. But many of our court members had specific tastes that needed to be appeased. I tried to tell him, it may even be better for the young ones since they don’t usually understand what’s going on anyway.”
Dear witchtitting fae lords.
The King wanted to slave out children and my father said no.
“I can only imagine his devotion to you had something to do with his sudden scruples.” The King rubs his thumb along his fingers with evident distaste.
Nausea crawls up my throat even as he comes to stand in front of me. I reach back and hold onto Kai’s frozen hand.
I won’t let him hurt you again, I promise silently.
“Perhaps if he lived longer, it might even have resulted in a falling out in which case, yes it would have been necessary for me to dispose of him,” the King mused as if he were debating what outfit he would pick out for a future event. “But your father was highly valuable in bringing an influx of familiars to our gates. And for a human, I can honestly say I considered him a friend.” Affection crosses his eyes.
I’m starting to realize my father could only earn the esteem of such a monster for a reason. He had to be a bit of a monster himself.
“So no Cinder, I didn’t kill your father. In fact, what little deference I’ve given you is only because of him. But you aren’t a child anymore, and your father’s graces have now expired.” Those tufty brows draw down over his eyes. “I should have done this a long time ago.”
Valdor grabs me with surprising strength and whips me around so I’m facing Kai. I struggle but it’s no use. King Charming’s fangs rip into my throat. White-hot pain explodes through me as my blood gushes into his eager mouth. I try to cry out, but only a choked gurgle escapes. My vision blurs, darkness creeping in at the edges. The King savagely drinks from me like an animal, ripping flesh, going deeper than is right. Blood pumps out of me, drenching my shoulder, splashing down my dress. The pain screams where I am unable to.
I try to fight back, but Valdor's hold is unbreakable. My body convulses with agony while Kai watches on, his eyes blazingwith helpless rage and torment. His dark orbs are glassy, fingers twitching in their menacing poise to attack his own father to protect me.
I am trapped in this nightmare, unable to escape or defend myself. With each passing second, I feel my life force draining away, cooling on my skin and clothes.
