Asif thinking of it had summoned them, all my grief came flooding back.ImagesofNiataburning, my mother wailing and then her dead eyes, the sharp rake of teeth on my neck, blood—blood absolutely everywhere.Ifelt as if a boulder had crashed into my chest, each breath coming shorter and shorter.Myfingers and toes went numb asIfelt the blood rushing from my limbs inward.Blackclouds began to fill my vision, soIthrew my head between my knees, gasping for air.
“Princess, are you alright?”
“Yes, fine.Don’ttouch me,”Igritted out.Iheard the movement ofAvlyn’sarmor freeze as if they had been reaching out and stopped.
“Weare almost back to the docks; we will be back on the ship soon.”Ohgods, the ship.Backin that little room.Chained, imprisoned.Mybreathing was audibly labored now, and even bent over the edges of my vision were still painted black.
Twogentle hands cupped my face and pulled me up to those glowing amber eyes.
“Breathe,Tori, breathe.In,“ a whoosh passedAvlyn’slips, “and out.Withme now.”Theyheld my stare and breathed slowly, their soft breath passing over my face, guiding me to control my own.
Aftera few moments, my vision cleared, and my breathing regulated.ButAvlynstill held my cheeks, their lips pulled tight in concern.Ididn’t pull away, something in me craved the gentleness, the softness of their touch.Butthe comfort of it had me drowning again, the water rushing up to my eyes, threatening to escape.So,Ipulled away.
“I’mfine.”Theynodded and pulled back into their seat, increasing the distance between us.Wesat that way until our carriage rolled to a halt.Avlynguided me back to the ship and into my quarters.Ilaid down on my bed and placed my hands on my chest.Itried to think of nothing, nothing but the steady in and out of my breath until sleep could claim me.
Chapter8
Abraxas
Theroom stunk of piss and blood, the aftereffects of everything that had already happened to theHulduheld in the dungeon.Bolon’smen andAvlynhad done their work well.Icould see that several of the fae’s nails were missing and numerous cuts lined the more sensitive parts of him.Hisgreen blood flooded down his blue skin, andIcould see the strain in each of his tight muscles beneath his lithe form.Buthe had held up to days of torture at this point.Ihad to give the bastard credit for that.
Hishead hung to his chest; his arms strung up in irons against the stone wall.Icould see the burn marks from the iron shackles on his wrists and neck.Butas he heard me enter the room, he raised his head to me.
“Seemsthat they have finally sent someone important to see me.GuessIshould feel honored.”So, he knew whoIwas.Good.
“Youknow you won’t leave this room alive, so why make it more difficult on yourself?Ican end this now, orIcan end this in a few weeks.Yourchoice.”
“Mysecrets die with me.”Atough bastard, that was for sure.Buteveryone had a weakness.Iapproached him, and even he couldn’t hide his flinch asIpicked up an iron knife from the floor, already covered in his blood.Idrew it slowly across his bare chest, and he ground his teeth as the iron burned the surface, slowing his healing.Iimagined it wasBolon’schest, asTori’slaughter spilled over him.
Once, this would have sickened me, causing pain to achieve my ends.ButIhad killed off that part of me a long time ago.Hehad been consumed by the beast that had fed on my rage these past centuries, and now all that was left was the monster.Andhe was willing to do anything for his revenge.
“Youknow whatIwant.Justtell me how to get to it, and this can all be over.”
Hadeonhad to have something on this man, to keep him this tight-lipped.Hehad nothing to fear from the emperor now, unless…
“Youare from theRiverKingdom, nearManan, correct?”Bolon’smenhad gotten that much information from him, at least. “Itwould be an awful shame if my soldiers were to visit there, and visit your original laboratory,” his heart rate increased andIknewIwas close, “perhaps to find that lovely wife of yours, and the children.”Hiseyes widened, andIknewIhad played this correctly.
“Please, please you can’t—”Islashed the blade across his face, my rings colliding with his cheek first. “Ican, andIwill.Butgive me the informationIneed, andIcan keep them safe, away from the emperor.”
Hiseyes met mine then, “WhyshouldItrust you any more than him?Youwill just leave them to die.”
“Imay be your enemy, butI’ma man of my word.”
“Tellyour father that.”Angerroiled in me, andIalmost sent the knife through theHuldu’sheart.ButIneeded this more thanIneeded to unleash my anger. “Thenchoose, who would you rather have visit that lovely wife of yours, me or him?”Asalways, my reputation preceded me, and centuries of handlingHadeon’sdirty work served in my favor.
“Youcan’t get to it.Theenchantment is too strong.Hadeonhimself couldn’t break it.Theonly thing that could…”Hetrailed off, butIknewIhad it now.Ididn’t need the knife for this.
“TheDiademofSoraya, it was said to break any enchantment.”Wonderful, another fucking quest.ButIsaw theHuldu’sshoulders slump then, his breath leaving him.Iknew he didn’t have anything else, nothing left to give.Butstill, he lifted his eyes to mine, “Please, spare them…save them.”
“Iwill,Igive you my word.”AndIdrew the blade across his throat.
Chapter9
Tori
Icould feel the ship moving as the low morning sun showed through my portal.Itseemed sleep had found me after all.Ilooked out the window to see the coast floating by at a leisurely pace as we made our way north.Istretched out as bestIcould in the small space, starting my morning exercises when a knock came at my door.Thebolt scraped open asAvlyn’sface peered around the door.
“Timefor my morning relief then, is it?”
