Heran toCiarathen, and she embraced him as if she would fall off the world if he weren’t there.Tearsflooded both of their faces, and they collapsed to the ground a mess of sobs.
Hadeonlet out an exasperated sigh,Ciara’ssobs clearly annoying him.Hewaved his hand again andIsaw that purple lightning form at his fingertips.
“No!”Iscreamed, but it was too late.Hesent the bolt straight through both of their hearts.Theirbodies fell to the floor, still embracing.
“Foolishgirl.Doesn’tshe know an exposed spy is a dead spy?”Hestepped over their bodies and back towards me.Istrained at the iron shackles, my flesh sizzling as tears escaped me.
“What, crying for your betrayer?It’sno wonder you thinkAbraxascares for you.Buthe andIhave been playing this game a long time, my hellcat, and you are just another pawn to him.”
Didhe really think that?Ifso, maybeAbraxaswas still safe,Icould play my part, and at least he could walk away from this.Icould be that foolish, reckless, weak girl one more time.Itwasn’t even an act.
“Ifhe didn’t care for me, then why wouldIhave let him…he’s forced me to do so many things.”Isobbed, the very vision of a broken girl.Hadeonwore that same disgusted expression, andIwaited for the bolt to enter my heart.Butinstead, he grabbed my hair and lifted my eyes to meet his violet ones, lightning dancing in them.
“Youhave been such a disappointment, hellcat.Patheticlike your parents, like your brother who couldn’t even keep himself alive.Isuppose you have that in common.”Once, that might have broken me, to know he knew my greatest secret.Butnot now, it only steadied my resolve.Ilet the tears flow as he pulled my head back so hard my neck cracked. “Andnot even a drop of magic in you.Well,Isuppose you can serve one final purpose for me.”Hesmashed my head into the wall and my vision filled with stars.
Chapter66
Tori
Iawoke to a pounding in my head.Ijerked, but a white-hot pain ran over my throat at the motion. “Ah-ah,Princess,”Hadeonpressed his lips to my ear, “you wouldn’t want to miss the show, would you?”Ibrought myself into focus, andIfound thatIwas seated onHadeon’slap, one of his hands laid lazily across my thighs, the other holding a dagger to my throat.Wewere in his throne room, and he had dozens of soldiers placed around us.
IsawPallasandJunseated to his left.Junwas slumped, but his eyes were half open and he was conscious.IsawPallasstroking his arm gently.Everyonestared at the main doors, waiting.Itried to bring my hands up, to disarm him—to do anything, but they were locked at my side.Ifelt the tingle of lightning asIstrained. “It’suseless,Princess.Youwill have no choice but to sit here asItake everything away from him.”
Asthe sick heat of his breath passed over my ear, the great double doors opened, andAbraxaswalked through,Avlynand their elite soldiers following closely behind.
“Ah, my loyal general.Itseems your little pet here was causing mischief.Shekilled quite a few of my men trying to get into the forbidden parts of the castle.”Hepressed the tip of the dagger into me, and my breath caught.Abraxas’ eyes locked on me.
“Myapologies,YourEminence, she will be appropriately punished.”Hislips crushed together, as he kept his eyes trained on the dagger at my throat.
Hadeonlet out a long hum, as if he were truly contemplating something. “Itseems to me that you are the one who should be punished, my old friend.Afterall, she is your responsibility.”Hestarted tracing light circles on my thigh with his other hand, andIsaw the rage grow behindAbraxas’ eyes.Oh,Abraxas, you fool.You’rebeing too obvious.
Throughgritted teeth, he said, “Ifthat is your wish,YourEminence.”
Hadeoncontinued to toy with me, now letting his hands slip through the slit in my dress, touching my bare skin. “PerhapsIcould have you flogged, or maybe a few fingers removed.Butthose wounds would heal.MaybeI’llstrip you of your kingdom,Abraxas?Somethingyou can never recover.”Icouldn’t see it, butIfelt the wicked grin across his face.
“Thathardly seems an appropriate punishment for the death of a few soldiers, who were bested by a girl,Hadeon.”
“Yes, butI’mwondering what you would give me—how muchIcould take—if it guaranteed her safe return.”Hishand slipped further up my thigh.Ifelt it then, in him.Heknew.Everythingbefore had been a game, to break me.HeknewIwasAbraxas’ weakness.
Abraxasshrugged, “She’smy ward,Hadeon.Myresponsibility, surely, butIhave no attachment to her.”Hadeonflicked the knife again.ThistimeAbraxasdid not react.Butit was too late.
“Ifthat’s the case, perhapsI’llkeep her here with me.Afew weeks with my men in the dungeons would serve to improve her attitude.”Heslid his nose into my hair and took an exaggerated sniff. “Ido love the scent of her fear,Ibet it tastes delicious as well.”
Abraxasstill held.ButthenHadeondragged his dagger down my chest, a small bead of blood flowing, tracing between my breasts.Hisother hand shifted so my dress splayed open, revealing everything underneath, and he moved his fingers to trace over the small piece of lace that covered me.Ionly kept from reacting by picturing my bare hands crushingHadeon’sskull into pulp.
“Tellme, my old friend, how much of you willItaste on her?”Hepressed his fingers into me, andIimagined ripping his entrails out of him.
Ifelt it then, the beat of an ancient drum, deep and menacing, throughout the whole room.Agonizinglyslowly,Abraxasstepped towards the stairs of the dais.Ifelt all the soldiers shift around me, tensing and readying their hands on their weapons, but they were laced with fear as the wave ofAbraxas’ power crested over them.CloserIcould see thatAbraxaswas disarmed, but still, he walked forward, not paying them any mind.Icould feelHadeon’sheart rate increase at my back.Hetightened the dagger at my chest, the tip pinned over my heart.
“Listen, old friend,”Abraxaswhispered it like a dark prayer, “Myarmy has already entered your lands, the largest land invasion in an age.Youwill be annihilated.Thereis nothing that will stand between me and your total destruction this time.”Hadeon’sbreathing increased, he was as surprised asIwas.Thiswas never the plan, why hadAbraxas…
“Youtraitorous wretch.IknewIshould have killed you,”Hadeon’svoice shook.
Abraxaswas close now, his smirk murderous. “Butyou didn’t.Freethe princess, andI’lllet you run like the coward you are.”
“Youcannot best me,Abraxas.”Herose to standing now, dagger still to my chest. “Iwill take everything from you.”
Fora moment,Abraxasstilled, then, “Getyour fucking hands off my mate.”
