Hisface turned ugly. “Anddone what?Besome petty lord’s general?Ilead the shadow troops of theDivineEmperor.AnythingIhave suffered has been worth the powerIhave.Forsomeone like me to be this…Icould have anythingIwanted, except…”
Heclosed the space between us, his hand coming to rest on my jaw.Iwanted to pull away, but the collar around my neck prevented it.
“Untilthat night.Youtook my hand, and you asked me.Icould see you were trying to reclaim something, andI’lladmit,I’mnot a strong man.Tohave the object of all my desire offer herself to me.Icouldn’t resist.”Asmug smile crossed his face. “Besides,Iknew you weren’t faking how goodImade you feel.”
“Youcould have freed me.”
Hisface fell. “LikeIsaid,I’mnot a strong man.Nora brave one.Canyou blame me for not wanting to inciteHadeon’swrath?”
“Yes,Ican.”Hiseyes were deep pits, and he wouldn’t let me drop my gaze.
Heran his fingers over my lips.Mybody was torn in every direction.Itried to move away, and pain lanced from the center of my head down my spine, my collar willing me to obey his desire.Itwould be easy to give in.Ihelped make this collar.Iknew what would happen.Adeep, satisfying pleasure.Thepleasure of submission, of surrender.Areward for a good little captive.I’dbeen withLuxosbefore.Thiswouldn’t be any different.Healready knew my body, the soundsImade when he entered me.Whyfight it now?
Avision ofAvlyn’sstrong arms wrapped aroundme as they whispered in my ear that everything would be alright filled my mind.You’renot broken, only caged.Thewords jolted my heart.No,Iwould fight.Ihad spent too long not fighting.Iwould not do that again.Ishoved him off, even as it sent grating pain through me.
Hisjaw clenched, but then the ground under our feet roiled.Igripped the cot to stop myself from toppling over.Luxosstood quickly, drawing the sword from his side.
AvoiceIwould recognize anywhere spoke. “OPEN!”Thewall around the cell door exploded, crumbling to the floor as the door flew off its hinges.Asthe dust settled,Junstepped through. “Lether go.”Hisvoice was rough, but his face was pure ice as he stared downLuxos.
Iheard him chuckle. “Lookslike the little prince has come to play.Niceto see you out of bed,Jun.”
Myfists clenched, but then a smug smile, so likeTori’s, spread acrossJun’sface. “Oh,Ican do a lot more than play now,Commander.”
IsawLuxosface pale asJunopened his mouth, but then his eyes fell to my neck.Hiseyes went wide with fear. “No…”
“Yourlot isn’t the only one with tricks, little prince.Pallas, come to me.”Painshot through my head, andIstood, my legs wobbling as they tried to walk towardLuxos.Iresisted, but a dark hand reached up from the corners of the room and pulled me to him.Isaw a flash, and a dagger sat at my throat whileLuxos’ other hand wrapped itself familiarly around my waist.
Ilooked atJun’spained face, and tears rose to my eyes.It’salright.Iwanted to reassure him, but my jaw was locked.I’mgoing to be alright.Iwas always such a liar.
Footstepssounded from the hallway, andAvlynappeared besideJun.Theprince's eyes were still locked on my neck, but the commander's attention immediately went to whereLuxosran his thumb in a gentle pattern over my ribs.
“Lookslike you could use a hand,CommanderAvlyn.”Theirteeth flashed as they snarled atLuxos. “You’veamassed yourself quite the set of admirers,”Luxoswhispered in my ear.
“Releaseher, or there will be a world of pain waiting for you,”Avlyngrowled.
“Oh,Ihaven’t feared something as dull as pain in a long time.”Luxos’ grip on me tightened.
Morefootsteps crunched across the broken hallway, andToricharged in, green flames dancing across her body. “I’msureIcould come up with something that will excite you,Luxos.”
Therethey stood, ready to fight for me.Theyhad all come for me.ButallLuxoshad to do was step into those shadows, and we would be gone.Ifelt him stiffen, andItried to look each of them in the eyes.I’llbe alright.
Shadowscurled around us, andAvlyn’sbody tensed as they made to bolt across the room.Theshadows jumped up, holding them back.
Luxosleaned down so that his warm breath danced across my ear. “Yousaid you never had a choice,Pallas.Itwas all out of your control.Sohere is your choice.Comewith me.We’llbe free like you always wanted.Nomore empires, no more kings, just you and me.Orstay with this rabble as this place comes crumbling down.”
Ilooked deep intoJun’seyes, intoAvlyn’s.I’dbeen so afraid for so long, and here it was, my escape.Theweight of the collar shifted around my neck asLuxospressed the knife into my skin, threateningAvlynas they tried to throw off his shadows.
No, he didn’t offer me freedom but another comfortable cage; outside of the cage was dangerous, andImight not survive it.Iwould suffer, both my body and my heart.Iwould let that freedom destroy me if that’s what was destined.Iwould pay the price.
“Letme go,Luxos.”Iexpected the collar to holdme, to punish me for those words.Nothingcame.Icould feel my heart pounding against my chest when he let out one more sigh.
“Itseems our time together has drawn to a close.Imay not have done it right, butIcared for you,Pallas, ever sinceIfirst laid eyes on you.”
Ifelt the click of metal, and there was a great relief of weight on my neck.Thecollar fell away, andIfelt him place something cold and wrong in my hand.Heshoved me forward, soIfell intoAvlyn’sarms.
Ispun to see him one last time as he faded into his shadows. “Maybein another life,Pallas.”Andthen he stepped into the darkness and was gone.
“Areyou alright?”Ilooked up intoAvlyn’seyes, so filled with concern that my heart fluttered.
