Theywere empty except forKingObionand a few attendants.Therewas an older fae with dark short hair that was beginning to show white at the temples.Nextto him was a thin and rigid woman who held a tablet in one arm and a quill in the other.AsIlooked up at them, she scratched something on the tablet likeIwas some experiment meant to be observed.
Istruggled to stand and saw the king raise his hand.Athis gesture, great wooden doors beneath him swung open, and three full-grown and enormous fae strode forward.Theywere clearly warriors, wearing plate armor.Theyheld no weapons; they didn’t need them.
Iknew what was coming, but some part of me still dared to hopeIwas misreading the situation.Asthe first man’s fist collided with my jaw, white light shot across my vision as the pain radiated through my face and neck.Ifell to my knees, but they didn’t stop.Feetcollided with my ribs, and a hand pulled me back to stand just for another fist to collide with my nose.Therewas a sharp crack followed by pain, and blood gushed down my face.
Iknew that my fae body could withstand quite the beating, and these men seemed determined to push it to the limit.Iknew nothing but pain, and my vision tunneled.Mymind fled my body to protect itself, and as red clouded myvision and the torches of the arena danced,Icould hear that dragon’s laughter.Pathetic, worthless, delicious.
“Enough.”Theking’s voice rang over the arena, and the blows stopped, but the pain lingered.Roughhands grabbed me under my arms and dragged me out of the light and into the darkness.
Iwas tossed away and collided with the wet stone floor of my cell.Bloodclouded my vision, andIcould taste it running down my throat.Myhead spun asIlay there, willing my body to stop healing and just let me die.
That’swhenIsaw her.Ihad thought it was the seer, at first.Shehad the same golden-brown hair.Butshe was young, younger than me, with striking blue eyes that shone like the skyIhadn’t seen in weeks.Shemust have been a dream.Shewas far too beautiful to be real.Perhapsthe gods could be merciful if this was the last thingIwas to see.
Painshot through me as she touched a cool rag to my beaten face, andIwinced.Shefrowned delicately when she saw my pain and moved with increased gentleness.
“I’msorry.”Itwas all she said.Shehad nothing to be sorry for.Shewas a vision from the gods themselves.Whatcould she ever have to apologize for?
Shecontinued to clean my wounds.Bythe time she finished,Ihad almost completely healed.Myhead still pounded, butIsat up.Sheleaned away from me, andIreached out my hand and grabbed her.
“You’rereal?”
Isaw a deep sadness rise in her eyes. “Yes,I’mreal.Myname isPallas.”
PresentDay
“Anynews fromCommanderLuxos?”Iasked.
“Hereturned, claiming that he still could not enter the city.Itseems the prince remains in their possession,”Plagissaid.
“Pallasas well, then?”Iasked.
Theman’s face hardened. “Yes, the woman remains with them as well.Sire, ifImay… she is the only person left who still knows about your origins.Perhapsit is best ifLuxos… removes her for us.”
“No.”
“YourEminence, should she ever—”
“Isaid no,Plagis.Wehave had this discussion before.Pallasis mine.Shewill not betray me.Shewouldn’t dare.Don’tmake me say it again.”Hebowed differentially, knowing better than to argue, butIsaw his twisted mind working.
Ithought ofPallas, her soft skin, her flowing hair.Ithought of the nights we’d spent wrapped in each other’s arms, her soft moans and whimpers.Herlaughter was a melody, and her smile was more beautiful than the breaking of the dawn.Iloved her for it and hated how she had always shined brighter than me.
Ithought of her anguished cries and how, over the centuries,I’dbroken her down.Shewas still beautiful perfection.Butinside, she was broken and ragged.Shewas mine, completely, no longer a glowing sun but a collapsed star.Slaveswere common, but to own someone asIdid her bordered on divine.Ipossess her mind, body, and soul.Ihad ruined her, my first glorious conquest.Iwas sureIwould eventually grow tired of her and her obedience.Butthat was my prerogative,notPlagis’.
Hebacked out of the room but froze whenIspoke again. “Remember, there are two people left who know my origins.Iwould hope thatIcan instill enough loyalty that no harm should need to come to either of them.”Plagisnodded, andIknew he understood.
Chapter 17
Pallas
Ihad been alive for over five hundred years, of courseIhad worn pants before.ButInever realized how much the fine dresses worn to court had become a part of the armorIwrapped around myself untilAvlynhad thrown a pair of simple linen trousers at me.
Ichanged into them, and a simple shift tied closed at the neck by a single cotton string.Ipulled it out to tie my hair away from my face.Theneckline was open slightly, making the curves of my breasts more visible.Itwas not much armor, but enough for the moment.Spinnerjoined me in the room, andIgave a small spin. “HowdoIlook?”
Thecreature chirped, and the sound seemed positive.
Iopened the door and presented myself toAvlyn.Theirgaze dipped for a fraction of a breath before they bid me to follow them.Thespider andIwere led deep into the castle, andIthought maybe they reconsidered just taking me to the dungeons when we halted.Ipeered aroundAvlynand almost missed the low hole in the wall hidden away in a dark alcove.
“Whereexactly are we going,Commander?”Iasked asAvlynducked down to look inside the narrow passageway.
