It tooka few minutes for my head and vision to clear enough to see the guards lifting Tucker from the ground to drag him closer to me. They’d torn away his cloak to reveal the blood soaking his shirt and pants.
His head lolled forward, but they wouldn’t have bothered to bring him closer if he were dead, or at least that’s what I told myself. They dropped him a few feet away, and he grunted when he hit the ground.
Relief slid through me; we were back in chains and once again at the mercy of others, but he was alive. While we still breathed, we had a chance of escaping this… even if this time, it was my father who controlled us.
A chill ran down my spine as I tried not to dwell on that. The ophidians had been ruthless in their torture; my father would be worse.
The sensation of a thousand needles stabbing into my eyes caused me to close them as pain erupted through my battered skull while the bones gradually knitted themselves backtogether. I didn’t wince or make any other movements as I remained on my knees, my back rigid, and my chin high.
I was a prisoner again, but they’d never see me cower or beg.
When the pounding in my head eased, along with the stabbing sensation, I opened my eyes again. Blinking rapidly, I managed to rid myself of the white lights as I took in what was happening around me.
Callan was dragged forward next and released next to Tucker. Three others, also in shackles, were lowered beside them. I assumed the other amsirah who’d come with us were all dead.
Next, they hauled Val and the other amsirah who’d come with her over to us. They all wore manacles too.
When they set Val a few feet in front of me, her shoulders shook with her sobs. Snot and tears streamed down her face; she cried so much that she struggled to breathe as choked sounds issued from her.
My nails dug into my palms. If my hands were free, I’d choke the fucking tears from her.
“Why?” I growled.
My tongue had stopped feeling too big for my mouth, but my voice sounded hoarse and garbled through the ringing in my ears.
Instead of responding, she cried harder.
“They won’t give you any money or freedom,” I snarled at her. “Theyaregoing to kill you too.”
“I…kn-kn... know,” she choked out. “Someone turned me in. They reported me for bri-bringing amsirah toyou. They have my... my... son. They told me they’d keep him alive if I hel… hel… helped them.”
“Will they?”
My question caused her to bend forward until her forehead rested against the ground. “I… I… I’m so… so… sorry!”
Part of me almost felt bad for her. I was certain there was nothing I wouldn’t do for my children, if I ever had them, but she may have sacrificedallof Tempest foronelife. My father already had her son, I was sure of it, and he may decide to kill him too… in front of Val.
But more than that, she might have sacrificedEllery, the one amsirah who could save Tempest. I had no idea what she’d do when she learned of this, and I suspected, given how our bond had strengthened, she might already know something was wrong.
I had faith in her to lead, to bring about change in this realm, and to do good. But I didn’t know how she’d react to this. Would she keep her head or do something reckless?
She’d grown a lot since I first met her, but this was a challenge, the likes of which she’d never faced before. I’d killed Ivan to free her from her chains; what would she do to free me from mine?
The possibilities were endless and terrifying. Whatever she did, she had to stay alive, and she had to remain free.
“Get off the fucking ground,” I snarled at Val. “You’re already a traitor; don’t be a coward too.”
Val hitched in a shuddery breath and managed to pry herself off the ground. She wouldn’t look at me as she kept her eyes downcast and her head bowed; her shoulders continued to shake.
From beside me, Tucker groaned and rolled onto his side. Dirt and blood streaked his face, and a large gash marred his cheek.
“What happened?” he muttered.
“Val,” I told him. “And my father.”
Tucker cracked an eye open. It rolled in his head before latching onto me; it flicked to Val and narrowed.
“What?”
