I inwardly bristled over his words but succeeded in keeping my face impassive.
“Or should I say, where’s my future whore?” he continued.
Something flashed through Gaius’s eyes; if he had his way, he’d be the one claiming Ellery. He’d wanted her before she revealed her powers. He desired her more now.
Even in chains, I’d make sure neither of these bloodthirsty bastards got their hands on her. What they’d do to her would make what the duke, the ophidians, the Ghoul War, and every other horror in my life look like rainbows and sunshine.
I’d never let Ellery endure that. Unfortunately, I wasn’t in the position to offer much protection for her right now, thanks to…
My gaze shifted to Val, who stayed on her knees with tears and snot streaming down her face. Her eyes stayed glued on her son.
“Where is the whore, Ryker?” Veni inquired.
“Hunting,” I replied.
“Hunting what?”
“You.”
He couldn’t hide the flash of apprehension that flickered through his eyes before he buried it. And she probablywasstill hunting; she just wasn’t after deer anymore.
I couldn’t sense her as strongly since the chains encircled my wrists, but she was out there, and she would come. If she got close enough to him, she could easily kill him, and we all knew it.
“And you’ve never seen how skilled Ellery is as a hunter,” I told him.
He smiled as he rested his hand on my head. Revulsion curdled in my stomach as I dug my nails deeper into my palms to keep from jerking away from his vile touch.
“Oh, how I’ve missed our banter.” Veni released me and turned to one of the guards. “Kill the bitch. Traitors aren’t allowed to live in this realm.”
He looked pointedly at me, then Tucker and Callan as the minstrel rose to his knees. The others remained unconscious on the ground.
My jaw clenched, and my teeth scraped together. I didn’t want to lose my friends, but the duke would never hear me beg for mercy again.
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
Ryker
“Please,not in front of my son,” Val pleaded.
She hadn’t come to the same conclusion as me about not begging, but then, I didn’t blame her for this. No child should witness what was about to happen, especially not to their mother.
I’d watched my mother leave Veni’s castle and never return. That image would haunt me for the rest of my days, but I’d been fortunate enough not to witness her demise.
The boy was innocent inallof this, but I didn’t know how to stop it. I was chained, at their mercy, and my pleas would only excite the duke.
“Wait,” Tucker said.
I shot him a look and gave a subtle shake of my head. Drawing attention to himself might get him killed, and no matter what he said, it wouldn’t do any good.
The duke had already decided the boy would witness the demise of his mother; nothing would change his mind.
“Wait for what?” Veni inquired.
Tucker opened his mouth to respond, but he must have realized nothing would stop this, as he closed it again. He stared at the duke but didn’t say another word.
When one of the guards walked toward Val with his sword drawn, the boy lurched forward as he screamed, “No!”
Georgie tore away from the guard holding him and ran toward his mother, but Samael grasped his arm and jerked him back. The boy thrashed in his hold as Samael lifted him off the ground and pressed him against his chest, turning away from the others.
