“This was my favorite spot to shelter when we played hide-and-seek,” Samael said.
“Is this where you went when I could never find you?” I asked.
There was a time, when we were children, the duke would visit Leo. Samael and I would entertain ourselves by playing games and running throughout the palace while they spoke.
We’d pretend to be brave knights, lost princes, dragon hunters, and sometimes dragons. Since Samael resided in the palace with his father, Samay, the head of Ivan’s personal guard, he knew the best spots to hide from me. There were times when I couldn’t find him; I’d return to the main hall and wait for him to emerge.
“It was also a good place to hide when my father was looking for me to do my chores,” Samael said. “I’d bring a book and a candle and stay in here for hours. I far preferred it to shining metal. Sometimes, I’d fall asleep in there.”
The memory of Samael as a child was a jarring contrast to the man I’d come to know. It was difficult to assimilate them.
“We’ll move the mail over him, and no one will know he’s here,” Samael said.
“It won’t get any better than this,” I said to the others.
“You can’t leave me here,” the sobbing man whimpered.
“We can’t keep dragging you with us,” I retorted. “You won’t be here forever, and this place is far safer for you than the dungeons.”
“Nobody ever looks here,” Samael said. “This armor has been here for years. They were supposed to refurbish it, but it’s been forgotten.”
“What about food and water?” the man inquired.
“You just ate. That will have to do.”
My skin prickled at the sharpness of Samael’s words, but I agreed with them. I wouldn’t want to stay behind, but I wouldn’t be a weeping mess either. Not since my early years had I cried at the crack of a whip.
It was probably this man’s first time being tortured, but it was also Lawrence’s and Callan’s as well, and neither of them had turned into incoherent messes. Not only that, but Lawrence’s back didn’t look much better than this man’s, yet he walked on his own. Weakness wasn’t something I tolerated well.
“It won’t be forever,” I told him again.
I didn’t promise we’d come back for him; we might not survive the next hour, but he wouldn’t be here forever… either someone would find him, we’d return, or he’d leave in search of food and water. No matter what happened, he wouldn’t die here.
“You could take me with you,” he blubbered. “You’ve gotten me this far.”
“We have gotten you this far, and we won’t take you any further. I won’t die for a man who won’t defend himself,” I told him. “You can either hide here, or we’ll leave you behind.”
Tucker raised an eyebrow, and I could almost hear him thinking “diplomacy.” I didn’t have time for diplomacy, and I certainly didn’t have time for this man’s shit.
Samael huffed out a laugh as he crossed his arms over his chest. When I shot him a look, he quieted.
“I could scream,” the man threatened. “And then you won’t get away either.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Ryker
Samael’s amusement vanished. “Open your mouth, and I’ll cut out your tongue.”
“Subtle,” Tucker muttered.
“We should kill him for threatening that.”
Callan’s and Lawrence’s faces reflected the strain of supporting him. The man’s eyes rolled between Samael and me as pleas spluttered from him.
“What’s your name?” I inquired.
The man stammered for a few more seconds before he stuttered out, “Ju... Ju… Justin.”
