Callum felt Helaina’s grip tighten.
“Once I knew where she was, the only problem was the shield. Getting inside was easy enough; it was getting her out that was troublesome. Matthias’s enchantment was rather irritating. We spent a few years trying to break it. Finally, we had to... persuade him to undo it.”
Queen Malinda, they had killed her to get to Helaina.
“And still the obstinate prick refused to comply. Of course, there’s always another way. She could leave if she did so willingly. A little time, a little... patience. And oh, she was more than willing, weren’t you, princess?”
Callum braced a hand over Helaina’s collarbone to ensure she was still breathing. He hoped his touch communicated his thoughts.I’m not letting him take you.
“But then Helaina and I had a littleincident. She was supposed to come with me but disobeyed. I paid dearly for that mistake. I took my time, ensuring I wouldn’t fail twice.” He was watching Helaina very closely. “I suppose the credit goes to Fessyk. He suggested that if we truly broke your family, they wouldfinallysend you away. And if you were completely shattered, you would agree to go.”
Callum vowed to find her uncle and fillet him alive, starting with his toes.
“It took more time than expected. But what’s a couple years to us, right, Cal? And it paid off. Your parents really did think they were arranging a marriage for you in the wastes, by the way. You were just never supposed to make it there.”
And she hadn’t, but only because the Troika had found her first.
“Imagine my surprise when you disappeared, only for those shadows of yours to call me back here, of all places.”
Her fingers on his skin were so cold, her hands shaking. “How... how did you break my family?”
Dolion let his gaze run straight through her. “You don’t think your brother became a fan of the drink all on his own, do you? Imay haveguided him on that path of self-sabotage, a little push.” He winked.
Callum felt her stumble, heard her collapse to the ground, but refused to take his eyes off the enemy.
“You bastard, you coerced him,” Callum gritted out.
“What does that mean?” He barely heard her frantic whisper. “Callum, what does that mean?”
“All their kind have it. It’s a control over the body and mind. They’re patheticparasitesthat manipulate unsuspecting souls. Force you to speak lies or perform like puppets. They take your free will. All they need is a touch, or a taste of blood.”
She let out a mangled sob.
“Blood your uncle so kindly provided. Pity I couldn’t crawl into that little head of yours and force you to leave Oakmire. It would have saved us a lot of headaches—but every time I tried, it just never fucking worked on you.”
Helaina whimpered.
“Now, enough with the dramatics. Come with me and let your friend run back to his master. Or you can watch us slaughter him right here and now, and have more blood on your hands. Is that what you want? It’s three on one... just like last time.”
She actually seemed to consider obeying his command.
Callum brandished his daggers.
He felt a gust of wind, a shadow passing over. The trees shook as a dark silhouette lined up right next to his own.
Callum grinned. “Two on three,” he corrected.
CHAPTERFIFTY-FIVE
BEFORE
It all happened so fast, and with only one torch staked in the ground, she couldn’t see. She had been too focused on the pain, on the burning stables, on the sickening betrayal.
Dolion was ripped from behind her in a violent jerk.
Flickers of light danced in front of her as she gripped her wrist in agony, trying to process what her eyes were witnessing.
Krysta and Dolion struggled with each other as the eldest princess clawed at him. One of the hideous twins pulled her off.
