Page 67 of Witch’s Ruin

“You!” I spun, facing the king. He held a covered platter in his hands. My eyes darted over it before returning to his face. “Release me.”

“I’m afraid I cannot.”

Cannot, or will not? I scoffed. The latter, obviously. My lips curled. “Why are you doing this?”

His head tilted to the side. “I told you before.”

“You think you can use my captivity to control Rixon?”

“My son would have razed the palace to the ground, emerging from the ashes with nothing more than vengeance to show for his efforts, had I killed you. As I said, I recalculated once his love became apparent. Here—” He maneuvered the covered platter through the bars, turning it on end before setting it on the ground.

I went to it and kicked it, watching the lid spring free, the contents scatter. “There! That’s what I think of your fucking recalculations,” I spat.

He stood to his full height, face expressionless, gazing at me. “I will allow you that one. But do it again, and you’ll simply starve. Tell me, how long can a demon go without food before it craves blood and flesh instead?”

“I am not a demon,” I hissed, failing even now to hide the sudden change in my voice.

“No? Perhaps not entirely. But certainly in part. Admittedly, I am quite curious about you. But if I asked, I doubt I would get the truth.”

“You would get nothing.”

“There. See? Fortunately for us both, you will be down here a long, long time. And by then, you’ll be desperate for company, I suspect.”

“You think Rixon is going to cooperate with you?”

The king barked a laugh. “He will, when his precious witch is threatened.”

“So I was right. You will use me to manipulate him,” I said, my upper lip curling with disgust. He shrugged. “You’re disgust—”

“I have a kingdom to protect, girl. What I protect it from is far more important than my son’s love for you.”

I stilled. Something in his face, in his words, made me hesitate. He wasn’t talking about the kind of protection that came with being a king, ruling a kingdom. He was talking about…something else. He gazed at me, rubbing his gloved thumb along the palm of his hand. I went still. That gesture, that motion—

“My son will not find you down here. You are not in the dungeons used for prisoners. Aleksander was too young when he left to know about this place. In fact, I am the only person in the kingdom who knows of it. Recently, I even had it fitted with Nebrine bars, to accommodate you. I had to kill the builders, unfortunately. I regret that, at least, but sacrifices must be made.”

My blood roared through my veins.

“You see, in times past, kings had many heirs, larger families. But, no family is perfect. Our rulers needed a place to keep our…bad apples. Rotten as they might be, they were of the blood, after all, and our blood is important.”

I blinked. Blood. My body jolted.

“So? This holding cell was built. There is only one way in, and one way out. And unless you know exactly where the entrance is, how to reach it…” He stopped speaking, looking me over. “There will be no escape for you, Lady Witch. But, you have my word, that as long as Aleksander cooperates, you will live a comfortable life. And if you behave, I might just let you see him…on occasion. If I am feeling generous.”

“You’re a fucking monster,” I hissed. His brow lifted, as if mocking the insult. “You’re just going to let your people continue to die, picked off by demons night after night?”

“Oh, that.” He huffed, waving a hand dismissively. “No, that will be remedied soon enough.” I stepped forward, my urge to understand overcoming my hatred. I searched his face, as if I might find answers. But what he said next only confirmed my suspicions. “I am sick, dying. But Aleksander is young and healthy. His blood will be strong. As will be the blood of his heirs, I think.”

My stomach lifted into my throat. I opened my mouth—

“You will find, Lady Witch, that I will do anything to save my kingdom from ruin. Scorn me all you wish. Judge me. Hate me. Rail against me. But I do what I must to keep Raeria alive and thriving. I will not have you getting in the way of that. It is either my kingdom’s downfall, or yours. I made my decision.”

I gaped at him, blinking. He turned, striding out of sight. Rushing to the bars, I wrapped my fingers around them, pressed my face between them. “Come back,” I screamed. “Come back you fucking coward! Face me like a real male. Face me without your filthy little tricks—” I broke off, breathing hard, listening. He was gone.

There was only silence.

Chapter 22

Rixon