Page 53 of Elysian

Whatever else he continued to spout faded into a buzz. Indents carved the shape of the skull. All its teeth were intact and were housed in a wide-framed jaw. My father . . .

Thick emotion crowded my throat. My father had defied him.

His dark skin flashed in the faint recess of my memory. I had only a vague image of what he looked like; no distinguishing features remained in my memory. Even the small bits I did recall were mostly vague outlines of bodies.

Horror pooled in my stomach, swelling until it drowned out the numbness.

He stepped in front of me. “Now this is how I like you, a scared cunt.” Vaner grabbed my chin and wrenched it up.

Cassiel snarled, but it was not enough to pull me free of the webs of numbness.

The box slipped from my limp fingers and clashed to the ground, cracking apart. I couldn’t tear my focus away from the skull rolling away. Vaner stepped around me again, dragging his fingertips across my waist until he stood flush against my back, his breath hot against my neck.

Eyes fell on me. I could not stop shaking.

“Feast your eyes on an Awakened redblood for the first time in four centuries.” Vaner reached across my stomach and tugged the sash holding the robe together, baring my body.

Another rumble came from Cassiel. I could not breathe. Cold air puckered my nipples. The focus of the men at the table sharpened.

Vaner grazed a hand across my thigh, fingers pressing against the outer side of my bottom. Avarice glinted in his eyes. Pure and unmistakable.

“All that anger will force the Warlord into a bloodlust.” His hot, wine-scented breath touched my nose. My skin curdled. I wanted nothing more than to climb inside myself and never arise.

‘He will not, Amara.’ Cassiel’s harsh tone forced me back to the present.

“He will not want you after we all fuck you before him,” Vaner continued. “A tainted whore.”

‘Look at me.’ This time I could not help but face him. ‘You are not tainted. Regardless of what happens. You are mine. Nothing will change it.’

Something in his tone reached into my chest and hugged every organ and facet . . . I let out a gust of air.

A muffled thud repeated and became faster and faster. It was my pulse in my ears. I lifted my eyes and had to blink the tears out of them. Cassiel watched me, mouth curled into a sneer, shoulders pumping up and down.

Vaner was evil. Pure evil. There were lines that were just too detrimental to cross, and he reveled in stepping over them.

I snapped back into my body as a prickling sensation crawled up my limbs and yanked my robe closed. “You are pathetic,” I spat. “A weak little man that steals the bodies of others.”

Rage mottled Vaner’s face. He took hold of my hair in a hard grip, yanking me forward. I cried out, glaring.

“I was going to wait, but no longer. My next gift is the best part,” he breathed. “Officer Devin!” he bellowed, straightening.

Sounds came from the entrance. The bald man who had hovered much too close after my bath stepped forward and grabbed Hester’s arm. He yanked her before me. I held my breath.

Vaner was no longer looking at her. I followed his focus to Egan entering, effigy in hand . . . and next to him strode Ida. She held her chin high and expression tight.

I knew then.

Everything was ruined. All because Ida betrayed us. She had killed us all.

“One of the lovely feeders told me of your delightful plan to poison us all well before they could attempt it. Lady Ida has proven herself,” Vaner said as he approached the officer holding Hester. “You’ve been leading these young ladies astray, little miss, and you must pay for it.”

In a rapid move, he pulled the blade from Officer Devin’s scabbard and slashed it across Hester’s torso. Blood welled along the thick line. Too much of it.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Attacking

My knees buckled, and I fell to the ground. A shriek came from Branwen and Vera as they lunged forward. Officers took hold of their arms.