AllFreeNovel
Share Us
His teeth snap wildly in the air until he catches the ground and pushes off toward me once more. Only this time, I spin out of its way, slicing my sword down and using my weight and momentum to sever his spine. The roar that pierces the air curdles my blood, sending sparks of electricity zapping through the cuffs.
Blood pools onto the floor as it struggles, and I’m careful not to step in it. Nothing says sneaky like sticky boots. After a moment, when nothing comes running to the beast’s rescue, I continue further down the tower, rounding until light spills into the mouth of the stairwell.
Just as I’m about to step into the room, where a herd of men and women are gathered, like a royal court, hands close over my mouth and yank me backward and light bursts through the air blinding me until I’m face to face with a stone wall.
“What are youdoing?”Asmo’s breath is hot against the curve of my ear. “We had a deal.”
“You expected me to believe you’d hold up your end? Just like that?”
“I expected you to wait.”
I turn, peering into his mismatched eyes. “You expected wrong.”
Attempting to slip away to the right, he sidesteps and blocks me in with his arm. “And what were you about to do? Walk into a room full of his supporters and massacre them on your own? Without your powers, mind you.”
“I’d have to find a key to get these off somehow. What easier way to do that than take a hostage?”
He scowls at me, digging his inky power into my very soul, and lifts a key into the space between us. “I have your key. That was the plan.” Instead of answering, I hold up my cuffs and his eyes round at the sight of blood covering every inch of my flesh from the elbow down, like a pair of brownish crimson gloves. “I see you’ve been busy.”
“I’m surprised you didn’t find my trail of party favors on your way down.” he sticks the key into the lock on each shackle and twists, freeing them.
“I didn’t bother. The moment I saw you weren’t near the wall, I teleported to you.”
“Who was in that room?” I ask, rubbing at my now raw wrists and he drops the shackles to the floor.
“I told you. They’re the king’s supporters. Not the royal family, but people who follow him blindly, suck up to his every whim, and will do his bidding without question. He treats them well, and they’re powerful in this realm. Most of the men are hoping to win his favor for one of his daughters.”
“I thought he hosts a gauntlet each time one of his girls comes of age.”
“He does. It’s a grueling battle to the death. The last man standing wins, but the king gives out a favor to two contestants of his choosing. It gives them a leg up on the rest.”
“Good. Then take me back. It’s time they saw what the inside of a coffin looks like.”
Asmo presses his fist to his lips. “That’s your plan? Just kill everyone and hope for the best?”
“Wow. So he can read between the lines.”
His eyes roll clear into the back of his sockets before he speaks. “Not everyone here is a monster, Alice. Most of these people are here because they don’t have a choice. It’s either to serve the king and live, or defect and die.”
“If they’re here, it’s because they were deemed to be a danger to the rest of the realms.”
Asmo steps forward, his eyes turning dark as his jaw ticks. I match his step, but my back scrapes the wall, preventing me from putting any more room between his face and mine. “Not all. Most were feared for what they were, and you of all people should know what that feels like. They’re only doing what they have to in order to survive.”
“Like you,” I seethe, crossing my arms over my chest.
“Exactly.”
I laugh, cold and emotionless. “I might’ve believed you if you hadn’t killed Finn. These creatures knew who they were supporting. They knew who they were keeping in power. It makes them just as guilty. You included. There will be no show of mercy to these people. By the time I’m done, this castle will fucking bleed.”
He takes a moment, searching my eyes as he formulates his response. “He’s not dead, Alice. Finn is very much alive.”
My chest squeezes as I lean away from him. “What do you mean? You said you–”
“I had to say that because the king came earlier than expected. He would’ve noticed them gone. They were set to be executed, anyway. It was the only lie he wouldn’t question.”
“Where…” I stare at his chest, not wanting to see his eyes.
“In the field with Eva, just as we discussed.”
