“You promise?”
Shamed slithered through him. “Yes.”
“I think it’s true. It’s too coincidental to be anything else. I think it’s all connected, their bloodline—my bloodline—and the taint. Either they caused it, or they were the ones preventing it. I think it’s what killed them.”
Fuck, how had their intimate moment suddenly turned so dark? Jaren felt like he might be sick. He’d already feared the same but hearing her voice it was terrifying. He couldn’t lose her, not now, not in ten years, not even in a hundred.
She sighed, looking out across the open expanse and tucking a few wind-blown curls back behind her scarred ears. “It’s ironic, isn’t it?”
“Rab?”
“You thought I could help Bhasura because I was the only untainted Magyki left, but that didn’t turn out to be true at all. I’m probably more tainted than them all.”
“We’ll figure it out together, little star.” And they would. The princeling was wrong. Jaren would sacrifice the entire island rather than let anyone or anything harm her. She was his to protect. He’d fight the gods themselves if he had to.
Epilogue
EITHAN
It had been a week since he’d failed to obtain Vera, and he was still in a rage. That piece of shit Magyki had taken her and turned her mind into such a mess, she had no idea what she was saying or doing. She’d been saved and kept for him, not some pointy-eared bastard who decided he wanted her. Eithan clenched his fists and breathed heavily through his nose, fighting the urge to punch the wall.
If things had worked out the way they were supposed to, he would have dragged the Magyki back to the palace dungeons, letting Hayes give him a proper welcome.
Eithan would’ve held his betrothed and swore the male died quickly and painlessly, but he would have lied. He’d have hung his body from the ceiling and taken his time, peeling his skin off in strips, enjoying his agonized screams.
Then, Eithan would’ve been able to take his time with Vera, wooing her and gaining her trust. He’d have claimed both her hand and her body, making her scream too, but from a very different set of skills. It would have been fucking perfect.
Now, he’d have to work twice as hard and play dirty to force her hand. She’d grown powerful. Her display near Midpath had certainly proven that, even if her appearance hadn’t already. He wasn’t arrogant enough to believe he could physically force her into anything anymore. She had to return of her own free will, and luckily for him, he had the perfect leverage.
He took another deep breath as he strolled down the corridor to the back cells, relishing in the sounds of pain and misery. Eithan loved it down here. Up there, he had to be the perfect prince. He had to obey his bastard of a father and smother every emotion and desire. He had to be a friend to his men, smile for his people, and say all the right things. He had to be patient and wait for Vera when all he wanted to do was take, take, take.
Down here was his sanctuary, the only place his real self could run wild and free. The only place that allowed him to let the darkness out, that welcomed the roiling, poisonous malevolence festering inside him. Being down here was almost better than sex.
As he approached the last cell, he heard the scuffle of chains dragging across the stones and shuddered in anticipation. He stepped up to the bars and looked in at the two men inside. They were filthy and neither appeared to be sleeping well, but they otherwise appeared perfectly fine.
“Good day, gentlemen. I assume, by now, I’ve given you plenty of time to swap stories.” He smiled, watching them shift uneasily, but neither man said anything.
Tapping his fingers against the bars, Eithan let his smile fall. “You have both been charged with treason against his majesty. However, I’ve convinced Sulian to delay your sentences. For now, at least.”
Both men glanced at each other, but it was the Weapon’s Master who finally croaked out a response, “Your mock leniency is wasted on me. I already admitted to my guilt. I take pride in both Vera and her skill. Execute me. I will not help you drag her back.”
“You see Lesta, that’s the beauty of it. You will help me whether you wish it or not. Tell me, how do you think Vera will react when she finds out where you are? How will she react when she finds out where he is?”
Lesta’s face fell, and his stoic expression morphing into horror was all the confirmation Eithan needed. Vera would do anything to keep them safe. She’d already proven that when she stood up for her mentor that day in the training yard.
He turned his attention to the second man, continuing his mindless tapping and enjoying the way it made Gibson’s eyes twitch. He pursed his lips. Two eyes too many.
“Not to worry Lesta, you will be released on the promise that you will continue training our men until a replacement can be found.” He flicked his gaze to the young guard, the man he had laughed with and trusted. “You; however, do not deserve my leniency. You not only broke your oath to protect Vera, but you lied to me.”
“I did not—”
“Do not insult me further by denying it!” Eithan slammed his fists into the bars of the cell, breaking the skin of his knuckles. “Vera’s disgusting display over the Magyki was evidence enough that you left out some vital information that would’ve changed the entire outcome.”
Gibson swallowed hard, his nerves giving him away, and Eithan smiled. It wasn’t the perfect, princely one he had to give above, but one that showcased the darkness inside.
“I won’t kill you yet. I have a far better use for you while we wait for our messenger to return.” He opened the bars and laughed when Lesta thrashed against his chains, cursing, realization dawning on his worn features.
He took his time walking the few steps across the cell, soaking up the power their fear gave him. Once upon a time, he trusted these men, but now he wanted nothing more than to see them crumble at his feet.
Snatching Gibson’s chains, he unlocked them from the wall and all but dragged him from the cell. He’d work off his anger and find out why Vera was so willing to abandon her life for a male she’d just met.
She may not accept it yet, but she belonged with him. He’d bind her to him, and then he’d rip Matherin’s pathetic excuse for an emperor off the throne he so desperately clung to. Just the thought had adrenaline racing through his veins.
Then Gibson’s screams began. The day was looking better already.