Chapter 4
Four
Ziggy- 19 years old
I t’s nights like this that make me forget I’m a prisoner—it disgusts me.
The crackle of the fire, the casualness of the conversation, the smell of fresh meats and bread. One night a month, The Collective allows the trainees a little taste of normalcy. We pass around piss warm mead, play cards, and tell stories around a roaring fire. Of course, we still don our ragged clothing and magic suppressing cuffs. They have to keep us humble somehow.
The next day is always the worst though. Everyone is hungover but is expected to be at peak performance. Grappling without a doubt ends in someone being vomited on. The cracking of wooden swords being hit together leaves you with a headache that lasts all through the night. Heavy breaths, weary eyes, and limp bodies for all.
I wish it ended there, but I’m not that lucky. The Collective loves to take advantage of my weakened state, sending in a seer to trudge through my mind. Me and my lovely companions have kept them from the memories that give away my family, or any manifestation of my magic, but that’s it. Every other ounce of me is picked apart, and soon there is nothing The Collective won’t know.
After that infamous day with Major Sybil’s daughter three years ago, I’m always restrained to a table by three leather straps across my body and given an injection into my neck. The shimmering liquid is freezing and feels like lead as it slithers through my veins. The drug kicks in very quickly, numbing my entire body, with the exciting extra feature of making mush of my brain—the perfect test subject.
I haven’t seen Lydia since that day—though her face has run through my mind every night for three years. There was something about her that called to me. A dichotomy of good and evil. Too bad I’ll never figure it out. It’s probably for the best, we’re on two very different teams. It would only lead to heart ache.
“Well, it wasn’t your heart that was aching for her. But sure, let’s go with that,” Dorran chimes in.
I was sixteen with raging hormones. Let it go.
“Ah, yes. It’s your hormones that stopped me from killing her that night,” Malachi huffs. “It’s such a shame. Her soul was so powerful, especially for someone her age.”
Shut the fuck up, Kai. I’ll let you kill someone again soon.
He scoffs. “Let me? Oh child you have this all wrong. I let you stay in control, and you best remember that.”
Lev knocks one of his horns into the side of my head, catching my attention. “Ziggy, you good? You’ve been spaced out for most of the night.” His brows pinch together in concern.
“Uh, yeah.” I rub the back of my neck. “Just got lost in my head again.”
Draping his toned furry arm over my shoulder he pats me on the back. “We know tomorrow is going to suck, but try to enjoy the night. We don’t get much in this shithole.”
I nod once, lifting my mug of ale to my lips. The liquid slides down my throat, supplying very little satisfaction—the buzz is barely worth it.
Patting me on the back once more, Lev falls back into conversation with the guys easily, but I can’t seem to shake my mood. Throwing back the rest of my mead, I place the mug down onto the ground before pushing off the log. I need to be alone with my thoughts. Well, as alone as I can be with the other two swimming about in my head.
As my feet carry me further and further from everyone, I know I’m getting too close to the boundary line from the burning emanating from the symbol branded into the web of my left hand—a straight line with a rightward curved arrow cutting across the top. The symbol of putrefaction; because I’m nothing but a rot upon this earth needing to be purified.
Subconsciously, I bring it up to my face and rub the area against my stubbled chin in an effort to soothe the ache.
“You’d have a longer leash if you didn’t try to kill me.” My head whips around at the familiar voice. Lydia’s crystal blue eyes meet mine, a smirk ghosting her rosy lips.
Time has been on her side. No longer is she the tiny little girl who walked into my cell. No, now she stands before me, a tall, strong woman. She’s still slender but I can see how the cotton sleeve of her tunic is taut against her muscular bicep. My eyes scan over her, watching how her breasts strain against her green corseted vest with each breath, the way her black leather pants hug every toned inch of her hips and thighs, back up to her ethereal face.
The gods are trying to kill me.
“Maybe if you didn’t go and finger fuck my brain I wouldn’t have tried to kill you,” I snark back. Even though I didn’t try to kill her.
“If you’re looking for an apology, then you’ll die waiting.” Malachi’s dark voice chimes in.
Yeah, yeah.
Cocking her head to the side, Lydia saunters toward me, her heady scent enveloping me the closer she gets. “Oh, you sweet, naive, little thing,” she singsongs. Coming toe to toe with me, she brazenly thumbs my bottom lip. “If you missed me, that’s all you had to say.”
Watching her eyes shift to a snowy white, I don’t allow her the chance to touch me again. Grabbing her by the throat, I flip her around, shoving her back against the tree beside us. Lydia’s long fingers frantically claw at my hand. With every caress of her skin against mine, I can feel her powers try to sink into me—she’s much stronger now.
Watching her struggle in my grasp ignites something deep inside me. The need to feel her wriggle beneath me begging me for a single gasp of air is so strong, a groan creeps up my throat as my lips find her ear.
“Did you think you could really pull that shit with me again? Tsk, tsk , little thief. I’m not that weak little boy you found bleeding out.” Lydia presses her body flush against mine in a desperate attempt to move me. What I didn’t expect to feel is the pulse of her pussy against my thigh. “Mmm, I’m pretty sure it’s you who missed me , seeing I can feel the way your hot cunt aches for me.”
“ Fu–ck…you,” She barely squeaks out.
“Can I play with her yet,” Kai pleads.
I want to be here while you do.
“This is going to feel a little funny,” he crows before pushing forward.
My head feels too full, but the overwhelming flow of lust negates everything else. “Would you like to fill your lungs?” Malachi’s voice slithers from my lips. The blazing fire in Lydia’s eyes tells us to go to hell, but she gives a small nod.
My fingers tighten against Lydia’s throat while my face stretches into a nefarious grin. “ Beg me. ”
The little hellion stares daggers into me, in a silent refusal—Kai squeezes harder. Lydia’s beautiful eyes bulge in terror while she slaps my hand. Releasing a bit of pressure, we let her speak.
“ Puh–” she struggles, “ plea–.”
We drop my hand from her throat, leaving my body pressed against hers. Lydia pulls in deep ragged breaths, rubbing the bruises forming on her porcelain skin.
“What–what’s wrong with you?!” She screeches through broken breaths.
“What’s wrong with me? What’s wrong with you ?! You claim I tried to kill you the last time we were together and yet you go and do the same thing that almost took your life.”
A resounding crack rings in my ears followed by a stinging in my cheek. She fucking slapped me!
Kai forces my hand into Lydia’s long blonde hair, wrenching it back. “I suggest you think very hard about your next move,” he grits. “Because the harder you fight, the harder I get.” Grinding the proof against her thigh, she sucks in a sharp breath.
“What the fuck is going on here?!”
With forced clarity, my body practically flings itself away, while Kai settles back into the depths of my mind. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
My eyes flick to the direction of the heavy footsteps pounding against the dirt. Ebrius Sybil. How am I always so lucky?
“I’m fine, Father.” Lydia waves him off. “I wanted to test the prisoner. It seems that all his training is doing him good. Ziggy will make an excellent soldier… as soon as you break his mind in.”
I turn my head towards her, brows pinched. Why is she covering for me?
“Is that so, Zigmund?” The cyclops hums with doubt.
Keeping a neutral expression. I nod. “Yes, sir. Lady Sybil snuck up on me and I assumed it was one of the other trainees—I just reacted.” Lydia snorts beside me.
Ebrius narrows his eye, flicking his gaze between the two of us. “I see.”
My heart rattles against my ribs. After Kai hurt Lydia and killed Markos, Ebrius had me locked in solitary for a month, naked, and given only blood to keep me alive. I’d rather not experience that ever again.
“Since you seem to be drawn to this beast, you can be the one to break him.” A smile unfurls beneath Sybil’s thick mustache, revealing a row of crooked teeth. “You're now assigned to him. Permanently ,” he quips, placing a large hand on his daughter’s shoulder. “I will have a tent cleared where you will both bunk. I expect you to have Zigmund malleable before the autumnal equinox.”
Lydia shrinks from his touch. “But that’s only a month away!”
With lightning speed, Ebrius cracks the back of his hand across his daughter's face, splitting her lip. “Then I guess you better never let him leave your side.” Snatching her face, he presses his meaty fingers into her cheeks. “This is your last chance to prove yourself, child. Do you understand me?”
Lydia nods her head fleetly.
Shoving her away, Ebrius smooths down the front of his waist coat. “Wonderful. Off we go.”
Lydia and I wordlessly follow behind.
Well, this just got interesting.
Lydia - 19 years old
I walk directly beside Ziggy because I don’t trust the bastard—the very beautiful bastard.
Letting my eyes seek him out, my body betrays my hatred. Gods, how I wish puberty wasn’t so good to him. Was he always this tall? He has to be over six-feet. I’m five-foot-nine and I still have to look up to appreciate his face. The sage stubble on his chin can’t hide the sharp line of his jaw and square chin. Actually, all his features are sharp: a perfectly straight nose that has a small slope at the end, high cheekbones, and deep set eyes.
Endless jade eyes lock onto my own, the corner of his pillowy lips curling up into a devious smirk. “Is there something I can help you with, Lydia?” he asks in a hushed, condescending tone.
A red hot flush rolls up my chest into my cheeks. “Nope,” I squeak, popping the P.
Thumbing his bottom lip, he flashes a genuine smile, sending that heat much, much lower. It’s the kind of smile that pulls the air from your lungs. The kind that makes your clothes disappear and your legs spread wide open.
Go back to sleep vagina, he tried to kill me—twice.
Lost in his pull, I don’t realize we’ve made it back to the captive’s barracks, causing me to smack into my fathers back. Abruptly turning his hulking frame around, his hand latches onto my arm, crushing me in his grip.
“Listen to me very carefully,” he seethes, presenting me with a disgusted glower; forehead scrunched, a snarl on his lips. “Your weakness is showing. You can’t even be bothered to pay attention while walking. Do not make me follow through on sticking you in a mental prison.”
My muscles burn with the need to pull myself from his grasp, but I know the repercussions are worse than a hurt pride. Refusing to break eye contact, I grit my teeth. “I understand, Sir .”
Of course my attitude doesn’t know when to chill, and oh how that pisses my father off.
“Get the fuck out of my sight.” He shoves me, causing me to fall back against Ziggy’s chest. Without thought, the elf wraps his hands around my hips to steady me.
“So he’s just a piece of shit to everyone. Got it,” Ziggy’s deep voice rumbles against my back.
Breaking from his hold, I put a few feet of space between us. “I don’t want your pity. Just—,” closing my eyes, I sigh. “Just do whatever it is that you do for the rest of the night, and I’ll figure out the new arrangements for tomorrow.”
Clicking his heels together, he salutes me. “Yes, ma’am!”
Faen! I should have let him kill me.