Chapter 51 Costly Truths #2
“Don’t what? Tell you the truth.” I pointed a finger at him.
“You surround yourself with sycophants that agree with you because they are magically bound to you or are afraid for their lives if they speak out of turn. You’re so convinced that you’re right.
That your way is the only way. That you’re not the monster because the fae entered the human realm and slaughtered your family—just like you did with mine.
Which I’ve recently learned is a trend for those bearing your name—slaughtering innocents.
Because if you opened up your eyes for one godsdamned second and asked yourself why the fae would enter another realm to wage war, you’d realize how weak your argument is.
Look at us, Thaddeus.” I gestured around.
“You need a bloody magical cell and poison coursing through the veins of your enemies to even be in the same room as them”—I glanced over to Artton and Sidrick who watched intently despite looking like death —"and you think their entire realm was so threatened by one man’s power that they waged war to bring him down? Are you fucken mad?"
“They. Slaughtered. My. Family!” he roared, his hot breath hitting my face.
“Because your father cast a spell that killed a third of their population!” I yelled back.
“No! I was there!”
“You. Were. Ten!” I screamed so loud my throat burned.
Our heavy breaths filled the room as we stared each other down. The molten silver in his blue-gray eyes churned faster as the silence stretched on. Breaths steadying, he raised his hand as if to drag it through his hair, then struck me.
The back of his hand hit the side of my face with enough force that stars filled my vision as pain bloomed across my cheek. Holding a palm to my face in shock, Thaddeus snapped his fingers, and I didn’t have to look to know my companions had been tied down.
Unbidden, that damn ache in my chest tugged so hard that I took an involuntary step toward Thaddeus, my eyes going wide in shock.
Oh my gods, had that feeling been him all along?
Was that how he’d tracked me, some sort of twisted bond like he shared with Nevander?
Needing to know if worked both ways, I continued to hold the side of my face as I mentally wrapped both hands around the tether that seemed to connect us and pulled hard.
Nothing happened.
Muffled sounds came from behind me, and I looked over my shoulder to find both commanders wide-eyed, trying to yell something through their magical gags. Eyes narrowed, I tried to decipher what they were saying as firm fingers wrapped their way around my aching jaw, turning my focus forward.
As I went to wrench my body away, I understood their warning. My focus shot down as the magical tendrils rising from the ground locked around my legs and arms, holding me in place like I was nothing more than a bug caught in Thaddeus’ sick, twisted web.
Leaning in so our noses almost touched, he smiled, and it turned my blood to ice.
“Always running that pretty mouth of yours, aren’t you, Nyleeria?
” My name on his lips was a lover’s croon, and I jerked my head to the side trying to break free, but his grip was too strong.
“I think it’s time I remind everyone who you belong to. ”
I thrashed violently against the unyielding restraints.
Looking completely unbothered, Thaddeus released his hand as he leaned in, his breath caressing my ear. “You will not fight me. And you will not make a sound. If you do, I’ll be sure to choke the life out of your precious companions. Do you understand?”
I quivered, knowing exactly what game he was playing—how better to diminish the truth I’d flung his way then by diminishing me? He’d degrade me by taking what he wanted, and humiliate me by having the other two watch.
And there was absolutely nothing I could do.
I nodded, wishing that the numbness from before would take over. That I wouldn’t feel it. That I would lock this memory away. I hated myself then. Hated how Artton and Sidrick had already witnessed so much of my shame and would be forced to witness more.
“Good,” he said before pressing his warm lips on the sensitive spot below my ear that he knew all too well.
Bile tickled the back of my throat as my sight blurred with tears, but I didn’t move.
Didn’t make a peep. Sidrick and Artton’s muffled sounds doubled, and I wished more than anything that they’d just shut up.
Stay still. It was hard enough as it was without the constant reminder that there were witnesses to my debasement.
Thaddeus stepped away, drinking me down with a. “I must say, Lady Time has done you justice.”
I shuddered as he used magical tendrils to slowly trace my curves as if they were his hands, and I panicked as they softly tugged at my cornet braid, releasing the pins to the ground with a soft clink.
Within seconds, the weight of my hair lifted from my scalp as it cascaded down my back in a blanket of wavy mahogany.
His eyes darted to the side of my head, and I held my breath as he took in the pointed proof of my transformation. Crossing his arms, he tilted his head to the side ever so slightly.
“Interesting,” he said after a painfully long moment. “I suppose that accounts for why you gave Lothar and Njal a run for their coin.”
Reaching for me, I flinched. He clicked his tongue in disapproval and snapped a warning glance my way. I clenched my fists hard enough to draw blood.
Gingerly, he tucked my hair behind my right ear, then my left ear. “How?” he asked, voice almost reverent.
“The Mother,” I managed.
“Really?!” he said, pulling to confirm the truth in my eyes.
I nodded.
“When?”
I swallowed. “Shortly after I left you.”
Did I have to say you? No, I did not, but fuck him and his fucken god complex.
Grabbing my waist, he stepped into me, pressing his heat against my body as if reminding me who was in charge here. “I wonder,” he mused, releasing one hand from my side and tipping my chin up, “if you taste the same as a fae.”
I didn’t have a chance to respond before his mouth crashed on mine.
I froze, shocked at the sudden contact—even though I’d known where this was headed.
Now gripping the sides of my face with both hands, he tilted my head back a little farther, his tongue sliding across the seam of my mouth, requesting entry.
When I didn’t oblige, he released a hand just long enough to snap his fingers, and I heard the muffled choking sounds behind me.
A tear slid down my cheek as I closed my eyes and opened my mouth for him.
He moaned as he claimed me like a starved man, and deep shame washed over me as I let him do as he wished.
Hands roamed. Clothes were tugged. But I was no longer there. No, I just let myself fall into a haze as I internally repeated, just let it be over, again. And again. And again.
Time lost all meaning until a loud bang sounded, drawing a scream from me like a sleepwalker being startled awake.
My gaze drifted toward the sound, and had I not been bound, my knees would’ve given out as my eyes laid upon Endymion—and I prayed to the gods that this wasn’t some cruel trick of the mind when hope came crashing down on me.