56. Clash of Stone and Steel #2
Magdalene lifted her hand from Bressen’s head, and his scream tapered off. The lord collapsed onto the floor at their feet, and Talyn had to stop herself from bending to see if he was okay.
Bressen lay there panting, and Talyn heard him whisper something, but she didn’t catch what it was. At least he was still alive.
“The lord has true hatred for you,” Magdalene said.
Talyn nodded. She’d assumed as much, but it still sent a pang of regret through her. She’d seen enough of him to know he wasn’t the monster the rumors claimed he was, and under different circumstances, she might have liked him, despite his arrogance.
Different circumstances that included a future with Samhail? a cruel little voice in her head asked, but she pushed it down. That had been a long shot before. Now it was impossible.
“Your turn,” Magdalene said to Talyn.
Talyn took a deep breath and stepped forward. She’d touched Magdalene during the fight, so the woman had likely syphoned her powers already. That wasn’t what worried her.
Aidan knew why she’d followed them through the portal. She was sure of it. Why he hadn’t said anything thus far she didn’t know, but it was likely a moot point. Magdalene would know very shortly why she was really here unless her masquing power – by some miracle – kept the woman from finding out.
Magdalene laid a hand on Talyn’s head, and Talyn jolted as a feeling of vertigo overtook her.
She closed her eyes tightly and fought the feeling of nausea that threatened as her equilibrium shifted.
The feeling wasn’t painful per se, not as it had been when Bressen had torn his way into her mind, but she’d been fighting to keep him out then.
She wasn’t actively fighting Magdalene, so maybe that was the difference.
Magdalene lifted her hand from Talyn’s head, and the ground finally stopped shifting. Talyn opened her eyes and found the lady looking at her. There was no anger on Magdalene’s face, but her expression was… knowing? Had she seen why she was really there?
Perhaps she had and just didn’t care. There was some obvious tension between Magdalene and Aidan. Maybe the lady wouldn’t be all that bothered to lose him.
“Well?” Sandrian asked as Talyn and Magdalene continued to look at each other.
“I believe The Raptor can be valuable,” Magdalene said after another moment. “And she’s burned whatever bridges she might’ve had before by bringing Lord Bressen to us. We’ll let her stay and assume she’s smart enough to recognize that helping us is a good opportunity.”
Magdalene hadn’t shifted her eyes from Talyn’s, and Talyn had the distinct feeling the woman was giving her a warning. She had one chance to prove herself.
“Thank you,” Talyn said. She nodded and pulled her gaze away to look at Sandrian. “Show me the way to the dungeon, and I’ll escort Lord Bressen down.”
“Don’t trouble yourself,” Sandrian said. He motioned with a wave of his hand, and four guards stepped forward. “Find Lord Bressen a comfortable cell,” he said to them.
Talyn stiffened. She’d hoped to have a word with Bressen, but she’d have to find another way to get down to visit him.
“Let’s make one thing clear,” Talyn said as the guards pulled Bressen to his feet. “I brought him here, so he’s my prisoner. Nothing happens to him without my say-so.”
Magdalene’s brows twitched up the slightest bit, but then she nodded. “Fair enough.”
Talyn watched the guards haul Bressen toward the doors, and unease settled in her stomach again. She didn’t like leaving him out of her sight, but there wasn’t much she could do without making Sandrian or Magdalene suspicious.
She looked at Aidan. He was watching her with what she took to be a mixture of loathing and lust, and she tamped down the impulse to gouge out his eyes.
“Come with me,” Magdalene said to her. “I’ll show you to a room.”
Talyn glanced once more at Aidan as she followed Magdalene out. He watched her go, and she knew without a doubt he’d try something soon. She’d need to sleep this afternoon so she could stay awake later.
Talyn’s feet felt heavy as she walked a step behind Magdalene through the corridors of wherever they were. An abandoned castle. That’s what Magdalene had said. But where exactly?
“You want to kill Aidan,” Magdalene said suddenly, and Talyn’s blood iced in her veins. “Or Morland, as I know him.”
Talyn frowned. An alias maybe? She swallowed but said, “I get the feeling I’m not the only one who wants to kill him.”
Magdalene chuckled softly. “No, you’re not.
The man has a very limited view of what women are good for, and he doesn’t like the influence I have over Sandrian.
In truth, he’s turned out to be more of a pain in my ass than I anticipated when I agreed to help Sandrian find him.
I’m sure he’d kill me himself if he could, but he knows they need me to put Sandrian back on the throne. ”
“And what do you get out of it if Sandrian retakes Rowe?” Talyn asked. “Why help him? You clearly have your own agenda.”
Magdalene gave a shrug. “Sandrian’s aspirations are small compared to mine, but it costs me little to help him right now,” she said. “If anything, his attempts to retake Rowe and attack Thasia provide a useful distraction while I enact my own plans.”
“And what are those?” Talyn dared to ask.
Magdalene gave a small smile. “Maybe I’ll tell you one of these days if you stay around. I could use someone like you once you’ve finished your business with Morland.”
Something flipped in Talyn’s gut. The woman did know, but apparently she wasn’t too worried about it. As suspected, she probably wanted Talyn to take out Aidan…uh, Morland. Without him competing for Sandrian’s attention, it would be easier for her to control the latter.
They stopped in front of a door, and Magdalene pushed it open to reveal a room no one had likely used for decades.
“It could use a bit of cleaning,” Magdalene said, “but you’ll have to see to that yourself. I don’t have the staff to spare at the moment.”
“Thank you,” Talyn said.
Magdalene met her eyes. “I’m sure I don’t need to warn you that you should get to Morland before he gets to you?”
“I’ll be ready for him,” Talyn assured her.
“Good. I meant it when I said I could make good use of you. You’d have a high-ranking position in my court if you chose to stay.”
“Not Sandrian’s court?”
Magdalene smiled. “Sandrian will have his own court, but let’s just say you’d rather be in mine. And if you really want the gargoyle, I can make sure you have him.”
Talyn stiffened. “What? How?”
“I have ways to hold men like him in line,” she said. “You can keep him like a pet if you want. He can sleep at the foot of your bed to guard you, then you can ride his cock or his tongue whenever you want.”
Talyn stared at the woman. She wore a kind smile, as if she’d just offered Talyn a precious gift. Sweet gods, this woman was mad.
“Think about it,” Magdalene said, and Talyn nodded.
Magdalene turned and headed back the way she came, leaving Talyn to stare after her.
A lump rose in Talyn’s throat as Magdalene disappeared around the corner. The lady had suggested she could keep Samhail at the foot of her bed like a pet, but that wasn’t what she wanted. No, she wanted him back in her bed with his arms wrapped around her as if…as if he cared for her.
If Magdalene could somehow manage that after today, Talyn would give the woman anything she wanted.