Chapter 25 #2
Uther sent a casual glance at my guard, and before I could react, the back of the guard’s hand smashed into my cheek, sending me crashing to the ground.
Pain exploded across my face and I tasted blood leaking from my lip.
My head spun from the force of the blow, but I forced myself to look up at Uther.
“You used to have a name,” he said. “And no doubt you used to have a life. You are now my property, and you have whatever I decide. Would you like me to decide you should have more injuries?”
I shook my head quickly. What the fuck was I doing?
This was the dragon alpha, the most dangerous male on the entire continent.
He could kill me as soon as snap his fingers—without even snapping his fingers, if what had just happened was anything to go by.
It was only his interest in me that meant I was still breathing, and I very much wanted to continue breathing.
Just somewhere far, far from here. Something told me if I wound up like those chained wolves outside, I’d be here until I died.
And my spirit would die a long time before my body had the decency to follow suit.
“Wise, girl. You have some intelligence, at least. Certainly more than those wolves who sold you to me. But that’s hardly surprising, now, is it?”
Did he mean because Landon was dumb as fuck, or because I wasn’t like them? Did he actually think being a null made me better than them?
He chuckled again, this time surprise tinting the sound. “You have no idea, do you? What you are?”
I kept my eyes averted, but I heard his voice turn cold.
“Answer me, girl. Or do you need to be…encouraged?”
“I’m a null,” I forced out. “Wolfless. But I’m still a shifter.”
“How delightful. You truly have no idea.”
I jerked my eyes up, meeting his for a second—long enough to see the pure greed and malice lurking there, then forced my gaze away again, letting it settle on the table behind him.
“Look at me,” he commanded, and when I didn’t respond, he bent over me, grasping my chin in a bruising grip between thumb and forefinger, and forced me to obey. “You look so…ordinary. But you, my girl, will be the jewel of my collection. If you are what they claim you are.”
Abruptly, he released my chin roughly, and rose to his feet, staring down at me.
“But whether you are, or are not, rest assured that you will learn to obey. You saw, no doubt, my tethered pet wolves on your way in?”
Pets. That’s exactly how he viewed them. And me. He arched a brow and I realized the question wasn’t rhetorical. He wanted to rub my nose in his superiority, and his power over me. Forcing my pride down in a painful lump, I nodded and answered.
“Yes.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Words. They were just words. I’d done worse things than say words to survive. So why did they taste so bitter? “Yes, Your Highness.”
“Good girl. Perhaps you’ll avoid their fate, after all. They were the alpha pair of a pack of wolves on the far side of the continent. When I got word of their unique coloring, I had to have them for my collection.”
He strode to the table, collecting something that I couldn’t make out. And then I could make it out, and I wished to hell I hadn’t. A metal collar…and a leash. He strode back toward me.
“They were defiant as well, at first,” he told me, his tone casual.
“Now they live on chains, and when the mood takes me, I have the female shift back and allow my guards to rut her in front of the male.” His face shadowed, and his voice hardened.
“That is the fate of those who defy me. I would not advise you test me.”
“You’re a monster,” I whispered, before I could stop myself. I flinched back, waiting for the blow, but it didn’t come. Instead, he brought his face even closer to mine, so close I could feel the heat for his breath by my ear.
“Yes, I am. And there’s something you should know about monsters: we always win. Because monsters aren’t hampered by foolish notions like fair or just. You’d do well to remember that.”
I’d thought he hoarded rare things, but I saw now that I missed something.
He didn’t just hoard rare things, though that would be bad enough.
He hoarded rare, broken things. And he delighted in the breaking.
The collar snapped shut around my neck before I could pull away, and the chain leash hung limply between my breasts to my waist.
“Yes, Your Highness,” I whispered. Better he thought I was already broken. He wanted to scare me into submission? Let him think I was already there—and hopefully, get bored and leave me alone.
His hand thudded down into my cheek and I cried out in pain as the force of the blow threw me back to the ground.
Agony exploded through my head, but before I could process it, his hand wrapped in my hair and hauled me up onto my knees.
As I swayed there, staring at him through unfocussed eyes, held in place only by his grip, I silently vowed that I would find a way to end him. Whatever the cost.
“Ah, there she is.” His eyes shone in triumph. “You were so meek I was starting to think the wolf lied about what you are. But I see it now.”
“I’m just a null,” I insisted, openly glaring at him, because fuck it, he was going to beat me regardless.
“You’re so much more than that. And once I break you and rebuild you, you’ll see it, too. Once you’re mine completely.”
A shiver ran the length of my spine. I didn’t know what he thought I was, but he was wrong. And when he realized that… I needed to get out of here before that happened.
“Nothing to say to that?” he taunted, and I pressed my lips together. “No matter. You’ll entertain me whether you will it or not. And your children…”
“My what?” I gasped, jerking back and then hissing in pain as his hand in my hair jerked me to a halt.
“Oh, I’m not just interested in collecting you. I’m going to breed you.”
I retched. My stomach was going to empty itself all over his stupid fucking cloak and probably priceless shoes, and I couldn’t quite find it in me to care. Breed me? I swallowed hard. He wasn’t just evil, he was crazy.
He released my hair and skittered back with a scowl of disgust, but quickly composed his expression into an imperious sneer.
“I bred my wolves, of course. But their young were disappointingly plain. Do you know what happens to those who disappoint me?”
Nausea threatened to overcome me all over again. No wonder those shifters had looked completely broken. I couldn’t even begin to understand what they’d been through—and I never wanted to be on the receiving end of it. I’d make him kill me first.
“You’re insane if you think I’ll ever let you do that to me. But that’s exactly what you are, isn’t it?” I twisted round to look at my guard, now standing by the door. “Did you know your master is insane? Does he pay you extra to put up with his delusions?”
“Have you finished with your temper tantrum?” Uther asked, his voice bored, as though he was dealing with a petulant child, and not the woman who was going to be his downfall—one way or the other.
“Oh, I’m finished all right,” I told him, snapping my gaze round to meet his blistering eyes. “I’ll die before I let you rip a single child from me.”
“You will no doubt wish for death many times…but you’ll find I am not a merciful master.”
Like I hadn’t worked that out for myself. I opened my mouth to snap a retort that would probably get the crap kicked out of me, but a loud rap on the door interrupted me. Uther’s eyes snapped up to the newcomer, and I twisted round to follow his gaze.
“I’m busy,” he snapped.
“Apologies, Your Highness,” the newcomer said, a guy who looked to be in his thirties but carried himself with the quiet stoicism of someone far older.
Dark hair fell across sharp cheekbones as he bowed his head.
His shoulders were heaving but his face didn’t look red with exertion.
Was that a dragon thing? “I wouldn’t interrupt if it wasn’t urgent. ”
Uther tutted and I could feel the irritation rolling off him as he waved an imperious hand. “Very well. Speak.”
“You’re needed outside at once, Your Highness. We’ve had word the rebels have been sighted on the border. We need to move you to a safer location.”
“Run?” Uther sneered. “I am the King of the Wraiths, and you expect me to run like some cowardly cur?”
“I’m sorry, Your Highness, I intended no offence. What—” he seemed to cringe. “What shall I tell the royal guard?”
“Tell them to prepare to fight. And that I shall personally lead them into battle.” He took hold of the leash hanging from my collar and gave it a sharp tug, sending a jolt of pain through my neck. “Stand.”
I staggered to my feet as quickly as I could with my hands still bound behind my back, but not fast enough to avoid another savage yank of the leash. I bit my lip on a gasp of pain, and saw the cruel delight in Uther’s eyes as he watched me.
“I shall have great fun playing with you later.”
He jerked me forward by the leash, then tossed it to the remaining guard. “Bring my new pet. I want her to see what happens to those who defy me. We will discuss your finder’s fee once I’ve finished slaughtering rebels.”
“Of course, Your Highness.”
“And as for you,” Uther said, his gaze snagging on me once more, “be sure to keep your eyes open. I wouldn’t want you to miss the show.”