Chapter 21
KORMAC
Back in the cell, I wept. The tears burst through a dam and streamed down my face. I let them, wanting the release. They felt good.
I ached all over. Bones was dead, but it’d been tough work getting my sword into him. I’d done it, and now my body wanted a break.
Instead, it got dragged and bound and thrown back into a cart for another bumpy journey.
I’d survived the fight, taken down Bones. Now what?
On the trip back to my cell, I’d heard a lot of chaos. Plenty of shouting and screams and panic over what? The prince’s killing spree. I’d seen him cut through them all, giving us fighters a show instead.
What a show. Under other circumstances, I’d be as horrified as everyone else. But these were seelie fuckers butchered by one of their own. I loved it. Wanted to see more of it.
Actually, it turned my stomach. I hated myself for not being made of darker stuff because someone like Valance would enjoy the reverse.
That makes you less of a monster than the likes of him…
I guess that was something good.
“It is good to see you again, lad.” The woman’s voice drifted from the next cell. “Alive and well. Ready for what comes next.”
Damn her.
I crawled over to the bars, peered into the dark. Saw her shape. A hunched form standing a few feet away.
“It is time for your quest.”
I smacked the bars, furious at her words and my inability to respond.
She laughed. “Don’t worry. Things will work out for you. But you must help the prince. You must protect him and be by his side.”
Fuck you! I’ll never help him!
“Take this gift.”
Warmth spread through my body, soothing my aches like a hot bath. Pouring energy into me.
Magic? I was ready to take on more fuckers the size of Bones.
By the gods…
“You are healed from your aches and pains, your strength restored. If you wish to speak again,” she said, “see if you can rectify it later.”
Rectify it? My tongue was gone. If she’d used magic on me to make me strong again, why not use it on my mouth wound?
I wanted to tell her there was no chance in the seven hells I’d be using my new strength to help the prince. Sorry, but she’d barked up the worst tree.
Twin points of silver came to life in the dark. Eyes shining bright in the dark. They illuminated a lined, ashen face. Exposed a smile of crooked teeth that made my skin crawl.
Who are you? I asked in my head. But this wasn’t like Ren’s spell. She didn’t hear me.
More silver light lower down. A ball in gnarled hands. “The real test is now. You will see.”
The ball flashed and shot at me. It struck me in the chest, sending me stumbling backward. Not enough to put me on my ass. Heat bloomed where it’d hit, itching like crazy. I scratched at the spot.
A click and my cell door slowly opened.
This must be a trick.
The silver eyes were gone.
A jolt struck me, knocking the wind out of me. I staggered and grabbed hold of the bars, seeing… him. Valance. His face drifting through starlight and the heavens, smiling. Not the cruel smile, but a softer one.
I rubbed my eyes, trying to get rid of him. He didn’t leave. Lingered until he faded away into the dark of the cell.
The door was open.
Find him…
A command I didn’t like, but knew I had to follow. Trying to resist hurt—inside and out. I had to go and find the prince. Make him safe.
Great.