Chapter 36
Talear
The Ebony Fortress
Dressed in an identical uniform, Seth approached Reyne from the opposite direction as he headed towards his chambers. He eyed Reyne with a curious grin. “Reyne, you are in uniform. Is there a special occasion I wasn’t informed about?”
Reyne clenched his teeth. He couldn’t wait to shed his clothes just to prevent anyone else from asking the same damn question. “Seth, what are you doing here?”
“Mordrick summoned me to ensure his bride’s consent,” he answered with a smug, satisfied smile.
Fuck. Reyne’s heart leapt in panic. “Did she?”
Seth tsked. “Of course. How could you have doubts? Mordrick did issue specific orders though. I couldn’t mar her or remove more than a fingertip. She held up well for a Valerian, but she easily broke once I used her friend as leverage.”
Reyne expelled a breath. “What did they do with her afterwards?”
“Consort’s chamber, I believe. Why?” Seth stared at Reyne with probing narrowed eyes and a slow grin lit his features. “Ah. Tell me Reyne, did you use our secret to avoid confessing the truth? She is a tempting morsel. I wouldn’t blame you. I would have fu…"
Seth’s back slammed into the wall as Reyne shoved him with both hands and strode away.
He didn’t have time for Seth’s blatant attempt to provoke his anger.
Right now, he needed to see Kendra. To assure himself she was unharmed.
If he was careful, he could enter the consort’s chambers unseen.
There was still a good chance of getting caught, but it was a risk he was willing to take.
Behind him, Seth released a deep chuckle. “Don’t worry Reyne. I won’t tell anyone. This will be our little secret.”
“Fuck you, Seth.”
Seth's laughter faded as Reyne hastened through the twisting corridors.
Using the servant’s narrow passageways that snaked through the fortress, Reyne slipped into Kendra’s chamber.
The Queen’s bedchamber was lavishly appointed with heavy tapestries that adorned the cold stone walls and polished wood furniture.
At the heart stood a grand four-poster bed with richly embroidered curtains that could be drawn for warmth and privacy.
His frantic gaze searched for Kendra. He found her in a sobbing heap next to the door, her body covered in a sheen of sweat, her damp chemise clinging to every curve and leaving nothing to the imagination.
Red hot rage blurred his vision. Mordrick would die first, then Seth. He wouldn’t just kill them, he would tear them apart, limb by limb. But later. Right now, Kendra needed him.
He dropped to his knees beside her, searching for her pulse. It was faint—alarmingly weak. And she was cold to the touch. Fuck. He dashed to the bathing alcove and tested the water. Relief washed over him when he discovered it was warm, nearly hot, and not cool the way he preferred his.
His crimson mantle hit the floor first, followed by the top half of his uniform.
Hopping towards her, he yanked his boots off, one at a time.
After locking the door, he slid his arms under Kendra’s knees and around her back.
Reyne scooped her up and cradled her into his arms. “Kendra, love, I’m here.
Put your arms around my neck and hold on. ”
“Reyne.” She breathed his name as her trembling arms anchored his shoulders.
“Shh. You’re in shock.” He strode back to the bathing alcove and without bothering to remove his trousers, stepped into the deep round pool. He lowered Kendra into the water until she was submerged up to her shoulders.
Puffy, red-rimmed emerald eyes lifted to his. “He cut off my…my…” Her teeth chattered in rapid rhythm.
His chest constricted above the organ beating in his chest. “I know.” He lifted her knuckle to his lips, above her missing joint, letting his moist kisses brush her mangled pinky. “I’m going to kill both of them for this.” He vowed.
“They tortured Quinn too, and I…I cracked,” she confessed, lowering her lashes in shame. “I tried to hold out. But I couldn’t watch…so I consented. In the end, I broke just like Mordrick said I would.”
“Look at me.” He waited until her gaze met his before continuing.
“You didn’t stand a chance against Mordrick and Seth.
Seth is a master interrogator and a sadist. He knows how to exploit weakness.
I’ve seen him break a man twice my size, who had the fortitude of a two-hundred-year-old shade tree. Hell, he could break me.”
He unraveled her sweat-dampened braid and stripped the flimsy chemise from her body and tossed the soaked material on the side of the pool.
With soap in hand, he began to wash away the sweat from her body with gentle strokes.
He ran suds through her hair, helping her rinse it when his task was complete.
“What am I going to do?” She asked as color returned to her cheeks.
Reyne tugged her against his length, letting his forehead fall against hers. “You are going to pretend to go along with this sham wedding. We have a plan.”
“We?”
“The less you know the better.” He kissed her, using his lips, his tongue and his body to convey emotions he couldn’t put into words.