Chapter 28
An ache unlike anything I’ve ever known pulses through my skull, drawing me out of darkness with a punishing throb.
I force my eyes to part, only for a spear of pain to stab my head, pulling an agonized groan from my throat. My eyes fall closed.
What happened to me?
The last I recall, I was lying in my bed. Then I heard a noise…
I gasp. A new throb travels through my head as I remember the powder thrown in my face. The polished boots. The bag over my head.
I’ve been abducted.
But by whom?
Before speaking with Rian, I would have blamed the Fae. But their expressions when we said goodbye indicated they truly plan on leaving Verdanthia.
No…the Fae aren’t responsible for this. But then who is? And how am I going to escape?
One step at a time, Elara.
I inhale a deep breath and think. First, I need to figure out where I am.
The air is quiet, and the surface under my right arm is hard. My left hand rests across my body where I lie on my side.
Slowly, I reach toward the surface, grimacing at the fresh jolts of pain stabbing my skull at the movement, until my fingers brush against the gritty surface. Dirt? Am I lying on the ground?
I think of the different places in town I could be.
Most paths in Verdanthia are made of dirt, but the silence around me leads me to believe I’m in a room of some sort.
The barracks maybe? The training yard has buildings stocked with weapons and other soldierly materials.
Or maybe I’m in the stables? I inhale through my nostrils and begin to gag as the smell of must and piss finally hits me.
“Gods,” I croak.
Tears burn behind my closed eyelids. The smell is awful. How in the six hells did I miss it?
As much as my body revolts at the idea, I pry my eyes open.
More darkness greets me. Though a dim light glows from somewhere off to the right, down a concealed hall.
Then I notice the slatted wall in front of me.
Breath stutters as my gaze locks on the metal bars climbing from floor to ceiling. My pulse hammers so loudly that it drowns out thought. I rear back on instinct, as if distance alone could undo what I’m seeing.
I’m in a cell…
Why am I in a cell?
I plant my palm on the ground, grit my teeth, and push myself upright. Fear of my predicament supersedes the debilitating pain attempting to drag me back down to the dirt floor. For now.
Hair sticks to my forehead and the back of my neck. My nightgown clings to my clammy body. The air in here is not only still, but it’s also musty. Stagnant. Warm.
I reach for my magic, but it’s barely an ember in the center of my chest.
Damn it.
The powder…
Whatever was used in my abduction suppressed my power, and its effects still linger.
I try to sit up straighter, drawing my legs under me, when the sound of metal jangling fills the air.
I look down, and my stomach drops.
A pair of thick, dark-gray shackles binds my ankles. A short chain links them together, while a heavier one tethers the right shackle to the cold, stony wall behind me.
As my eyes adjust to the darkness, I sweep the cell for answers, anything that might explain why I’m chained here. A hunched figure takes shape on the far side.
“H-hello?” The word rasps out of me.
Nothing.
I scoot along the dirty floor, cringing when unexpected moisture sticks to my skin. The chains pull taut, halting me just two feet from the figure. It’s a man. My breath snags when recognition slams into me.
It’s the human rebel. The one the Fae dragged into the town meeting.
My stomach sinks as I take in the mottled bruises and raw, open cuts streaking his skin. Have the soldiers been torturing him?
“Hello?” I whisper.
The man doesn’t so much as stir.
After swallowing hard, I force my voice louder. “Hello? Can you hear me?”
A masculine voice behind me grunts, “About damn time.”
My head snaps to the metal bars. I rear back to avoid collapsing face-first from the sudden movement. Fresh beads of sweat break out on my brow.
Footsteps precede the arrival of a broad man, one I wish I didn’t know.
Ice floods my veins, locking my muscles in place. “You.”
Fief’s battered face breaks into a cold, cruel smile. “Me.”
My thoughts spin.
Fief abducted me. For retribution for the Fae beating him?
No, that can’t be it.
The presence of the human rebel confirms I’m in the barracks’ dungeon.
Fief wouldn’t bring me somewhere someone else would see me. Not if it weren’t an order. Which means…
Shit.
“Brother Fief.” I lift my chin, hoping to hide how my entire body shakes. “What am I doing here?”
“You’re clever, Healer Stonebloom,” he replies, his voice as cold as his eyes. “Why don’t you take a guess?”
I press my lips together. I refuse to play his game.
“Let me go,” I demand.
“Not until we get what we want.”
My forehead furrows. I ignore the fresh wave of pain the expression sends through my skull. “Who’s ‘we’?”
“Those of us determined to ensure humans are no longer subjected to the whims and cruelty of the Fae.”
Rebels.
How do the rebels have access to the barracks? Why would they bother to kidnap me?
My temple throbs in time with my racing pulse. “There’s been a mistake. I shouldn’t be here.”
“Trust me, Elara.” Fief says my name with blatant disdain. “You are exactly where you should be.”
My skin crawls, and desperation rises.
Chains hold me in place, but even if they didn’t, I have no hope of trying to fight my way out of this situation.
I’m screwed.
A groan cuts through the silence. My gaze snaps to the rebel. He’s still unconscious, but his face contorts, features tightening in raw pain. He’s coming around.
I turn back to Fief. “What do you want from me?”
His smile twists into a leer. “Ah, that’s the question you should’ve asked from the start.”
He steps closer to the bars, and I’m suddenly grateful for the barrier.
“Tell us about the Shadow Prince.”
I blink. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me,” he growls. “Our spies have confirmed the Shadow Prince travels with the Fae soldiers you serve. Now, tell us what you know of him.”
My mouth falls open.
It can’t be.
Can it?
The midnight-blue tent with the selmary rose embroidery floods my mind. Plush rugs…polished cutlery…every bit of finery surrounding Darius that seemed so out of place with a traveling squad now makes chilling sense.
Gods, help me… No wonder Rian and the others are so concerned with healing Darius. He’s their prince.
“I see in your expression that I’m right.” Triumph flares in Fief’s manic stare. “Now, tell me what I want to know, and I’ll reconsider my plans to beat the information out of you.”
My throat clogs with fear, but I snap my jaw closed and shake my head once. “I don’t know anything about the Shadow Prince.”
I refuse to tell this man anything.
A familiar voice calls out, “You’re lying.”
Chains rattle as I jerk back, and disbelief burns my throat as Dian steps out from around the shadowed corner leading to the dimly lit corridor.
“Dian?” I croak. “What…what are you doing here?”
“What I must.” Lev’s cousin steps to Fief’s side.
He tries to look composed, but the flash of discomfort at my disheveled state betrays him, even in the dim light.
My chin trembles. “I can’t believe this.”
“Believe it,” Fief snaps. “Now, tell us about the prince. Is it true he can read minds? Has he been spying on Verdanthia? Does he know about the weapons? Our plans?”
Even through my confusion, I fight to keep relief from my face. They don’t know Darius is the prince.
Good.
Let them think it’s one of the conscious, formidable Fae.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I reply, resting my hands loosely in my lap.
“You’re lying,” Dian insists.
“I’m not.” I force my voice to remain even, unwilling to show weakness in front of the man who is not who I thought he was. “I know nothing about the Shadow Prince.”
“Please, Elara.” Dian’s stoic facade cracks. “Don’t make this difficult. I don’t want you to get hurt.”
“Who’s going to hurt me?” My gaze snaps to Fief.
He cracks his knuckles with a gleeful smile and says, “Several of us are willing to abuse a pretty face if it means learning our enemy’s secrets.”
I scoff, fixing my attention on Dian. “Really? You’d let this happen? What would Lev say?”
It’s risky to mention Lev given how things ended between us last night. But I’m hopeful Dian doesn’t know about my falling out with his cousin, that my relationship with Lev will make him pause what he’s planning to do.
“Lev would understand.”
“Now who’s the liar?” I scowl. “Don’t do this, Dian. The Fae didn’t do anything wrong. I’ve completed my deal with them. They’re leaving Verdanthia alone, just like they promised.”
“They’re leaving?” His eyes widen. His head snaps toward the corridor before turning back to me. “When?”
I frown. “I don’t know.”
“Did they say where they were going?” Dian presses, glancing between me and the hallway again.
“No.”
Fief growls. “We must act. We can’t miss this opportunity.”
“Shit.” Dian runs a hand through his hair, glancing again at the corridor. “So what do we do?”
I think he’s speaking to Fief, but a heavy sigh drifts from the hall, followed by footsteps.
Air rushes from my lungs as Lev steps into view.
Betrayal, hot and fierce and unyielding, stabs me in the heart. Lev knows I’m here. He knows…and he isn’t doing anything.
It feels as if blood flows freely from my chest, gathering on the cell floor in a puddle, draining every ounce of affection I ever felt for my closest friend.
Lev closes the distance between us, crouching down on the other side of my cell.
He clears his throat and tilts his head to the side. “When are the Fae leaving, Elara?”
Angry tears sting. “Are you serious right now?”
He clenches his jaw and repeats, “When are the Fae leaving?”
“Fuck you.”
Fief chuckles, cracking his knuckles once more. Dian shifts his weight between his feet.
Lev doesn’t flinch. “What’s happening is bigger than you or me, Elara. Thousands of lives are at stake.”
“Tell me,” I whisper, ignoring his words. “If I had agreed to marry you, would we be in this situation?”
A flicker of hope lights his eyes. “Are you saying you’ve reconsidered?”
“Absolutely fucking not,” I shout, chains rattling as I shake with fury. “Let me out of here, Lev. Right now!”
His features shutter. “I’m afraid I can’t do that. Not until you tell us what we need to know.”
He stands and backs away from the bars.
My hands curl into shaking fists. “There’s no war happening. The Fae are not our enemies.”
“Spoken like the traitorous whore you are,” Fief spits.
Lev doesn’t so much as blink at the insult.
The last of the affection I’ve carried for this man for most of my life drips into the puddle.
A cold, eerie sense of calm falls over me. At last, magic burns hot in my palms, but I’m unable to release it. I silently reassure the volatile power, vowing we both will have our revenge soon.
“You’re making a mistake, Lev.”
“I could say the same to you.” His mask is unyielding now. He steps back and tells Fief, “Do what you must.”
Dian balks. “Lev, you can’t—”
“Let’s go, cousin.” Lev’s gaze leaves me. “We have news to share with the others.”
Without a backward glance, he strides down the dimly lit corridor that I imagine leads to the stairwell connecting the barracks to the basement prison.
My heart hardens against him, but a lone tear slides down my cheek anyway, mourning how far we’ve fallen.
Boots shuffle. My eyes snap to Fief as he pulls a single key from his pocket.
“I have to say, Judan must smile on me to give me the honor of leading your interrogation.” He inserts the key into the lock.
Rusted hinges screech as the door swings open.
“The God of Order will curse you for this injustice,” I manage, even as my heart hammers against my sternum.
Fief tsks. “I don’t think He will.”
The door clangs shut behind him. I swallow bile as he steps closer, his evil grin promising pain.
Then the torture begins.