CHAPTER 26
THE SENTENCE
For crimes of treason against the realm, the penalty is death; by fire or rope. Extenuating circumstances may be considered at the presiding judge’s discretion.
– Vallennan Law, Statute XVII, Subsection I
The door creaked open in the middle of the night. Kara bolted upright. She raised her nightshade-bound hands to cover her eyes, blinded by the sudden torchlight shining in her face.
“Up you get, Healer.”
Cade. No.
He smiled at her reaction. Pleased by her fear. Like it had been the only thing he’d come for.
“What–” Her words were cut off by him dragging her upright and shoving her out of the cell.
Cade marched her silently through the halls. No explanation. No guards. Just him and the firelight, his grip vice-like on her arm. The threat clear: walk or I’ll drag you.
The dungeons were quiet at this time of night. Empty and pitch-black.
“Where are you taking me?” Kara asked, fighting to keep her voice level. “I haven’t been sentenced–”
“Night guard owes me a favour,” Cade said. “No one’s watching. No one will know.”
He pushed her through the heavy wooden doors, which opened into the execution courtyard. Her breath stopped. Just – stopped.
The pyre was already built.
Fresh logs. Dry kindling. A stake in the centre. Rope coiled by its side. Her head started to spin.
“I made something for you,” he said.
No. He can’t–
“No,” she whispered.
“Oh, yes,” he said, grinning.
Cade’s grip on her arm tightened as he dragged her forward. She twisted against him, horrified, digging her boots into the ground. But it was useless. He was too strong.
“You can’t – this isn’t legal–!”
“No one will care,” he said, voice calm and cold. “You’re dead to them already. I’m just ending it quicker.”
She screamed. “Help! Help – someone, please–!”
Cade shoved her hard and she fell, her hands scraping on the stone.
Get up!
She scrambled away. Too slow. He was already there.
“Nobody’s coming, Healer.”
His hand fisted in her hair. Wrenched her to her feet.
Kara cried out in pain, but he only laughed. A horrible, delighted sound. He dragged her, struggling wildly, up the steps to the pyre platform.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?” he said, forcing her over the pile of logs. She fought him. Kicked. Spat.
“You can’t do this!” she cried.
The fire from his torch lit his face just enough for her to see him smile. An awful, taunting smile.
“That’s the fun part, Healer. I can. They’ll find your body in the morning. They won’t know who set your skin alight. It’ll be my own private show.”
This isn’t happening. This can’t be happening.
He threw the torch down and shoved her against the stake, holding her tightly with one crimson-lit arm.
“Get off me!” Kara snarled. She thrashed against him, trying desperately to throw him off.
“Stop struggling,” he snapped. His hand shot up to her throat, pinning her long enough for him to loop a cord around her chest. “You’ll go where I say. You’ll stand where I put you. And when the fire comes, you’ll burn because I decide it. Understand? You belong to me now, Healer.”
He means it.
I don’t want to burn–
Kara stared at him in horror as he wound more lengths of thick, coarse rope around her with sick enjoyment. It was all she could do. Watch. And he didn’t rush it. That was the worst part. Each rope was pulled slowly, deliberately across her arms and chest, dragging over her skin.
“Tighter, I think,” he crooned in her ear.
No – too tight–
The wood pressed hard into her back. He hummed with pleasure under his breath whilst he worked.
Sebastian. Where are you?
He adjusted the knots, pulled at them viciously, just to hear her breath catch. “Much better,” he murmured, clearly pleased. “Still, obedient... helpless.”
When he was done, she couldn’t move an inch. The ropes made every breath agony. Her pulse hammered wildly.
“This isn’t justice! Please–”
He leaned in from behind and jerked her head upwards. “You’re right. This isn’t justice,” he told her, his breath hot against her neck. “This is mercy. It’s better not to know when it’s coming. You should thank me.”
He stepped back around and looked at her, bound and terrified, and smiled in approval. In enjoyment.
He picked up the torch.
Kara struggled uselessly against the rope, panic exploding. “Don’t do this – please, Cade – please don’t–!”
“Begging already?” he chuckled. “It’s not even warm yet.”
He held the torch close to her face. Too close. She could feel the heat on her skin, smell the smoke on his sleeve. She tried to turn away but he seized her chin, forcing her to look at it.
“No–”
“Look at it,” he commanded. “Now.”
He touched the flame to her cheek and pain seared across it.
“Breathe it in,” he said softly. “You only get one first time.”
A sob escaped her.
He bent down and lit the edge of the pyre.
“No! NO!” she screamed at him.
Sebastian – help–
Cade’s eyes glinted. “Let’s see what kind of screams you make.”
The fire caught quickly, kindling crackled hungrily. A rush of smoke curled up into her nose, her throat. She coughed violently, tears streaming down her face.
“Scream for me, Healer. It’s no fun if you stay quiet,” he called.
The heat crept closer.
She did. She couldn’t stop herself. She screamed for help. She screamed for Sebastian most of all. But no one came. Her voice grew hoarse and desperate, and was slowly drowned out by the growing roar of the fire.
“He’s not coming, Healer. But I’ll make sure he knows it was him you screamed for.”
No–
Can’t breathe–
Her vision blurred as she started to choke. Smoke filled her lungs.
I’m not ready to die–
“I’m not ready – please–” she begged, the terror taking her.
I didn’t get to tell him.
Flames licked at her boots. The heat unbearable. Her hands trembled against the nightshade bindings, the ropes. She gasped, gagged–
Sebastian, I love you!
Tears spilled. She couldn’t breathe. Her body shook.
Cade tilted his head, watching her. Studying her. Calm. Curious. With theatrical boredom, he lifted a pail of water. He met her gaze – just for a moment – before he poured it on the flames. Deliberately slow. The fire hissed out in a burst of steam and wet ash.
What–
Kara coughed, shaking violently. Drenched in smoke and water. As she blinked back tears, Cade stepped close, and leaned in so his lips brushed her ear.
“Not yet,” he murmured. “But at least you’ve seen the view.”
Kara went still.
It was all a game.
He’d never intended to kill her. He’d wanted to watch her break. And she had. She’d given him everything he wanted.
Cade smiled slowly. “You’ll make a pretty fire, Karalynna Hale,” he said fondly, like he was paying her a compliment. He stroked her cheek whilst she shuddered, powerless under his touch. “But not tonight. Tonight was only for me.”
Her mouth opened, but no sound came out.
Monster.
He began unbinding her, his hands lingering too long at her waist.
“When the real time comes,” he added smoothly, “there will be a whole crowd to watch you burn. I wouldn’t have deprived them of it.”
He pushed her down from the platform, hauling her roughly back towards the dungeons. Smoke clung to her tongue. Coated her throat. The smell of ash – she couldn’t escape it. Her body revolted, nausea rising before they were even halfway across the courtyard.
Oh no–
She doubled over, retching, as vomit splattered on the stone.
Cade stopped, still holding her arm, and laughed delightedly. “Ha. You really are entertaining, Healer.”
He yanked her upright again, uncaring that her legs buckled beneath her, and pulled her on.
She didn’t fight. Couldn’t if she tried.
He pulled her down the stairs in silence; the only sound was her ragged breathing. But as they walked the corridor to her cell, he chuckled to himself. “That scream,” he said, savouring it. “It was beautiful. Like music.” He leaned close, voice delighted. “I should have let it go on longer.”
When they got to her cell, he threw her in like garbage. She hit the stone floor hard, wrists still bound, dress soaked from the water and reeking of flames.
“Sleep well,” Cade said. “Now you know what you’ve got to look forward to.”
He slammed the door. She was alone in the darkness once more.
Her chest was rattling from the smoke. Her eyes stung.
Her arms raw from where the ropes had bitten into her skin.
She could still feel the fire – phantom heat blistering her skin.
Could still hear Cade’s voice, cool and amused. At least you’ve seen the view.
Kara sat there, shaking all over, her pulse running wild. Every breath came too fast, too shallow. Her throat burned. She coughed and curled in on herself. She could still taste the bile in the back of her throat.
It wasn’t real.
But it had felt real. She’d thought that was it. No sentence. Just a stake and flames and death. And it was all entertainment to him. A performance for his own amusement.
The worst part? She’d begged. Gods, she’d begged him.
Humiliation burned through her. Kara held her bound hands to her mouth, as if she could shove the words back inside, erase it.
But it was too late. He’d heard it. He would always have it.
She hated that she was grateful. Grateful he’d doused the flames, that they hadn’t gone higher.
The tears took her at once. Sobs tore ruthlessly through her body until she collapsed on the floor, exhausted.
But her mind didn’t let her rest. Cruel thoughts took root.
Maybe Sebastian was already dead. Maybe she’d never see him again.
Even if he escaped... maybe he’d cut his losses and leave her here to rot.
But then she remembered his face when they’d dragged her away.
That promise of fury. That vow without words.
He would come. He had to.
Sebastian. I need you.
Please. Help me.
She had to believe it. It was all she had left.
Two different Thorne guards came for her in the morning – older, quiet, neither one leering nor smug. One offered her a hand to stand. The other kept a respectful distance, watching her with sympathy.
“Come on,” the first one said gently. “It won’t take long.”