CHAPTER 27
NOW OR NEVER
Any man who raises a hand against the innocent shall answer to Thorne law without mercy and without exception.
– Thorne Code of Honour, Tenet XII
Kara stood beneath the tiny window – scarcely a slit, really. Iron bars, half-buried in stone. Just wide enough to let in the first few rays of pale dawn light. All she could see through it were boots. Shadows. Guards passing above. But she knew what was waiting out there.
The pyre. Her pyre.
They’d come for her soon.
Midday, that’s what they’d said.
Somewhere beyond her sight, she heard steel clash against steel in a sharp rhythm.
Guards doing early morning drills. Her Fatàn bracelet suddenly flared hot against her wrist. She lifted her bound hands to look closer – her fingers couldn’t reach it.
The rubies were alight. A faint red glow emanating from them.
The iron door creaked behind her.
Her pulse jumped.
This is it.
But no. It was Cade.
Please, no. Not again.
He strolled in casually – like he had all the time in the world. His gaze fell on her bound wrists, and he grinned. He enjoyed this. Her helplessness.
“Rise and shine, firewood. I volunteered to personally come and wake you for your big day.”
She stumbled away, to the far side of the cell.
Keep away from him.
“You look tired, Healer,” he said in mock concern. “Didn’t sleep?”
She didn’t answer.
“Or did you dream about it?” he went on. “I did. I woke up wondering if you still smelled like smoke.” He leaned in, pressing his nose to her shoulder. “You do.”
Kara jerked away from him. “Don’t touch me.”
“What, no screams today? Not even a thank you for the dress rehearsal?” His laugh sent chills up her spine. “No one will put out the flames this time.”
She braced herself, stepping back into the wall, searching the cell for anything – anything – she could use. But there was nothing. Only stone. Only him.
“Your execution’s been moved up. Little sunrise special. I told you – the crowd loves a spectacle.”
Still, she didn’t respond, but her pulse was deafening.
“Shame about your traitor by the way,” he said casually. “He burned last night.”
No! Not Sebastian. Please–
He paused, savouring her reaction.
“Got the message from Lord Thorne this morning.”
He can’t be dead.
He lunged, pinning her against the wall, his hands either side of her. He tilted his head, amused. “Oh, don’t look like that. You can have fun with me instead.”
Icy fear filled her. And she saw it in his face. He’d seen it. He wanted her afraid. It pleased him.
“I was disappointed,” he said, stroking a hand down her arm. She flinched away. “That I didn’t get to watch him die.”
Kara wanted to scream. Not from pain, but fury. The way he talked about Sebastian, the way he touched her like she was his.
“But at least I get one last hour with you. I took the guard shift. It’s just us.” He grabbed her hips hard and pulled them against him. “Thought I’d give you a proper send-off.”
Don’t touch me, don’t–
He leaned in closer. Slowly, deliberately, his hand came to her jaw. His fingers dug hard into her skin.
“You like Thorne men, don’t you?” he asked cruelly. “What’s one more before you burn?”
No. Not you.
She tried to pull away. His hand flared crimson, magic flooding his muscles – strength beyond anything she could fight.
Her wrists throbbed powerless against the nightshade.
Mocking her weakness. She pushed at his chest with everything she had – he didn’t move.
He glanced down at her wrists. Up at the wall. Smiled.
No–
He wrenched them up with his free hand.
“Get off me,” she snarled.
He chuckled. In one motion, he lifted her and hooked her wrists over the blackened torch bracket on the wall.
She fought. Bucked and twisted to get free, her breath coming hard.
But it was useless. The nightshade held fast against the metal – she couldn’t move her arms. Her body crushed against the stone wall.
She was trapped.
“You’ll stay right there,” he said. “Waiting for me.”
He kicked her legs out so hard she cried out, forcing her to stand spread-eagled. He leaned back and raked his eyes up and down her body hungrily.
“Oh, this is going to be fun.”
He held her chin fast, forcing her to look at him. His face was an inch away from hers. The disgusting scent of sour wine and smoke filled her nose.
I won’t let him win, I won’t–
He pushed his body closer. Crowding her. He was everywhere. His lips almost touched hers. “Let’s make your last moments memorable, shall we?”
His hand dropped to her hip, pulling her dress roughly upwards. The fabric ripping.
Do something! Fight!
“See if we can get you screaming my name instead.”
“No, no, stop–” she cried, desperately trying to pull away.
His hand moved lower, his fingers on her thigh–
Somebody, anybody, please stop him.
“Get your fucking hands off her.”
Cade froze. So did she.
That voice...
It couldn’t be real. She’d imagined it. She must have. But she turned her head anyway, hardly daring to hope.
There he was.
Sebastian stood in the doorway.
I love you.
The thought tore through her, fierce and certain. Burning everything else from her mind. His tunic was torn, a dark bruise spreading across his ribs. Blood streaked down his face, dark red against his pale skin. He was breathing like every inhale caused pain.
He’s hurt–
But his expression was pure fury. Crimson magic rippled jaggedly over his skin, alive and dangerous.
But he’s here.
His sword was in his hand, already covered with blood.
“I said,” Sebastian growled, “Get. Off. Her.”
Cade’s hands dropped from her. He took a step back, his smile gone. Replaced with fear.
Good.
Kara yanked hard at the bracket, desperate to reach Sebastian.
He was just a few steps away. Sebastian moved towards her, then stopped.
His gaze went to her arms, stretched high and bound.
To her dress, torn and riding up her thighs.
His expression darkened – horrified, and then truly frightening. He’d seen what was about to happen.
“Did he hurt you?” he hissed.
Kara hesitated. She could lie. Say no. Pretend it didn’t matter. But it did. She knew what saying it would do. Knew Sebastian would likely kill him – right here, right now.
He deserves it.
The viciousness of her thoughts shocked her. But she didn’t fight it.
“Not just now,” she whispered, finding her voice. “But he’s been hurting me for days.”
She didn’t elaborate. She didn’t need to.
Sebastian’s whole body tensed. Slowly – terrifyingly – he turned to Cade who bolted for the door.
He didn’t get far. Sebastian grabbed him by his tunic and hurled him into the opposite wall.
The impact was brutal. His spine hit the stone with a sickening crack.
He tried to scramble to his feet – to get away – but Sebastian was too fast. He seized Cade by the throat hauled him into the air.
“You touched her?” Sebastian asked, dangerously quiet.
Cade looked petrified. He didn’t answer.
Sebastian sheathed his blade, and seized Cade’s wrist – the hand that had been on Kara’s thigh – with his bare hand instead.
“With this hand? This one?” His voice was ice.
Sebastian twisted it. The sound of breaking bone echoed through the cell.
Cade screamed.
Kara flinched at the sound. But she didn’t look away. Couldn’t stop watching.
“I asked you a question, Sarren. Did you touch her?”
Cade choked, clawing uselessly at Sebastian’s grip. “I–I didn’t–”
Sebastian grabbed Cade’s other wrist without hesitation and did the same thing. The bone snapped. Cade’s face contorted in agony as she stared, not in horror, but relief.
“Don’t lie to me,” he said, low and lethal.
Sebastian’s magic crackled – searing-hot – casting a red glow against the stone walls. Cade struggled, his own magic flaring, but Sebastian held him easily.
“You call yourself a Thorne soldier. You’re a disgrace,” Sebastian snarled. “You know what we do to filth who hurt women in Thorne, don’t you?”
Cade whimpered.
“We break them.”
“Please,” Cade begged. “Don’t–”
Sebastian’s fist slammed into his face – savage but precise. Cade’s head flew back into the wall with the force of it. Blood sprayed from his nose. Broken.
“Is that what she said? DID YOU STOP WHEN SHE BEGGED YOU?”
Another punch. Cade cried out.
“DID YOU?”
Sebastian hit him again. Cade started sobbing. Choking on blood.
“Sebastian–” His name came out unbidden. Only a whisper. But it stopped him. He looked back at her. His expression was blazing, full of fury. The desire to hurt. To cause pain.
But she saw him visibly rein it in. Restrain it. For her.
He turned back to Cade. “I ought to let you live long enough for her to heal you–” Sebastian’s grip on him tightened. “Then break every bone again.”
“No, please–”
“You’re lucky I don’t have time for that,” Sebastian said coldly.
In one brutal motion, he drew a dagger from his belt and drove it through Cade’s gut. Cade’s eyes went wide, wild with panic as his blood spurted across the stones. Sebastian pulled the blade out and drove it in again. Higher this time. Twisted it, mercilessly.
Sebastian dropped him. Stood over him.
Just watched – calm and silent – as Cade writhed in agony on the cell floor, trying desperately to clamp his hands over the wound. But blood was pooling beneath him.
He’s dying–
And he knew it.
“You don’t get to die quick,” Sebastian said, and Kara swore, he almost smiled.
Cade turned his head towards Kara and lifted one trembling, blood-slicked hand. Reaching for her. Even now.
Don’t you dare–
She recoiled, pressing herself further into the wall. Revulsion crawled over her skin.
“Kara...” Cade rasped, blood bubbling between his lips. “Healer... help me...”
Help?
He thought she would save him? After what he did? She couldn’t... she wouldn’t. He was a monster. But before she’d said any of it, Sebastian moved.
“You bastard–” he snarled as he kicked Cade’s hand away from her, hard enough for him to cry out. Then he stamped down on it.
“Help? You are not worthy to even speak her name,” he spat venomously. “Not after what you’ve done.”