Chapter 30 #2
“Where do we go, my king?” The words are strong and sure and it’s only by the goddess that they are.
“I have a surprise for you too, starlight. You can join me in the front for the next festivity, it’s my own offering in honor of tonight.
It’s not often I can present something of this nature to the court.
” His serpentine smile grows wide with pure amusement and my heart skips.
Whatever is in his eyes, I don’t like it. It looks too wicked.
As we round the perfectly manicured hedgerow, I see a small crowd gathered. Curiosity eats at me mixed with heady apprehension. Whatever is planned, King Euron wants it to be a spectacle.
The crowd parts easily enough and I’m ushered through to the front, King Euron never easing his grip that has started to affect the feeling in my arm. I’m locked in his grasp, my elbow forced uncomfortably tight and my fingers tingle as they go numb.
Leeson and Jessamine are forced to stand in the back, and I turn my head in an attempt to read their expressions. Jessamine is as helpless as I am in this moment, as her magic would doom her to a worse fate than me. Her eyes plead with me and I can only offer a small placating smile.
“Now,” the king’s voice booms over the swarm of people, all of them eager for what’s to come. “As we celebrate today, glorified retribution from centuries ago, by the Lord who had what was rightfully his stolen away, I thought I’d send my own offering up to the sun god who gave him his revenge.”
He can’t truly mean to celebrate the Lord from Kassiel’s myth harming his own betrothed?
My mind reels on this perverse thought alone, that I don’t notice when the gardens get darker.
Just like I don’t notice a figure swathed in ebony fabrics and shades of black walk to the front.
It’s not until I flick my gaze from the bloodied moons to see what everyone else stares at that my stomach drops out.
The Devourer, fully clothed in his executioner suit, looking as sharp as the smile on King Euron’s face. He’s devastatingly beautiful, like an usher of death, a forlorn spirit tasked with greeting those who’ve crossed the veil too soon. And next to him, Zedriel.
My knees threaten to give out as my brain tries to make sense of what’s happening.
You can hear a handkerchief drop with how quiet the court goes, waiting for the king’s plans.
“You see, not long ago I heard that our beloved Devourer had accidentally let some of The Hidden go. And so, now he’ll atone by using his gift on this man associated with The Hidden.”
Gasps from women surrounding me has my head jerking to look at them while snickering from the Lords standing nearest me has my blood running cold.
“This man refused to give up any information on the rebel group. It’s unfortunate. He’d rather become a martyr for a failing cause than grow to see himself vowed with a woman or start a family.”
King Euron’s cruel laughter bubbles up, and the crowd erupts in laughter of their own. My feet are stone and I think my heart very well slows to a stop.
Kassiel keeps his eyes trained on the horizon, the ever dutiful soldier, ready to take an order. He’s completely still, unmoving, even as the Zedriel shifts uncomfortably causing his bound wrists to start bleeding again from the dried scabs.
I can’t bring myself to turn around to witness Leeson or Jessamine’s despair.
We know what’s about to happen, we’ve witnessed it before.
Now knowing Kassiel’s burden, it makes the air rush from my lungs in a whoosh.
I’m stuck here, watching the man I crave so fervently, about to commit the biggest sin in his eyes on someone who considered him a friend.
Clouds begin to form, unleashing a strong breeze that whips my hair around. I can’t help it when the first tear slides out of the corner of my eye, the traitorous thing that threatens to sabotage our plans.
I swallow down the looming heartache, trying to don the mask of indifference I’ve seen Kassiel possess so often, but gods damnit, it isn’t working. I’m feeling too much. Feeling like my world is tilting.
Memories burn in the back of my mind, and phantom smoke wafts and I inhale deeply, willing away the pain that’s eager to brim over.
“Devourer, I know you were recently absent for an extended period. I worried that maybe you’d had a change of heart with regards to your allegiance to me.”
Kassiel’s head straightens as if a puppet and I can see his hand flinch. I turn to face King Euron and see the sadistic shadows bleed over his face. He’s using his command over Kassiel.
A sob threatens to tear from my throat and I choke on it for far too long.
Watching this is too much, too near to my own hurt.
For the first time I want to run and flee, fuck The Hidden’s plans.
I don’t want to be strong any more than I want Kassiel to be a puppet.
But I can’t, because running right now means Leeson and Jessamine aren’t safe.
My silent tears fall again as the sky turns a ghastly red. I release a shaky exhale so I don’t sob.
“Well?” King Euron asks Kassiel impatiently, annoyance tainting his tone.
“Prove to me, Devourer, that The Hidden is meaningless, that you’re still loyal to me. Honor me this night by snuffing out blatant defiance.”
A soft groan comes from my chest, unable to contain any more of the horror I’m being forced to witness.