Page 197 of The Doll and The Domination

“They force the inmates to drink from an alcoholic hose. Then they must walk across a plank surrounded by a trench of fire. Many die from not being able to walk a straight line.”

The moment my gaze falls on Ruth, I realize what I’ve said.

“I’m going to burn,” she utters, her face turning a deadly shade of gray.

“No, you’re not.” Dessin takes a step into the cage. “And neither is Marilynn since she can’t even drink alcohol with the baby.”

My stomach drops. I didn’t even consider that.

“Warrose, I recall you being able to drink any Demechnef captain under the table since the age of thirteen. You’ll drink Ruth’s share of the hose and carry her across the plank.”

Warrose snorts. “I was already going to do that, but thanks for stealing my thunder.”

“Niles and I will drink from Marilynn’s share,” Dessin finishes.

My spine aches, feeling feeble and unsteady at the sound of his beautiful baritone voice.

“It may not come to that.” I find my voice buried under my splitting heart. “Kaspias told me he has a plan to make this right.”

“And you believe him?” Ruth asks, somewhat hopeful in her drooping eyes.

“Yes. When I had him in that dungeon, I did something to him in the void. Something I’ve never done before.”

“What was it?” Warrose asks.

“I took away the abuse and changed the trajectory his life would have taken if he had been raised by his mother. He’s not the same man we knew. And right now, all he wants is to make this right. All he feels is remorse.”

Five pairs of eyes blink at me. Their wheels turn as they process this information.

“You think he’s going to help us,” Niles muses skeptically.

“It’s another one of her tricks.”

Everyone turns to look at Dessin. And this time, he’s glaring directly into my soul, searing his hatred through my bones like a branding iron.

Warrose cracks his knuckles in frustration. “Give it a fucking rest.”

“It’s not a trick,” I mutter, losing my breath as I maintain eye contact with him.

“No? Only a demon should be able to rewire someone’s brain.”

“Or an angel.” Ruth reaches out to grab Dessin’s ankle. He looks down at her like he’s trying to understand why someone is touching him. “Dessin? Can you come down here?”

He blinks, widening his stance defensively. But lying on the floor, her head on Warrose’s lap, she looks so weak. Her hair has thinned, cheeks sunken in, and the beautiful brown eyes have lost their sparkle. Dessin sighs, bending a knee to be closer to her.

“Are you my friend?” she asks him.

“Yes.”

“And haven’t I already been through enough?”

Dessin nods solemnly.

“Then stop hurting me by speaking about my sister and the woman you love this way. I have been through enough. It breaks my heart to hear the poison of your words.”

The muscles in my back solidify. I hold my breath involuntarily. It kills me that I’m not suffering alone on this. What they’ve done to Dessin, to the other alters, it’s hurting all of us. His hatred, his distrust of me…

I understand how he felt when I was so angry at him about keeping Aurick’s identity from me. I lashed out, refusing to speak to him. But in truth, this is much, much worse. Every beautiful memory we’ve ever shared has been violated in his mind.

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