Page 34 of The Doll and The Domination

I land in the sand with a silent thump. Without a moment of hesitation, I throw myself around his thick neck, gripping him like I might never get this chance again.

“Oh, baby boy!” I sob, scratching his back, kissing the top of his head. “Can you hear me? See me?”

DaiSzek chuffs in response.

I kneel in front of him, signaling for Knightingale to come closer. She greets me by nudging her nose aggressively under my hand to give her pets, too.

“I need you to get help,” I tell DaiSzek.

He lifts his giant head a little higher in sudden alarm. He understands me.

“We’re in the Vexamen Prison. And I think we’re on the precipice of war. I need you to find the Stormsage Keep. Lead them to the other colonies. I’m hoping they’ll understand that I’ve sent you. That I need their help. If their prophecy is accurate, they’ll know where we are.”

DaiSzek sighs loudly and presses his head against mine. Those beautiful eyes close. And I want nothing more than to stay with him. Tears sting the backs of my eyes.

“Don’t come to Vexamen, okay? It’s too dangerous for either you or Knightingale to get caught.” But DaiSzek straightens his back and stares into my soul with an utter look of defiance. “Please,” I beg.

He releases a long, devastating howl and takes off in the forest with Knightingale tailing right behind him.

Something cold and sharp latches onto me, yanking me back into the void by force, a delirious motion of nothingness that rushes past me until I’m back. I’m sitting in my own body being reeled upward toward a dim light.

“You still alive?” Kaspias calls down with a smile.

I rub the backs of my arms, trembling so hard my bones start to ache. My wet hair only makes the biting chill that much worse. I long to be wrapped in a blanket, sitting in front of a fire in the forest with Kane. I summon the memory of when we were children. When he would keep me warm at night under the twinkling stars.

“I hope your legs still work. It’s either run or die.”

9. The Hunt

Dessin

My mind is a war of slaughter and hellfire.

“Tell. Me.” I’m in Helga Bee’s round, red-cheeked face. Holding my temper back with a string.

We’re in the eerie, circus-themed stadium. Ruth is trying to clean the wounds on my chest. Warrose is pacing the length of the stage. Marilynn is helping Ruth get clean cloths and alcohol. Niles hasn’t moved from his seated position, staring blankly at the floor.

“How should I know, Beetle Brain? There are tons of punishments for killing a sentinel!”

Punishments.

Kaspias is going to punish my girl.

Sorry, Kane. I’m going to have to break your brother’s neck.

Kane lingers in the front, swarming my head with guilt and panic. He’s right to feel this way. It was my fucking fault for losing my temper. If I had just kept calm, Skylenna wouldn’t have had that breakdown. What was that about? She was fine one moment…

I’m inclined to agree with you, Kane sighs.

“Kaspias seems to have a soft spot for Skylenna. Maybe he’ll protect her from the punishment?” Ruth asks as she dabs the gashes on my chest. I look down at her wearily. She’s so small, so innocent, and so fucking naïve.

“You bought his little performance, huh?” I grit through my teeth.

She quickly looks away. “I don’t know. He could have a little crush on her.” The light shrugging of her shoulders pisses me off. The thought of Kaspias Fucking Valdawell having eyes for Skylenna, my Skylenna, makes me want to rip the skin off of his bones slowly, with a smile.

“Name the punishments,” I direct back to Helga Bee.

The tall, burly woman purses her thin lips. Thinks with an overexaggerated hmm sound. Thrums her stubby fingers over a chin covered in acne.

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