Page 12 of Of Gods and Pain

With an inhuman cry, partially from my defeated emotions, and partially from the struggle of swinging the sword hard enough to kill instantly, I send the steel through Seb’s neck. His head slides from his body, creating a nauseating thud against the marble floor. His blood sprays out, coating my face, exposed skin, and dress.

I suppose I should have expected there would be blood involved today when Andras insisted I wear this all white outfit. I have no doubt he has a trophy room full of the white items painted in the blood of those he tortures and murders. I bet he strokes his cock while admiring them each day; surely it’s what he thinks about when fucking me, since it’s probably the only thing that allows him to come.

Fuck the consequences.

Quicker than even I can comprehend, I spin and flick the sword towards Andras’s heart. He expected my reaction, though, and catches the sword with his bare hand just as the tip reaches the sweet spot next to his sternum. Red seeps through his closed fingers, coating his suit. Instead of tending to his wound, he tosses the sword to the side and slams into me with just two steps; I would have fallen backwards, but his bloody hand has a grip around my jaw to the back of my neck. The pulse from the large cut presses against my skin as it takes its time healing. He must have used more magic than I thought he did; he’s weakened right now.

“Oh, how I love your feisty side, my sweet.” His eyes look at my lips just as he leans in to kiss me. I cringe and attempt to push him off, but he’s still much stronger at the moment and just holds me tighter. He groans when my knee lifts to find his balls, ending our kiss and resting his forehead on mine. “You are such a tease, Nell. Don’t worry, we’re nearly done and will be alone soon.”

Chapter Six

Anellah

Ifollow Andras to the front of the throne. All the fae who were just in hysterics are now lined back up and silent. Bren catches my eye, worry taking over his features; I shake my head slightly, letting him know it isn’t my blood I’m covered in. He relaxes, but his tired eyes do not look away from me until I’m standing next to him, and Andras addresses the room once again.

“I must admit, I am disappointed. I have been your prince for hundreds of years,” his voice is deadly calm, causing the hairs along my neck to stand. “I have kept you safe and fed. I have brought you peace! And this is how you repay me?” He shakes his head. The dim light filters through the large windows, hitting his blood-stained sandy hair and skin; his body is a silhouette against the castle grounds. He is hauntingly stunning.

He looks like the god I imagine he used to be.

It’s beautiful…and terrifying.

“I will graciously offer you one last chance. Willingly submit, or face the consequences.”

Silence. For a moment, no one moves—not even their eyes glancing up to the monster before them. Then my vision catches on a fae towards the back, who breaks the formation to kneel, and bows his head in submission. It’s not long before others follow, lowering themselves to the cold, lifeless marble floor. I watch in horror as parents force their young to kneel, causing some of them to cry out in fear.

I spot a young boy, the same one who nearly hit Andras with a ball months ago. Dalton. He takes his brother’s hand, pulling him down, while glaring at the prince with all the intimidation he can muster. He was afraid of Andras when we met. Did he know about him? Or was it just a bad feeling that had him trembling at the thought of the prince’s wrath? I look away, unable to bear the shame of standing in front of these fae—some of whom I know personally—as their lives are kicked into shambles.

Once the movement stops, I expect Andras to dismiss everyone and come for me, but he doesn’t move. Curiosity steals my resolve, and I find four fae who are still standing in the crowd. A whimper escapes me, and my stomach threatens to vomit the dirty air I’ve been consuming for days, since Andras hasn’t let me eat.

“So brave,” the snake’s mocking voice causes me to gag. I can’t do this. I can’t watch this. “It will be good for the others to see the consequences of your treason, so they know what fate awaits them. Should they manage to disobey me, that is.”

Four soldiers step forward, moving towards the three males and one female who decided this is a cause worth their life. I would give myself to save all of them without a second thought, but I can’t. Andras already has me. He has everything.

My arms wrap around themselves, nails digging into my skin to help me calm down before I panic and make it worse for everyone. I focus on the dried blood, feeling pieces of it flake off as I scratch. Bren’s hand lightly grazes my back in support. I wish I could hug him. I’m so desperate for any amount of comforting touch that I nearly risk his life just to feel his arms around me. But I don’t; instead, I press my fingers in harder, using the pain to ground me.

The four fae are dragged to the front of the room and dropped at Andras’s feet. One male, young enough to have not completed all his training yet, spits in the prince’s direction and looks up at him with raw malice.

It happens so fast.

One moment I’m turning to Andras to say…I don’t know, but anything at this point. And the next moment, his hand is holding the male’s heart as his lifeless body thumps to the ground.

I don’t realize I’m moving until large hands wrap around my waist, pressing me into their body. I try to pull away but am unsuccessful; Bren whispers things in my ear, though I can’t understand what he’s saying. There’s a loud ringing echoing through the room, and it stops when a hand clamps around my mouth. I go limp in my friend’s arms when I see the way Andras is looking at me; he has hunger in his gaze. Desire. He’s exhilarated and growing hard at the power he’s gained in this moment.

I cringe as he tosses the seeping heart into the air repeatedly, catching it with his blood encased hand as if it’s a piece of fruit he’s about to eat. He smiles at the hundreds of terrified faces kneeling in front of him. He doesn’t say a word before kicking his foot into the head of the closest male, flattening his life’s memories into nothing; he wastes no time using his sword to pierce the heart of the last male. While I’ll live with these haunting memories forever, I know I will dream every night of the female in front of me. Andras grabs her long, blonde hair in one hand and wraps his arm around her throat with the other. He squeezes, harder and harder. Her screams pierce me so deeply that there’s no chance my soul bonds don’t feel exactly what’s happening. Eventually her shrill, panicked voice cuts off as Andras crushes her windpipe.

He doesn’t stop there, though.

He continues flexing his arm, tightening the muscles so much that the pull he has on her hair allows him to tear her head directly from her body. I spin and dry heave into the space behind Bren. He caresses my back as much as he dares, not wanting one bit of Andras’s focus on us right now.

“Nell, please sweet cakes. I know this is hard, but I need you to hold it in right now,” he begs so quietly I barely hear him. “I can’t have him punish you for this. Please, princess.” I tense, reminded of the name Casmir insists on calling me, though I’m nowhere near a princess.

He’s right, I need to stop; I need to pull it together. For them. They need me, as well as the rest of the people in this realm and the next. As sick as it makes me to watch him kill others, I have to stay strong for the majority. But I will remember each of their faces. They won’t be forgotten.

I straighten and turn just in time, Andras turning to look back with a menacing grin. He wants me; I breathe deeply, preparing myself.

At least he’ll leave the rest of them alone if I keep his attention.

“Now you see what will happen if you find a way to turn on me.” My brows scrunch for a moment before every fae kneeling suddenly straightens and stares ahead with dead eyes. “You will give me your undying loyalty from this moment until your last. You will not leave the city, and you will not betray me. You will not speak a word of this day, or my demands, to anyone. Including each other. If you choose to do anything that goes against my wishes, or would harm my plans, you will immediately find a sharp object and fatally slit your own throat with it.”

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