Page 32 of Consort of the Crime Queen

My breath catches at the ferocity of her words, the protectiveness embedded in her anger.

I admire that part of her, her loyalty. I love it. But there's more in her that I love, too. I love the hidden Hadria who laughs at my silly jokes, who kisses me so gently under the stars, who fell to her knees when I returned to Elysium.

My voice drops, barely a murmur. "An eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind, Hadria. Where will it end?"

Conflict wars across her beautiful, terrifying face. But then her glacial eyes harden, icy walls slamming back into place. Without a word, she sweeps away, back down the corridor.

This shouldn't be a surprise to me. I knew before I returned here to Elysium that—if I'm to build a life at her side—I must be unflinching at the darker half of her world.

So, squaring my shoulders, I scurry after Hadria and re-enter the torture chamber before the door slams shut again. Lyssa pauses her work, surprise flickering in her eyes as she sees me returning.

The man's head lolls back, his face a mass of blood now. He moans, the sound thin and reedy.

I suppress a shudder at the sadistic pleasure on Lyssa's face. She looks to Hadria expectantly.

"That's enough." Hadria's voice slices through the man's wailing.

Lyssa's eyes narrow. "Enough? But Hades, we've only just started having fun."

"I said that's enough." I flinch at the whip-crack authority in Hadria's voice—and even Lyssa blinks.

With a shrug, Lyssa steps back and throws down the bloody pair of pliers she held in her hand back to the tray of instruments. The man slumps forward with a guttural moan.

"Clean him up."

Lyssa shakes her head in astonishment but does as instructed, pouring water over the seeping wounds she's just inflicted. The man groans, fresh sweat mixing with the sheen of blood on his skin as she works.

Hadria turns to Ricky, whose maimed hands are curled into fists. "You may take seven of his fingers in return for the seven he took from you. No more. Then I will send him back to my father with a message."

Ricky's scarred face twists in a scowl. "This piece of shit ruined my life. Made me a laughingstock. He deserves worse than just losing a few fingers."

Hadria just looks at him impassively. "Those are my orders."

My heart constricts. I understand his thirst for vengeance. But the thought of more disfigurement, more agony…

And for what?

Ricky looks past Hadria to me, his eyes softening slightly. "Is this on account of the little flower?" he asks gruffly. "She doesn't have the stomach for it?"

Before I can think better of it, I step forward and take one of Ricky's mangled hands gently in both of mine. "It's not that I don't think he deserves punishment," I say softly. "But killing him...it won't give you back what he took. And it wouldn't be justice. You still have your life. And I still have mine."

Ricky's brows draw together in surprise as he looks down at me. "What, you don't want to get a few licks in on the bastard who snatched you from us?"

I shake my head. "It won't change anything."

I know Ricky finds mercy a foreign concept. But perhaps he will grant it, just this once.

Ricky glances at Hadria again before inclining his head. "Alright, Hades. Seven fingers it is. Then we ship him back to the old man, as you ordered."

Relief washes through me. I retreat as Ricky steps forward to execute the punishment, unable to watch the outcome. But the man's muffled screams pursue me out of the chamber.

I barely touch my dinner, nausea roiling through me. Later, as I slide under the silken sheets of Hadria's bed, her arms enfold me. Her lips graze my temple.

"I'm sorry you had to see that today. Some of the things I must do weigh heavily on me as well at times." Her voice holds a rare vulnerability when she adds, "I hope it doesn't…change how you feel."

I shift to meet her eyes, gray and unfathomable as a winter sea. "I know you're not as cold as you pretend to be." I kiss her softly, willing her to believe it. "I've seen glimpses of your humanity, Hadria. It's still there, even if you keep it locked away. And I will love you no matter what, because I know you. I know that hidden part of you."

She draws me close, her body warm and strong around mine. "Sunshine…I wanted to tell you earlier, but it—well, it wasn't the right time, as you said. But you should know, I…" She pauses, and I know what she wants to say.

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