Page 164 of Taken By Touch and Torment

I’d seen multiple vampires on my way to the main hall that led to the throne room and dining room. None had done more than leer or say vile things to me. Most were women and guards, and just about everyone was in a state of panic, more wrapped up in self-preservation than accosting Durian’s slave.

My brutalized body might’ve been as much a deterrent as my property status. These vampires may have been cruel, but a slave covered head to toe in gashes, marks, and a rainbow of bruises wasn’t exactly appetizing.

No one wanted a peach that was soft and damaged all over.

I hardly felt the pain of movement as adrenaline steadily pumped through my system. When I turned the final corner, into the wide-open space with windows flanking either side that led to the grand rooms, a woman screeched.

“There she is!” Evangeline said, surrounded by a group of born women. They all turned toward me.

But before any of them could question me about their dead bitch friend, a searing heat erupted on my neck.

I wasn’t the only one who froze in place, turning to look at the imposing marble staircase leading to the main palace entrance on the first floor.

Doors were shoved open from the dining room. I was caught between two sets of commotion—bodies moving up the stairs, the sound of heavy boots and shouts, and then Brennan and several lords walking from the opposite side of the space. Born men flowed out into the hall behind them, watching in anticipation.

“Brennan!” Durian bellowed, feral and crazed.

The walls were warping, bleeding darkness and crimson. The marble trembled, and dark cracks exploded across the floor. I stumbled back before I understood they were more illusions.

Brennan spotted me. “Scarlett, thank Lillian,” he said, though his eyes flashed disgust when they roamed my skin. “I’m glad you’re here for the closing act, my love.”

At those last two words, the lords eyed me and then Brennan in surprise. Durian appeared positively aghast.

All of our attention was soon diverted back to the staircase.

That lump in my throat melted into abject terror.

A group of born soldiers marched up the steps, surrounding two men dragging along a prisoner.

Rune.

He was alone. My heart shattered. Did that mean—oh gods, did that mean whoever was with him didn’t survive? How many had I sentenced to death?

Around Rune’s neck and wrists were spiked shackles, and I realized with certainty that they were forged with flecks of blood onyx. That was the only reason Rune wasn’t using his shadow magick to rot this palace to the ground.

I’d never seen Rune powerless before. I wasn’t sure anyone had.

The sight of it chilled me to my bones, along with the knowledge that I’d been the one to lead him here.

A hush fell over the hall as the soldiers brought Rune forward. Even Durian had stilled, his mind driven to the depths of insanity suddenly going quiet.

All eyes moved to Brennan. Brennan’s focus glued on Rune, shackled and thrown to his knees at Brennan’s feet. Rune struggled to raise his head, but his gaze went straight to me.

I couldn’t react. I couldn’t crumble at the sight of those dark eyes reaching for me, the way his muscles strained as if attempting to fight poison itself.

“My army has captured Lillian’s bastard son,” Durian boomed, raising his arms into the air like a demented holy man as illusory ashes fell from the ceiling.

“No,” Brennan snarled, addressing the crowd of lords and ladies. “I have captured Rune, and I alone.” He followed Rune’s line of sight to me. “With a special thanks to Valentin’s most desired human for serving as such delicious bait.”

My stomach dropped. I avoided looking at Rune at all costs now, desperate to hide any emotion that might ruin the last trick we had left.

“You lords have seen the way Durian has failed even the most basic tests of competency during our hearing. If you still stand with him, you will fall with him,” Brennan hissed.

I tasted a small trickle of anger from a few lords, but the prevailing desire was to back the most powerful man in the room.

And that was no longer Durian.

“Durian served a useful purpose in uniting the born against our new guest,” he said, kicking Rune in the ribs.

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