Page 32 of A Broken Ember

"I’m not finished here," I growled. The young draconis just nodded, perhaps seeing that I wasn’t about to change my mind.

“We will find a new home, Ruptor,” she replied. “Do not worry about our Circles.” She brought a hand to my cheek for a moment before spinning around. When the Circulus draconis took off moments later, only Persefoni looked back.

I watched their wings beat the air as dawn crested the horizon. They wouldn’t have much time before they were pursued, but hopefully it would be long enough. Once they were out of sight, I turned toward the castle and made my way back toward my room—not Anastasius’. When I arrived, De Vita and half a dozen warriors were waiting for me.

“We were merciful to you once, Eleos,” Odon spat. “We won’t make that mistake again.” He laughed and gestured to the guards who seized my arms and secured them behind my back.

Chapter 28: Anastasius

“I think you should talk to him,” I advised Ercan as we made our way to my room after checking on the new prisoners. “You have to sort your shit out sooner or later, and he’s not going anywhere.” He gave me an uncertain look.

“What if he hates me?” His voice cracked on the question, and I gave him my most reassuring smile.

“Then you know he cares. Hatred is passion. Emotion. I think he came here expecting not to feel anything for any of us, but I don’t think that is the case at all.” We stopped outside of my room, but I didn’t open the door, waiting for my friend to make his decision. “I think he’s confused, yes. Conflicted, too, but I don’t think he would be here still if he hated De Vita. We aren’t the only place for disgraced Circulus to turn to.”

Ercan sighed and nodded. “When did you get so wise?” he teased, a spark of life entering his eyes.

I grinned at him but didn’t answer. Instead, I turned to my room and pushed open the door. We entered, sharing a chuckle that quickly died when I saw the empty room. The blankets were tossed aside, and the spot he had lain in was cold to the touch. I whipped around, scanning the closet and the corners, but it was pointless. He wasn’t here. My heart raced, instinctually knowing something was wrong.

“I left him right here.” I motioned to the bed. Perhaps he went for a flight? He loved the morning sun on his wings. I muttered profanities beneath my breath. What if he had followed me again? If he had . . . I spun around and barreled the way we came, Ercan hot on my heels.

It was too late. When we got back to the holding area for those captured, they were all gone. No curse was potent enough to express my fear for my Selected and the Circulus. Claeg didn’t know, couldn’t know, that I intended to release the draconis. Just another mistake of mine, and we were too late to fix it. Now, there were more pressing matters. It wouldn’t be long before Father discovered their disappearance. I had to ensure they all escaped safely. Why Claeg wanted to return to the Circulus was a mystery. I whipped around, doubling my speed. I made no excuse for pushing past anyone in my way as I darted past startled clan members. If Odon caught them . . . I couldn’t bear the thought. They hadn’t been Saved yet, the honor being reserved for the day the Choosing ceremony commenced. After an escape attempt, there would be no way for me to delay the inevitable any more. Their wings . . . they would be destroyed, not simply broken like Ercan’s. They would be shredded—peeling apart each scale and dissecting the dainty sinew. When they were no longer recognizable, Odon would burn them until they resembled charred flesh hanging off of charcoal bones. And then, when they believed nothing worse could be done, they would be taken. And if there were a worse fate, it would be reserved for their liberator, Claeg. Eleos.

I ran for the oasis, faster than ever before. When the sun finally hit my eyes, the outlines of a handful of draconis marked the southern sky. They could be anyone, leaving for just another patrol. I knew better than to hope for such a thing. I saw no witnesses around me. Please, spare my Eleos, I begged my gods and those of the Circulus. This was my fault. I hadn’t trusted him with the truth, nor protected him from my weakness—my father. He was safer away from De Vita. Away from me.

Chapter 29: Claeg

They brought me deep within the stronghold, to the room Anastasius had met with Rohit and Ercan in. It smelled of blood, urine, vomit, and waste. Weakness. Draconis were brought here to rot. Perhaps being here was a good thing. It certainly provided more knowledge about my enemy and what the captured draconis were put through. And it got me away from Anastasius, the fucker who was part of the torture of my clan and lied to me about it. The space between made everything clear: I was Circulus. Ruptor. Not Eleos. It had been so tempting to let myself fall for this prince, to let myself believe that the Ruptor was Eleos. If I had continued down this path . . . I would be embracing my broken Circle—abandoning my clan, my duty, my sister. I couldn’t fail them. I would turn this weakness into strength, using every bit of pain awarded to me as a reminder of my purpose: to destroy.

The brutes secured me with chains dangling from the ceiling in the center of the room. They forced me to stand on my toes and stripped me of my trousers. This was just the beginning, though. Pain was my future; I knew that. I refused to cower. The man with missing fingers, Calian, returned with a rod with finely kneaded ropes attached to it. The other warrior, Hariasa, rivaled my size and had a smile like daggers as she sneered at me.

“You are going to scream like no one’s ever screamed before, Circulus traitor,” the woman snarled, grasping the odd-looking tool from her partner.

“Hariasa and I will break you,” Calian added.

“You can try,” I taunted. I had never been tortured before. Never been wounded other than the broken Circles. But I was bred to withstand this very thing. There was no point in hiding it now: I would show them the true strength of the Circulus.

The first lash struck my lower leg. Just a light touch, like a tease between lovers. I chuckled at Hariasa’s attempt at foreplay. She didn’t hold back the second time. The whip struck the backs of calves, but it didn’t tear open the skin. She growled and tried again and again, making my calves warm and redden.

“Problem?” I chuckled darkly. Circulus were bred to withstand more than a slap from mere leather. I snorted; it was almost offensive that she presumed to break me with such a weak tool. Her eyes flared with fury, and she tossed the weapon at Calian before picking up something similar. This one had barbed metal and jagged glass tied into the knots. I swallowed and gave her a taunting smirk.

She whipped me. Hard. I inhaled sharply at the pain, but refused to wince. Something warm dripped down my legs. I didn’t get a chance to look before she struck again, exploding with power over and over. The whip met the flesh of my legs, back, chest, and arms. Each time, red flowed from my body. Each time, she asked me a question: What did you tell those you freed? Where is the witch? Who are you? I didn’t utter a damn word other than to curse and taunt them, but their questions revealed something critical—they were scared.

A particularly powerful strike hit my back, making me jerk forward hard. I hissed, gasping for wind. The air refused to enter my lungs, my vision tinting a dark gray along the edges. Somewhere, someone was laughing at my weakness. Perhaps it was Clotho. Or Anastasius. My heart twisted at the betrayal. I was a fool for falling for him. It was a mistake that wouldn’t be made again.

I sucked in a breath between clenched teeth and straightened my spine.

“Is that all you got?” I sneered through the taste of blood.

Chapter 30: Anastasius

I paced my room, my gaze straying to my bed every so often, imagining every night that Claeg had spent there that I hadn't told him everything. I ran a hand through my hair, tussling the braids over and over. They whipped about my shoulders as I spun around, wearing a path into the stone floor. Days had passed, and each day that Father didn't find the draconis I knew I should feel a little lighter. They had gotten away. Soon, they would be in Circulus territory or perhaps they fled overseas. Safe... I should feel relieved. I didn’t. I was too selfish for that. I missed Claeg.

On the fifth morning since Claeg escaped, I sat in the council room with my father, Amartya, Mateo, and Thyia. Hariasa and Calian were still searching the Neutral Strip for Claeg, but by now they would all be long gone. Yet my father still sat in his chair with a smug grin. Like he knew something I didn't. It made my stomach roll.

My mother was talking about restarting the patrols for resource gathering. I should be paying more attention, but worry stole my focus. What if Claeg hadn't made it? Would my father even admit to capturing them? I cursed under my breath, immediately realizing my error. If Odon had caught Claeg… I needed to ensure he wasn't keeping my Selected from me. I shuddered at the thought of what he would do to Claeg.

“Anastasius?”

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