Page 108 of Oath of Rebellion

The king kicked him in the ribs. Pain exploded in his other side, the kick driving the fiery rope into his skin and burning through his clothes.

"No one threatens my crown, do you understand me? No one."

Knox grunted and curled up on the floor, the stinging bite of pain making his vision swim. Dizziness and nausea flooded him, and he groaned, tucking his head into his chest.

Gastone kicked him again then stepped back, tugging on his cuffs and straightening his jacket. "Now, we're going upstairs. There's something I want to show you before you die."

Knox' heart raced as he coughed, smoke filling his nose. A small fire burned along one wall.

The king crooked his fingers, and the magical bands around Knox' arms and tail grew tighter. They burned into him, a slow burn that that made his teeth clench.

"Why don't you just kill me now?" he gasped, struggling against his bonds.

The king jerked, wrapping the end of the rope around his fist and dragging him to his knees.

"Like I said, I have a surprise for you. Then I'm going to teach you some manners before I kill you."

Knox stumbled to his feet, and Gastone grinned, a cruel light in his eyes as he began to walk up the stairs, jerking on the rope with every step and keeping one beady eye on Knox.

"Come along now. How my dear sister could traipse around the forest with a mongrel like you is beyond me. Too bad that bitch, Scarlet, failed to kill her. If I'd known she had a connection to the Robins, I never would've sent her after Eirwyn."

His tone was conversational as they walked up the stairs, but the rope threatened to choke him. Knox couldn't respond, all his energy was going to staying upright and breathing.

"I finally caught a few of the Robins behind the robbery of the palace. Quite high-handed of you to steal right from under my nose. Why you thought that was a logical way to negotiate is beyond me."

Knox couldn't breathe; the burning rope was too tight around his arms and chest. His shirt smoked.

He gasped, "You ignored our petitions about the taxes. You pushed into the forest and ignored us. You burned houses and villages and robbed from us all."

The king raised his brows and pushed open the cellar door at the top of the stairs. "The entire kingdom belongs to me. I can't rob from myself."

Gastone snorted and shook his head as they entered a small hallway. To the right were sounds of the kitchen.

Knox didn't cry out. He didn't want any of the servants to get hurt, and there was no telling what the king would do. The wild look in his eyes had Knox gritting his teeth more.

It contradicted the logical, even tone of voice he used. They could've had this same conversation at the pub or over a cup of tea, instead of trussed up and being led around like a dog on a leash.

"You don't own the kingdom. We're a free people. Your right to rule depends on us agreeing to be ruled. And we only agree in exchange for protection." Knox shrugged as Gastone tugged him to the narrow stairs on the left.

The king snorted again. "Protection? Ha! They'll obey what I say or they'll suffer the consequences. As for freedom... it's overrated. It's so much easier when one person organizes everything into neat order."

They continued up the stairs.

The king waved his free hand, the other fisting the burning coil of rope. "The Robins think they want freedom, but what they really need is a strong leader."

He arched a brow and looked Knox up and down as they stumbled up the stairs. "They made a terrible choice in their leader. Sure, you might be a drakin, but you brought the full wrath of the king down on not just their heads but everyone in the city. That bitch Hunter was captured, some of the Robins were captured, and where's Eirwyn?"

Gastone stopped, his eyes glinting as Knox looked up at him on the stair above. Knox swallowed hard, and Gastone's smile widened.

"That's right. Her heart is no longer beating, so she's finally dead. Quite a relief, that one, as she's been a thorn in my side for so long. Now to just get rid of you, and I'll have secured my rule over the land."

Knox' body went numb. He told himself Eirwyn was still in the stasis chamber and the dwarves would keep her alive. He told himself to not lose hope.

But Gastone was right. He'd failed them all, and Eirwyn was probably dead already. What magic did he have that he could see her heart?

"At least Red is free now. They've all been rescued from the dungeons," Knox mumbled.

The king laughed maniacally and jerked the rope up the stairs. The burning of the fire along his skin no longer bothered him.

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