Page 149 of What Lies Within Blood & Heirs

By the stars, she did. So loud the chandeliers rattled and nobles covered their ears.

He hated it. Hated Magnelis for beingMade. For what he was forced to be—to do. If the Stars Eternal could hear him…There is no point in wishing.His soul was condemned to Firekeeper. This act of disgusting entertainment could not possibly have him burning in a deeper pit. His actions had already doomed him as far as Firekeeper’s realm could go.

Pain will not be inflicted upon you. You will only scream as if it had. And then, you will hate me. Be convincing,he commanded, but she had no choice. His whims were engraved in her mind as if she had convinced herself.

The screaming continued. Ear-shattering wails that trembled the polished stone beneath his feet until she had no breath remaining and convulsed on the rug. Garrik tried not to remember his own body. How that exactly felt when he laid bruised and bleeding and bare below Magnelis’s throne by Brennus’s torture or Malik’s flames.

Garrik crouched above her and brushed sweat-soaked hair from her face. Perhaps something that could be sensual, but to one bound and broken, it was nothing but wicked possession. “Are you hiding others?”

“No!” she barely choked out and spit in his face.

He merely gritted his teeth and wiped it away with the back of his hand.

“The stars will curse you for this.”

Garrik’s cruel smile widened. “They already have.” He cocked his head like a beast and warned, “I will not ask again.”

The female sneered through her teeth, “No, HighWretch.I’m telling you the truth!”

He laughed. Taking the female’s chin between his fingers, Garrik pulled her face inches from his endless abyss for eyes. “I know. But I simply do not care.”And turned over his shoulder to Thalon, staring down the general who burned his hideous gaze into his swords-master. “Guardian. Drug and bind her in iron. Deliver her to Galdheir at once.”

But it was Ladomyr who skulked forward. Garrik had entirely forgotten of his existence, hiding amongst his wives like they could shield him from the punishment Garrik vowed to administer before they left this starsdamned kingdom. Ladomyr offered, “If it pleases you, High Prince. She can be bound in your bedchamber.”

Garrik tightened his fist beside his inner knee so he would not unwillingly tremble.

A burst of white flame danced along the shadows in his mind. It reminded him to breathe.

Repulsed by his words, Garrik stood and addressed the king. “Finally, the first pleasing idea you have offered since our arrival.” But it was not the thought of having a female in his bed that had him smiling next. Every courtier, noble, and royal, even most of the castle guards were gathered. Meaning the halls were empty save for some wandering servants.

Garrik gestured to Kyrell for the rope. Once it was in his hand and the unsightly ilk stepped away, bumping into Silas whostared forward and brushed the invisible filth from his shoulder, Garrik turned and handed it to Aiden.

He scanned past Alora, past Jade, and met the burning glower of Thalon. “Take her to my bedchamber.”The tunnels. Thalon, you know where they are. Secure her in camp, find Eldacar and Calla, then you and Aiden search them while we remain at court.

Thalon nodded and motioned for Aiden to follow. He parted the crowd with his massive figure and runed sword strapped to his side before they disappeared through the throne room doors.

“You really must have a death wish,”Alora said, swirling her glass of wine in her half-crossed arms.

Ezander heedlessly strolled toward her, paying no mind to anything else but her. “Perhaps. But if it’s you as my final vision, then I will die a happy male.”

She rolled her eyes and shook her head with a sigh. “Hewillkill you, you know.”

The male heir merely shrugged and dug his shoulder into the pillar beside her. “I don’t doubt that.”

“What do you want, Ezander?”

“A date.” He rolled his head against the marble and smiled. “Just one.”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“I don’t like you.”

“I think you could like me very much.”

“Ezander,” Alora scolded flatly.Stars, he was incorrigible. She gestured her chin to Jade in a long-sleeved black gown standing by Garrik’s side, looking just as unapproachable as at dinner last evening. “Why don’t you ask Jade?”

“She scares me more than our High Prince.” He cringed.

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