Page 54 of Land of Monsters

“Doesn’t make your hands any less bloodstained.” My body shook with adrenaline. With abhorrence.

“This world has one less demon in it. That’s a good thing.”

The darkness of my hate thundered through me, branches from the tree in the yard snapping off, dropping to the ground, the trunk creaking as it swayed under my power.

Her spine straightened, pointing from the guards to me. “Cuff him!”

They responded instantly to her order. Grabbing my arms, they yanked them behind me, locking my arms together. My knees bent as the goblin metal slid over my skin, a hiss driving through my teeth as I pushed through the nausea and pain.

It was like being back in prison, living in that nightmare, the underbelly of hell, day in and out. Dealing with constant weakness and agony. But just like many others, I built up a strong immunity to it. Not that it didn’t affect me, it did, but I could stand more than most.

The wave of sickness washed over me. I took several breaths to keep the bile down, getting my legs steady under me. The goblin metal stripped my powers, but it peeled away everything else too. Like all the excuses I had built up to keep Raven out. Denying what was in my face for a while now. Dying had been my plan all along, yet my chest ached at the notion. I no longer wanted to die in vengeance. I wanted to live. For her.

“I thought you were smarter than this.” Sonya shook her head. “Did you really believe I would release her just because you gave yourself up?”

“No,” I replied. “I figured you wouldn’t.”

Sonya’s eyes narrowed, confused at my response. “But you gave yourself up anyway?” She let out a laugh. “Some deluded notion you could save her?”

“You think I did this for her?” I lifted my brow, keeping my voice cold. “I came here for you.”

“You came a long way to be greatly disappointed and then die.”

“As long as I take you out as I go.”

“I could kill you right now.” She leaned on the rail, smirking at me. “Problem solved.”

“But you won’t.”

She stood up fully, curiosity and bewilderment blinking her lids. “And why is that?”

“Because I’m nothing but a nuisance to you, right? Not a true threat.”

She folded her arm, invested in my conclusion.

“However, I mean a lot to the leader of Hungary, don’t I?” I baited. “This is why you are doing all this? Building an army? To conquer and rule more land?” I gestured around with my chin. “I’m great leverage as a prisoner to provoke Killian,” I lied. Killian would do the right thing and chose his people, his country. Not me. He’d make a strategic, rational decision.

Couldn’t say the same about the rest of my friends though.

“You know what my family is capable of. The hell they’d rain down on you if you killed me.”

“Oh, don’t you see?” Her blonde brow lifted. “It isexactlywhat I am hoping for.” An arrogant smile curved her mouth.

“Killian is aligned with the Unified Nations. You attack him, you will have the UFN after you too. You think the little monsters you have here will stand against that?” I snorted.

If she only knew the woman lying on the ground would bring the world to a standstill if the UFN found out she was a prisoner.

“Tree fairies should stick to fucking and making healing remedies.” Sonya clicked her tongue with a heavy sigh. “It’s all your race seems capable of.” She wagged her head withcondescension, arrogance wafting off her like perfume. “Istvan might have been a little hiccup in my plan, but that didn’t change anything in the scheme of things. Czech and Hungary may think they are succeeding, but they will fold just like the rest.” Her fingers pressed into the railing. “And I amfarfrom alone. Especially not when the ultimate prize just fell into my lap.”

“What are you talking about?”

Her lips twisted in mocking grief. “The agony of losing a child can really bond people together. We both know what it’s like to lose a son. Especially when they’ve been murdered in cold blood.”

Acid rained down my throat.

“The loss of theVozhd’sson, the sweet Alexsei Kozlov… His poor father is beside himself with grief.” Her eyes flipped to me. “Wants revenge for his son’s murder.”

Fuck.

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