Page 96 of Untamed

Zichri’s tears flowed. He pinched the bridge of his nose. “I don’t think he ever forgave me for that.”

Hugo chuckled, but it turned into gasping.

I pressed against the wall, unsure what to do. If this happened to Cosme, I would be beside myself. Suddenly, Cosme’s overbearing nature didn’t seem so terrible. He’d always aimed to protect me, whether I liked it or not.

“Zi-chri.” Hugo inhaled. “I’m. Sorry.”

Zichri’s bottom lip trembled with volatile emotion churning deep inside like a lightning storm lived somewhere beneath his skin.

“It. Was. Me.” Hugo’s stare remained fixed on Zichri.

Another invisible connection formed through the door. I bent to Zichri’s side and pushed energy through my palms. The bald guard whipped open the door. His gaze searched the bed and the floor. He leaned his head to check behind the door. I dared not move or breathe.

The bald man swore. He slammed the door shut and stomped down the hallway. My connection to him was severed with the growing distance between us. We had to depart soon.

I curled my fingers around Zichri’s shoulders and shook him lightly.

Zichri didn’t move from his spot beside the bed. “What was you?”

“Pa-pa.” Hugo’s eyes fixed on the ceiling, but his chest continued to move up and down.

His father was sick because of Prince Hugo. The thought made my heart break for Zichri, his oldest brother, his younger sister, and for his mother.

Hugo continued. “I. Ordered. Agustín’s death.”

“Has it been done yet?” Zichri clutched Hugo’s doublet with a curled lip that bespoke rage and desperation. The anger burned from his pores as much as his anguish.

His dying brother gasped several times, and I couldn’t be sure he’d respond. “You. Might. Have. Time.” Choking noises leaked from his throat. He exhaled loudly one last time.

The bald guard burst through the door again, catching me off guard, and yanked Zichri to his feet. “I knew I heard something.”

Chapter 43

Laude

Bruno dragged Beatriz andZichri into the dining hall like an angry mama cat bringing her kittens back from disaster for the third time. But Bruno was no mama, and he’d brought them into dangerous waters where a shark toyed with its prey before the killing chomp.

A ragged squeak escaped my throat and caused Beatriz’s eyes to focus on me. They held a hint of a threat.

In a desperate attempt to distract the predator, I spoke up, “Surely, we could chat over what you’d like me to do.” I tried not to sound desperate. “Your goal is to make Pedroz a center of commerce, is that right?”

Whyzer Patro’s thin lips looked like a slit between his mustache and beard. He leaned back in his chair that had his staff propped against it. A hint of a smile, which was anythingbut friendly, lifted his face when he looked up at Bruno. “Kill them.”

I stood up and threw my wine at Whyzer Patro’s face.Please let poison get him, I prayed under my breath.

Zichri twisted and kicked Bruno in the knee.

The big guy buckled.

Jaime bolted out of his seat, attacking Whyzer Patro.

Beatriz’s powers pulsed through the room, taking my desperation with her. She flicked her wrist and Bruno flew across the table.

But Whyzer Patro grabbed my hair. The pain was jolting. “Try that again and your friend won’t have long to live.”

Would Beatriz think of me as a traitor? She might even do something rash. Jaime wrestled the staff from Patro’s hands. I hit the ground hard, but the whyzer had lost his grip on me. The staff he used like a weapon toppled onto the ground beside me. I picked it up and scurried to Beatriz’s side.

“Can you do that thing with your gift again?” I asked.

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