Page 22 of Savage Crown

His crimson eyes flick to mine, daring.

I smirk. They always try to act brave at first.

"You should have killed yourself when you had the chance," I murmur, tilting my head. "It would have been cleaner than what I’ll do to you now."

He exhales through his nose, barely a wince. "Torture, then?"

I hum, dragging my thumb along the bruising edge of his jaw. "Torture is such a crude word."

He huffs a weak chuckle, his split lip cracking. "Call it whatever you want. I won’t talk."

I lean in, close enough that he can feel my breath against his skin. Close enough to make him nervous.

"Oh, you will," I murmur. "You just don’t know it yet."

I press two fingers against the gash in his side. He stiffens, a shudder running through him as fresh blood seeps between my fingers.

His breath turns ragged, but he still doesn’t break.

Not yet.

I smile. "Let’s start simple. Who sent you?"

Silence.

My hand tightens, fingers digging into the wound, pressing against raw flesh.

He grits his teeth.

"You know," I say conversationally, "I could do this for hours. Days, even. But you? You don’t have that long."

His breath shudders. "You think you frighten me?"

I sigh, almost disappointed. "No. But pain does wonderful things to a creature’s resolve."

Without warning, I twist.

His scream rips through the chamber.

I let go, watching as he slumps forward, panting, his forehead resting against his chest. Blood drips in slow, steady beats against the stone floor.

"Nhilian," he rasps, his voice hoarse.

Ah.

Nhilian.

A name I haven’t heard in years.

My fingers twitch at my side. I don’t move, don’t react, but something sharp coils in my chest, tight and venomous.

"Nhilian sent you?" My voice is quiet now, too smooth. Too calm.

The assassin doesn’t lift his head. "Not directly. But his coin paid for the blade that was meant for your heart."

I exhale slowly.

Nhilian. My father’s closest friend. His brother in all but blood. A man I once trusted.

---