Page 136 of The Sins of Silas

The guard wailed in agony just as the man tending to the guard injured by Torrin cried for backup. The cheering died down as another soldier hustled in. He sped to the man Silas was still beating, tackling the Prince to the ground.

I ran and grasped the neck of the soldier on top of him. I pulled, not realizing the strength it might take to snap a neck, before he elbowed me in the stomach, causing me to fall back.

“Lena—” Silas began.

The soldier wrapped his hands around Silas’s throat before he could finish telling me to get back.

Silas gritted his teeth, grasping the man’s hand tightly in an attempt to avoid being strangled. The soldier wouldn't budge.

“LET HIM GO!” I bellowed. It was a petty move, but I didn’t give a shit. I gripped the hair on his head and ripped it out from the root.

He shrieked, releasing Silas to reach back for me just as I elbow-locked his neck, pulling him back with me to the ground.

The remaining man cursed before stepping away from the injured soldier. Torrin advanced, and the two began fist-fighting.

The man in my hold easily broke free, as my strength without magic was lacking in comparison to a man of his size. He turned, pressing me into the ground and tightening his hands around my neck. The rest of our friends were about to join in the fight when a loud bang jolted all of us.

“Enough!” A man barked, a handful of soldiers rushing down the steps with him.

My eyes slid to the voice—to the man from before. The one with brown hair and vibrant green eyes.

“Disengage,” he chewed out, eyes locking on the man holding my throat as he hurried down the steps. I spiraled into a coughing fit as the guard hesitantly obeyed, releasing me from his tight grip.

“Fen's arm is broken because of him,” he spat, pointing at Silas.

“He’s luckyit’s only his arm,” the Prince replied with a smug grin, rising to his feet.

The soldier bared his teeth, but the one originally injured rasped, “The blond started it.”

Torrin scoffed, and the green-eyed man clicked his tongue. “Causing issues again, Torrin?”

“He did nothing wrong,” I seethed. “Your piece of shit guards antagonized him.”

His emerald gaze locked on mine, only for a moment. He cocked his head toward Torrin. “Take him,”

“NO!” I protested just as the guards hustled in, seizing Torrin's arms.

“It’s okay, Lena,” Torrin said softly before glaring at the soldiers who pulled him forward.

“Don’t hurt him,” I pleaded, hating how desperate I sounded. But they ignored me, everyone but that damn brown-haired guard, who stared at me with a look I couldn't place.

I stared into his green eyes as every other guard in the room filtered out.

“Where are you taking him?” I gritted out as I stood.

Silas was beside me, his fingers grazing my neck, checking for damage. I couldn't focus on the pleasure his touch provided me. I couldn't focus on anything other than the fire I wished I could unleash upon the bastard before me.

“He’s getting punished. Don’t worry. He’s too valuable an asset to kill.”

Silas gave an ingenuine smile from beside me, his hand slipping from my neck. “How comforting."

“Punished how?” I asked in a low voice, heat rising in my body. Fuck this man, and fuck these cuffs.

“A flogging. He’s been through it before,” he said softly. “He’ll be okay.”

I felt Silas tense beside me and watched as his eyes slightly flared. Even if he felt betrayed by Torrin, I knew the two had cared for one another. It had to worry him, knowing he was suffering in such a way.

“He didn’t do anything to warrant such treatment,” I spat. “You’re all fucking pathetic.”