Page 160 of The Sins of Silas

Roland shot Hendry a half grin. “Oh, very much deserved, my friend. So, what, shit ball throwing contest?” His eyes fell to the cart of tools. Three pairs of gloves rested on top.

Hendry snickered. “You're sick, Aubeze.”

It was sadistic, twisted, and thoroughly disgusting whipping shit at Dimitri, but I have to say, I have never laughed so hard in my life. The King of Faltrun bellowed with rage with each hit to his body. Hendry threw one handful that splattered over Dimitri's face, and Hendry gagged so hard that Roland fell to his knees laughing, me with him. My stomach ached from flexing muscles I hadn't used in that way in years.

“This is fucked,” Roland breathed,catching his breath from chuckling so hard.

This was nothing compared to what we had in store for him. But considering he forced hundreds of innocents to live in their own filth, it felt justified throwing shit at him.

I carefully removed the soiled gloves, wincing and trying not to gag myself. I couldn't wait to bathe tonight.

I grasped a blade.

“Time to get some answers.” My gaze flicked up. “A year ago, when my father secretly struck a deal with you, you had already seen an Undead?”

Dimitri's nostrils flared. As much as he hated to comply, he knew that doing so would inflict the least amount of pain.

Or so he thought.

“We'd never seen one before,” he answered, his voice gravelly, “until Ulric himself brought one to us. It was rabid, feral, and it was only detained because of the cuffs.”

To that, my eyes shot wide, meeting Hendry and Roland's equally surprised stare.

We only first learned about the Undead a half-year ago, around the same time the magic-erasing cuffs started rolling out. Yet according to Dimitri, not only did my father have this contraption beforehand, but he was also aware of the Undead. Felt confident enough to have one detained.

He must have had only his close circle aware of this. But why?

“The poison you'd use before the cuffs—what is it?” I continued. “Where are you getting it from?”

He refrained from answering, and when I advanced toward the cart of torture, he shouted, “Okay, okay!”

I slowly turned to him, cocking a brow, awaiting an answer.

Hislip curled. “Cortinarius violaceus. Purple shrooms…we grow them here.”

“That seems too simple,” Roland replied, arms crossed.

“That's because Daranois supplies the substance. We only provide the shrooms.”

My eyes narrowed.

“Daranois?" Hendry stepped forward. “Why do they come to you for these mushrooms?”

Dimitri's face was crumpled in pain, his nipples, or lack thereof, surely stinging. “Our soil is good for growing. Daranois…they do something to the shrooms. Turn them into some sort of powder. We call it…siaxcide.”

I exchanged glances with my friends. We all knew that Daranois grew plenty on their own…there was a reason their parties lasted for days. They were drug central.

Were they really sourcing this mushroom due to the soil?

“So, Daranois is the one who provides you with siaxcide. Yet somehow, you used this substance almost two decades ago. Otacia would've known if this was going on. A deal between Faltrun and Daranois.”

Dimitri choked on a laugh, his head resting back on the rack. “Otacia's witch hunt has blinded them from the dealings in the shadows.”

“Their army uses the powder now,” I said calmly. “Which means they must know of your involvement.”

Dimitri's eyes were slowly shutting.

“Crank it, Hendry.”

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