Page 161 of The Sins of Silas

“NO!” Dimitri screamed. “Wait—wait!” His eyes blinked rapidly as Hendry's hand rested on the handle. “I didn't know the Otacians were aware of the siaxcide. It must be a newer deal.”

Afterseeing what that dust did in Forsmont, I knew we needed to eradicate its production. “Where are you growing them?”

He swallowed. “Free me, and I'll tell you.”

I chuckled loudly. “I am my father's son, Dimitri. You know there is no chance of you making it out of here alive.” I tilted my head. “The decision of a quick death, or a long, torturous one, is yours.”

He glowered viciously. “Bring on the torture,” he spat. “Faltrun's economy will tank without the shrooms.”

I puckered my lips, nodding slowly as I grasped a pair of shears from the cart. “Very noble, Cortev. It almost sounds like you give a shit about this place.” I took delight in seeing the fear in his eyes and thoroughly enjoyed his screams as I snipped the webbing between what remained of his fingers.

“Tell me, Cortev,” I continued, pacing around his sobbing body. “Did Ulric know you were keeping a stash of Mages in your castle?”

Snot dripped down his shit-stained face, his lip quivering. Fucking pathetic.

“N-no, the deal was I deliver any witches to him.”

I cocked my head to the side and clicked my tongue. “But you decided to keep them for yourself.”

His lip curled. “Is that what this is? You're upset I betrayed your kingdom?” He spat at my feet. “You are the biggest betrayer of Otacia.”

A grin spread across my face, and Dimitri paled as I stepped closer. He screamed as I thrust my blade into his eye socket.

“Crank it,” I ordered Hendry.

He did, turning the handle of the rack, and Dimitri wailed as his limbs began to stretch. “Please! Pleasepleaseplease don't—AHH!”

I ripped the blade free as the machine came to a halt, his eyeball coming out with it, tearing his optic nerve.

Tilting the blade, I surveyed the oozing orb. “Such a shame for these baby blues. I'm sure the ladies loved them.” My gaze slid up to his sniveling body, the blood coursing down his face. “I do not care you betrayed the kingdom. I care that you enslaved children. I care that you're a rapist.”

Despite his predicament, Dimitri laughed. “You Godsdamn hypocrite. Is that not exactly what Otacia does?! You imprison witch children, and I'm sure plenty of your soldiers have relished in the free pussy.”

I stiffened, then flung his eyeball to the ground, thrusting the blade into his thigh. He cried.

“We do not keep them in filth,” I spat. “We do not shave their heads, make them piss in buckets, or force them to do labor.” I withdrew the blade, red spurting out. “And I donottolerate rape, you fucking pig.”

“Oh, aren't you a hero?” He let out a low, breathless laugh. “I think you are struggling to accept what you really are, Silas La'Rune. A monster.”

I tilted my head. “That's where you're wrong, Cortev.” I gave a sadistic smile. “I know exactly what kind of monster I am.”

I wanted to turn the crank. Wanted to watch his limbs rip from his body.

But I had other plans.

As if on cue, in walked twenty-seven women, all with long, flowy hair. All except for Torrin's mother, whose fists shook as she stared up at the strung-up man.

The women he violated.

I had Edmund go to each with an offer of revenge. Every single one came.

They were still weakened, I imagined, but they all stepped forward. My smile slipped when I saw Lena walk in behind them.

Her widened eyes took in the sight before her: Dimitri tied up to the rack, covered in shit and blood. Missing fingers. Missing nipples. A missing eye. And soiled pants.

I supposed it gave a visual of what I had done to Rurik and the others.

I waited for the judgment on her face. Waited for her to look at me in disgust. She did no such thing.

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