Page 82 of The Court of Thorns and Wings

Tavish’s face turned stony, but he didn’t reply.

“Don’t fret. I have plans for your pet.” He nodded toward the door.

Lorne removed a key and slipped it into our cell lock.

There were two of them. This was the moment we could use to escape. Eldrin’s arrogance would work in our favor.

Tavish shoved past me, preparing to fight to keep me here. Nightbane snarled at my side.

“Bran, handle the beast and Tavish,” Eldrin commanded.

Bran? The twin brother of the woman I’d been forced to kill in the final round of the gauntlet. The strike from his sword was what had killed me… temporarily.

A guard stepped around the castle wall of the cell, green hair sticking out from under his helmet, confirming my fear. “It’ll be my pleasure.” And then his green eyes darkened, and Tavish, Nightbane, and the others crumpled in the cell. Everyone but me.

What’s wrong?

He’s using his illusion magic on us, making us feel pain and fear.

Bran had done that to me in the tournament. With Tavish’s magic bound, he couldn’t protect himself. I needed to protect them, but Lorne opened the door, grabbed my arm, and pulled me out. He led me away from the cell.

I heard aclick,informing me they’d all been locked in again.

“Lira!” Tavish screamed.

My heart pounded in my ears, and I tried jerking out of Lorne’s grasp.

“It won’t work, Lira.” Lorne tightened his grip on me.

He led me into another holding cell where several large bowls sat on the floor. Bile inched up my throat.

I had no doubt what this was about. The same reason Eldrin had attacked me in the tub.

He wanted my blood. He wanted to drain me.

I had to get out of here because there was no coming back from blood loss.

25

LIRA

Lorne paused, but then his hand tightened on mine, and he pulled me inside the cell I’d stayed in the first night Tavish had brought me here.

The cot remained against the wall near the bowls. The cell could have been left untouched since the last time I’d been inside, except Malikor’s blood and decimated wing had been removed and the bowls placed on the floor. Malikor, a guard, had been injured, courtesy of Tavish as a punishment for attempting to harm me.

Two pairs of footsteps headed my way, and my blood froze. Unfortunately, it had nothing to do with Tavish’s magic and everything to do with the paralyzing fear Eldrin held over me. Ever since the attack in the bath, my palms became sweaty around him.

“Help me,” I murmured, staring directly into Lorne’s eyes. I swore I saw a flash of something reflecting back at me, but then his eyes turned back to an emotionless, blank gaze.

“Even with your wings and memories back, you’re still weak.” Eldrin breezed through the door, joining us in the cell. “Begging a former competitor to help you is quite pathetic. The fated-mateconnection has to be the reason Tavish finds you appealing. You may be nice to admire from the shadows.” He winked. “But that’s the only pleasant thing about you.”

I shivered, and he smirked. He wanted to remind me of the tub attack, and I’d given him the very thing he wanted, confirming he had power over me.

That ended now. I refused to inflate his ego any more. I stood tall, ignoring what Eldrin had in store for me. My magic remained depleted, but there was no way in hell I’d stand here and allow him to drainme. I had every intention of getting away. “You say I’m weak, but I’m one of the few prisoners who survived the gauntlet.”

What’s happening?Tavish connected.

I wasn’t sure what to say. If I told him, he’d be more upset, but he couldn’t do a thing about it.Eldrin is just being himself. I’m getting him talking.I’d distract him for as long as I could.

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