Page 158 of Owned

No matter how much time had passed, I had a feeling that Lucian would be even more invested in my submission.

For myprotection.

But the grimoire was right.

Ihadmade a promise.

But could I actually go through with it?

And, more importantly— What would happen to me if I failed?

The air wasthick with the stench of death and the lingering mist of Lucian’s spells crept across the trampled grass and caressed the bodies of the traitors he had drained of their magic.

I was glad he’d sent Avril away.

She didn’t need to see this.

But she’d already seen too much.

I couldn’t protect her—

Dark shapes moved through the courtyard, dragging even darker shadows behind them. Families of the traitors were gathered like trembling cattle at our feet, and their sobs rose into the frigid night air.

Lucian’s gaze burned with violent light as he brushed off his hands and adjusted his jacket.

“The families,” he said.

I didn’t like his tone. “What about them?”

“Execute them,” Lucian replied.

“What?”

I hadn’t meant to argue, but the word slipped out before I could stop myself.

Lucian’s pale eyes flashed with anger as he met my gaze.

“End them,” he commanded.

The guards he’d brought with him moved to do their master’s bidding, and my brothers flexed their fingers.

Trembling cries of the gathered families closest to us rose in a haunting chorus.

I could almost taste their despair, thick and cloying.

I forced myself into detachment—I knew the same fate could easily be ours if our plans unraveled.

“Weaklings. The whole fucking lot of them.” Bastian stood nearby, his hands on his hips as he surveyed the crowd. His blond hair was like a strange halo and his pale eyes were almost colorless in the torchlight.

“They had no idea we would come for her,” I said, keeping my voice steady. “I don’t know why they thought they would survive this.”

“Do you think they planned to kill her?” Bastian asked. “That would have been stupid.”

“I would have burnt the city down,” Valen growled.

Bastian chuckled, but he didn’t argue.

Valen was only saying aloud what we’d all been thinking.

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