Page 286 of The Lands Defying
I watch as he throws another body into another hole.
“How did you control them?”
“Your mother bestowed a curse on the lands when she was passing.”
“Killed. She was killed.”
“Semantics,” he says, and my anger grows. “It was quite a while before I learned that the power she left me.” Stolen. “That I can use it to control the hounds of the lands. All I had to do was put a little power into them and they were mine. It was even longer until I realized that we could produce a new species.”
A human-like face appears out of the hole closest to him, then claws follow until the beast is dragging himself to stand, looking at Charles.
“When we had rogures breed with females, they produced a hybrid of sorts.” He circles the beast. “And with this realization, I wondered if the beasts could then breed with other females and produce something even stronger. The issue was, they wouldn’t do as they were told.”
“But the ultrian made them.”
“Correct.” He smiles, all teeth. “You are a clever one, like your mother.” I grind my back teeth. “They will create an army, and go across other lands to be under my rule.”
“But why? You had Vrohkaria.”
“Had? My dear, I stillhaveVrohkaria.” The beast turns to me, and my blood runs cold. “Now that I have you within my grasp once again, I can put an end to finding an Heir within others, you are all I need.”
“You will never touch me!” I shout, revulsion and panic running through me.
“But I will, and then I will take the children you bare.”
He hums, taking his hood down and I’m hit with that smell again. The bad one. I gag, spitting on to the stone below me as he tsks.
“Fitting how you are in the same position as your mother was.”
“Do not talk about my mother,” I snarl, trying to call for Runa, anything.
Anyone.
“I intended to take any children she bore and then take her for myself, but she hid her pregnancy from me when you were in her belly. She was cunning that way, with the help of that damn witch. But then I thought, what if I take her power instead, and then take her daughter when she can no longer bear children? She would also be powerful.”
“You have killed your own people for your own sick games!” I spit, kicking my legs out again as he comes closer.
His power comes out then, the violet of it striking as it wraps around my throat and squeezes.
“Know your place!” he shouts, malice in his eyes as I cough and splutter, trying to gasp for air as the beast beside him starts growling and snarling. “Look at what you are making him do.” He releases me and my head falls forward, taking in muchneeded air. “Do not anger me. I do not need you awake to breed you.”
I am sick again, all over the platform.
The thought of him touching me, him coming anywhere near me like that.
“No,” I tell him.
His eyes are wild and filled with excitement as he steps onto the platform and raises himself up to my height. I kick my legs out, a noise much like a wounded animal escaping me as I try to get him away, try to stop him from touching me as he reaches his hands out.
His magic comes out and restrains my ankles, spreading them as his hands land on my hips. A panicked cry comes from me, even as I continue to wriggle and try to get him off me, fuck, I would rather the beast tear into me then him. Not him.
“No!” I scream, my voice cracking as I try to turn this way and that, blood dripping from my wrists as I try and muster the energy, anything to get him away from me.
His fingers dig into my hips, the hold so hard that I know it will bruise my skin. Next, it feels like knives are at his fingertips, and I cry out as I feel blood dripping down from my hips.
“We both know I have no problem seeing you bleed, Lasandrhea. I was the one to command the others, remember. I told them how to hurt you, how to injury youjustright.”
“No,” I whimper, squeezing my eyes shut. “Get off me, you cannot have me!”
