Page 44 of Claimed By Shadow and Blood
“Good. We do not want anyone to pity her. And right now, well…look at her.” I wrinkled my nose in disgust. “Let her dread her death, not welcome it.”
Colm clicked his tongue. “Yes, she is pathetic, Your Highness.”
Selvan stood on shaky legs and groped for his dagger. Oathfeln’s mangled corpse lay in a grisly pile, blood and spittle leaking from his mouth. An unpleasant sight and a stark warning.
I pointed at Briar and rasped, “And you will not give these men any further trouble, else I will return and determine what can be risked in the preparations for your execution and what manner of pain should be added to your demise. Do you understand?”
She nodded meekly, keeping her eyes averted from me.
In that moment, she seemed a ghost of herself, and it hurt to see her weak and not fighting But she’d made my job easier, and soon, I’d lay out the second half.
I turned to Thalen and nodded. He gave a quick nod in return, understanding it was time to leave.
The floor seemed to shift under my feet, and searing pain lanced through my skull.
I blinked hard, forcing my expression to remain impassive. To Colm, I commanded, “See to it that your remaining guards understand what is at stake. My people will not be denied their justice. I have vowed it, and it is the only way there will be peace.”
"As you wish, Your Highness." Colm bowed, his claw tips clicking together. His tone was simpering, but I could feel the dark edges of his anger.
Fortunately, that wasn't going to be an issue for long. I knew precisely how to handle him and further separate him from the Aurelines.
I strode beyond the doorway as Colm moved to Selvan and spoke with him.
I heard his mumbles, informing Selvan about getting Briar food and suitable attire while Briar huddled, quivering, in the back of the room.
Did I hurt her?My heart throbbed, and bile inched up my throat. I’d tried to be careful with her while making my anger believable. I’d wanted to check in with her and take care of her, but there was too much at stake. The yank in my chest toward her almost had my legs moving. But if I misstepped now, then all of this would have been for naught.
The room seemed to close in on me. We had to get out of here so we could get her back to me sooner.
Taking a ragged breath, I whispered to Thalen, “Return to the entry point and retrieve the merlinite orb from my chambers. It’s on the second shelf in an onyx setting. Place the orb in one of the polished boxes. Then bring it here.”
Thalen curled his fingers to further hide our voices from anyone listening. “That orb was your mother's, wasn't it? It was part of a set shared with your father. Isn’t it quite powerful?” His normally warm amber eyes turned dark, and I could almost see his mind swirling. “It’s irreplaceable.”
So is Briar.“Leave and get itnow.”
Chapter Thirteen
Vad
“You realize that, with time, focus, and exposure, the orb will enhance Colm’s powers.” Thalen bit his bottom lip, and the corners of his eyes tightened. “Why in the void would you want that? Imagine the other people he might harm.”
“I don’t care. He agreed not to harm her, and he won’t be able to hurt herwhen this is through. He won’t have them long enough to do much.”
Thalen’s brow creased, and I knew he understood I referenced Briar. “Should I bring your father’s as well? Those two orbs work in tandem.”
They did. The labradorite orb had been my father’s, and he’d given it to me shortly after Mother passed. Using the merlinite alone was dangerous, but I didn’t much care about Colm’s safety. “No. We may need the second for another favor.”
Thalen’s jaw clenched, and he tilted his head, staring into my eyes. His look was uncharacteristically serious. His right wingtwitched again. “What about Elara? The orbs belonged to her parents, too.”
She’d be upset and wounded that I hadn’t conferred with her. But I was the king, and even though I didn’t want to upset her, Briar’s safety came beforeeverything,even my sister’s feelings.
I ignored the guilt that weighed on my shoulders. “We have other mementos and symbolic items with which we can mourn them both. She will understand. Regardless, it ismychoice.” The vow I was about to demand of Colm was significant, and I had to offer something that could entice him to compromise whatever his position was with the people who wanted Briar to disappear.
The mastermind behind the assassination of my father had almost assuredly offered Colm something potent and tangible to get Colm to handle Briar. And I couldn’t risk Colm doing something that would make the others in this conspiracy lash out at Briar in more dangerous ways. They still had to think their plan was working. We had to catch everyone who was involved in this sordid scheme and be strategic about how we connected them. They couldn’t become suspicious.
Thalen drew in a deep breath. “I’d have to leave you alone.”
“For a brief time.” It was hard to anticipate how long it would take. Time passed differently here, and there were spells and incantations to further warp the passage of time in certain places within the prison as well.
