Page 60 of Cage of Darkness
“When Drenton learned Janaand I were sent into exile, he vowed to seek revenge on ourbehalf.”
“Jana probably planted thatidea in his head as well,” Allyssa ground out. The tips of herfingers started bleeding from working on the knots.
Eliza shrugged. “It is not my fault heis easily influenced. That turned out to be an unexpected boon.Unfortunately, he does have one major weakness—his son, Kerdan.”She said Kerdan’s name with thick disdain. “That boy has too muchof his mother in him. It’s time for him to go as well. Luckily, heis the one who lost you. When the king learns of your escape, hewill be furious, and the prince will be punished.”
“Your plan won’t work.Kerdan will discover that I have been taken.” One of the knots cameloose, and she almost cried out in joy. She started working on thenext one. It felt like there were two more to go.
Eliza laughed. “No, he won’t. Andsoon, it won’t matter because you will be dead.” She knelt on theground, pulling out a long, skinny dagger, the hilt embedded withdiamonds. Allyssa’s heart beat erratically—this could be it. “Mygrandson recommended a sleeping tonic. However, that would be fartoo merciful for you.”
Allyssa’s bindings wouldn’t comeloose, no matter how furiously she struggled.
“Stupid child. You can’tescape me.” Eliza slid the dagger along Allyssa’s leg, slicing herpants open and leaving a thin line that filled withblood.
Allyssa refused to die here like this.Tears slid down her cheeks. She would fight until the end. Flingingher head forward, she tried to head-butt the woman, but missed.Even though her ankles were tied together, she swung her legsaround, kicking Eliza’s hip. The woman fell to the side. Irate,Eliza righted herself, grabbing Allyssa’s injured arm andsqueezing. Allyssa’s body went limp, the pain excruciating. Elizaplaced the tip of the dagger above Allyssa’s right breast. Shesmiled and pressed the weapon into her skin.
A white-hot sting shotthrough her, and Alyssa cried out.I can’tdie like this,she silently pleaded. Therewere too many things she wanted to accomplish with her life. Somuch left undone, unseen. She wanted to live, to love, and to saveher people. The wordfailurescreamed in her mind, breaking her heart, herspirit.
“Oh, don’t worry,” Elizasaid, gently stroking her face. “I’m not done with you yet.” Shemoved the dagger to Allyssa’s shoulder, sliding it down her arm toher elbow, cutting the skin open. Then she placed the dagger belowher ear, preparing to slice it off.
Unable to move, Allyssa squeezed hereyes shut, trying to ready herself for the torment that was aboutto come. If only she could have seen her parents one last time totell them she loved them. And Odar. Hopefully, he didn’t dosomething stupid when he leaned of her death. She would never feelhis lips on hers again. Never know what it was like to be hiswife.
The weight of Eliza’s body suddenlydisappeared. Allyssa opened her eyes. Kerdan held Eliza by theneck, slamming her body against the wall. “Is she alive?” hedemanded.
Odar knelt next to her, his eyes red.“Yes,” he answered.
The woman’s legs kicked out at Kerdanas she dangled a foot off the ground, clawing at his large handwrapped around her throat.
“Allyssa,” Odar whispered,his fingers pushing back her hair. He kissed her forehead beforecutting the rope around her ankles. He helped her sit up, and thenhe cut the bindings around her wrists. “Can you stand?”
“I don’t know.” Her ribsand leg throbbed.
Odar gently pulled her to her feet.She yelped from the sharp pain in her thigh. In one swift motion,he picked her up, carrying her to the large bed.
“Besides the piece of woodsticking out of your arm and the shallow knife wounds on your armand leg, is there anything else I need to know about?” Odar’s eyesscanned her body, assessing her injuries, his face revealinguncurbed fury.
“I’ll be fine,” she assuredhim.
“I must remove the woodfrom your arm.”
She nodded, knowing it had to be donedespite how much it would hurt. It couldn’t be worse than havingher fingernails removed.
“Look at me.”
She did as he instructed and focusedon his brown eyes, normally so fierce and confident, now wild withuncertainty.
“I’m sorry. There’s no easyway to do this. How about—” He plucked the wood out of her armbefore she realized what he was doing. Pain seared down her arm,making her cry out. Clutching the blanket beneath her body, shetried to work through it by taking steady breaths. Blood ran likewater from the open wound, making her dizzy.
Odar ripped off a piece of the blanketand wrapped it around her arm, tying it off. “This should slow thebleeding. You will need stitches though.”
Kerdan released Eliza’s lifeless body,and it tumbled to the ground. “I can’t believe she would be so boldas to orchestrate your kidnapping,” he said as he came over to thebed. “Did she intend to kill you?” Allyssa nodded. “Did she sayanything of importance to you? Any hint at her plans?”
Eliza had said a great many things,but only one worth mentioning. Unfortunately, she wasn’t sure howKerdan would take the news. Best to come out and just say it. “Shetold me that your father killed your mother.”
Kerdan’s body went unnaturally still.“What?” His voice had an edge of hostility to it.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered,wondering if he believed her.
“My father?” He abruptlysat on the edge of the bed, his face contorted in confusion. “It’snot possible. He loved my mother.”
