Page 39 of Hell's Queen

His blade climbs up from my fingers to my chest. “Did you know I can tell where your major arteries are? I can tell where I need to stab you to not kill you.”

Suddenly the blade plunges into my shoulder, and I scream. White-hot pain plagues my body, making me stiffen. I try my best not to move or breathe, holding my breath and praying that this goes away.

“I’m going to fucking kill you!” Inarian growls inhumanly, but his hound seems blocked because of Evara’s magic.

“Your powerful queen, everyone,” Draco says, just like it is a show he is conducting. He moves and grabs another sword.

“Leave her the fuck alone!” Inarian screams. “Hurt me, not her!” I feel bad. This is the second time he’s had to watch his reaper get tortured. My eyes meet his, and his are filling with tears. “I can’t shift, Asura. I’m so fucking sorry!”

“It’s okay… It’s not your fault.”

Draco smirks, chuckling. “Do you have a thing for this ice hound? The one that can’t protect a single one of his reapers?” He moves toward Inarian. “Don’t you think you have enough men? What is one less?” He drags the blades against Inarian’s pale cheek, and blood spews from the wound. Instead of healing, it continues to rush down his face.

“Stop,” I say quietly.

“I can handle this, Asura,” Inarian says.

“I don’t want you to! This is fucking ridiculous!” I snap, flames sputtering and dying across my body.

“Calm down!” Inarian snaps. “Don’t you dare give them what they want!”

My mouth shuts, but the fire raging in my chest bursts.

Draco’s dagger crosses Inarian’s skin again, making me look away.

Evara grabs my chin from behind my head. “Watch… You’ll want to say goodbye to him.”

I try to jerk my head away, watching blood drip from Inarian’s other cheek. He looks like he’s enduring the pain and has come to terms. He barely flinches. “Like you let me say goodbye to Fenric?”

She giggles in my ear, but I can see the reaction from Circe, and she quickly masks the feelings before looking away.

“Yeah, they killed Fenric. I watched as they stabbed him with the same daggers they used on Inarian!”

Evara pushes my head away, making me wince in pain at the sudden jerk. “Humans have too many fucking feelings, and it’s annoying.”

From thin air, she pulls out her telum. “Did you know anyone can pull out telums? Even vampires and humans, if you have the right spell. They teach you in that school.” The tip of her dagger runs down Inarian’s body. The shirt splits, revealing the pale white scars he has all over his body.

My bottom lip quivers as the tip digs into his skin, but he doesn’t flinch. Quickly, she slashes his chest. I try to hold back my scream as blood flows from his body.

“I’ve had worse,” Inarian says, lifting his chin and locking eyes with her.

But Evara was waiting for my reaction.

My heart is pounding in my ears, and in this situation, I realize how much I love Inarian. He might only be around to use me for money, but I’ve taken advantage of his safety. I keep him at a distance, but I know he is safe at the end of the day. But now, watching him being hurt hurts me, and I just want to go back in time and tell him—“I forgive you, Inarian.”

His eyes snap to mine. “Asura, not—”

“I know. It’s not the best time. I know I failed you as a Soul Reaper and now Queen. Everyone turns a blind eye to how hellhounds are treated, and I’m sorry. I shouldn’t… I shouldn’t be mad at you for doing what you needed to survive.”

He bites his lip. “I’m still sorry I did it. I didn’t think we would get this far… I thought you’d get yourself killed by now.”

I scoff, wincing when the dagger in my shoulder stings in pain.

“Annoying,” Evara says, and one after the other, she cuts Inarian. He tries to stay strong, but after a while, he wavers. I try to swallow my cries until tears rush down my face.

“Leave him alone!” I finally snap, unable to control the anger inside of me. They are trying to take my family away from me again. “Your fight is with me.”

Draco shrugs. “She’s right. I need to feed, and we don’t need him.”

---