Page 1 of Royal Rebel

Chapter 1

Mia

SilenceranginMia'sears, nearly as sharp as Grayson’s screams had been last night.

Fates, she had never heard him scream like that.

She sat beside him on the cold stone floor of the cell, grateful he’d finally managed to fall asleep and escape the pain.

Tears stung her eyes, and her fingers dug into her crossed arms. The pressure kept her grounded. Kept her breathing. Kept her from falling into one of her panics. It kept her from banging on that locked door until Henri Kaelin himself came, so she could smash the glowing lantern into his face and makehimburn.

A tear tracked down her cheek. She had never felt so helpless. So useless. Not during the shipwreck that had stolen her life, or during her nine years of imprisonment. When Grayson’s father and brothers had entered the room, she knew it was going to be bad. She’d thought for one horrifying moment that Henri had come to hurt her.

She wished he would have hurt her.

Mia’s ears roared, and the horrific memory swallowed her.

“What is that?” she’d asked, her fingers strangling Grayson’s hand in hers.

Henri’s soulless brown eyes flicked to her. “A reminder. Grayson can choose who will wear it.”

Grayson stiffened. “Me,” he said, his voice clipped. “Not her.”

Mia’s heart pounded. She didn’t know what was in that vial. She only knew that it was bad. Very bad.

And, once again, Grayson was protecting her.

“You’ll prove your choice by not fighting it,” Henri said to Grayson, his words echoing strangely in Mia’s ears—as if all of this was happening far away. Or like she’d been swallowed by a roaring ocean. “If you attempt to remove it before it has run its course, she will receive the same.”

“I understand.”

Mia glanced between Henri and Grayson, and fear made her throat almost too tight for breath. “Grayson . . .”

He didn’t look at her. His focus was solely on his father. “She doesn’t have to be here. I won’t fight.”

“For her sake, I’m glad to hear it.”

Her body was still bruised from Carter’s crushing hold. She’d fought, but he’d held her firmly while Grayson was forced to kneel before his father. When Tyrell followed Henri’s orders and rubbed that white powder on Grayson’s already injured jaw, all she could do was scream as Grayson’s entire body went rigid.

Horror washed over her as she realized what that powder was.Flame’s Breath.

Memories of a younger Grayson came to mind. He’d entered her cell one day, agony twisting his face as he’d cradled his burned fingers. His mother had left a white powder on his quill as a reminder to be vigilant, because danger lurked everywhere—especially from his evil parents.

Grayson still carried those scars on his fingers. And now, they would mark his face.

She’d struggled futilely against Carter’s restraining arms. Sobs wracked her, but she’d been utterly helpless. She couldn’t even hold Grayson while he was tortured.

At first, he’d tried not to make a sound, but he hadn’t been able to burn silently.

When it was finally over, Grayson breathed raggedly on his side, his body drenched in sweat. His bleeding fingers clutched the sharp grooves in the stone floor, and his upturned cheek was bright red along his jaw.Fates, his jaw . . .

Her stomach had heaved, but she’d swallowed back bile. She was shaking so hard, she didn’t know how Carter still managed to hold her.

Henri had straightened. “I trust that will serve as a reminder of your failure. I think a night in this cell will also help. You’ll receive nothing for the pain. Only seek help if infection sets in.” With that, he strode from the room. Peter was on his heels, and Carter finally released Mia so he could follow.

Her legs trembled, barely holding her as she darted to Grayson’s side. She crashed to her knees, her hands fluttering uselessly before she grasped his shoulder. “You’re all right,” she whispered, throat pinched and eyes stinging. “You’re going to be all right.”

Grayson’s breaths were labored and rattling. His teeth were clenched, his gray eyes fixed on her. The agony in them broke her heart.

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