Page 17 of Secrets of Ruin

The emperor’s eyebrows rose as he studied the parted mouth of the nymph. “Well, now, that was an interesting twist. Until next time, then. Come along.”

With a wave of his fingers, the emperor turned and left the dungeon. His followers trailed after him.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Brokk stared at the body of the woman he killed. Every part of him had hungered for what she offered, but she wasn’t who he craved, and he couldn’t do that to Kaylia.

No matter what she said, he couldn’t hurt her like that. She may forgive him for it, but he’d hate himself forever.

Despite the woman losing her head, almost no blood littered the floor as he’d drained her nearly dry before killing her. Thanks to the nymph’s and Kaylia’s blood, the vampire part was full for the first time in a while.

The dark fae part of him though… oh, the dark fae was ravenous, but even the dark fae knew this wasn’t the feast it sought. Every part of him craved the woman in the next cell, but while the vampire part of him was stronger, the dark fae had grown weaker.

He looked down at his hands; when he flexed them, the bones stuck out against his flesh as they moved. But then, all the bones in his body stood starkly out against his skin.

And he was very aware of his ciphers fading. He’d never heard of such a thing happening before, but he couldn’t deny their jet-black color had been replaced by an ashy gray.

If he wasn’t in this cell, he wasn’t sure he could draw the shadows to him anymore or control the elements. Those were the fundamental powers of a dark fae, yet he questioned his ability to wield them.

Brokk lifted the body and carried it over to the front of his cell, where he dropped it next to her head. He hoped the ophidians removed the woman before she started to smell; this place reeked bad enough without the bonus of rotting flesh.

When he finished, he retreated to the back of his cell and slid down the wall to sit. He drew one knee to his chest and draped his arm over it while extending his other leg.

His heart raced as he stared at the wall directly across from him while trying to calm the riotous beat of his heart and the lingering lust still battering his system. He couldn’t look at Kaylia.

He’d managed to stop himself from fucking that woman, but he’d been far closer than he would ever admit. The sight of Kaylia, naked and in her cell, already had him ravenous, even in this forsaken shithole where sex should be the last thing anyone desired, but he did.

Despite her not being the woman he wanted, Jobee’s naked body brushing against his had aroused him further. He still had the erection to prove it.

A rustle from Kaylia’s cell drew his attention as she settled near the bars. “It would have been okay. I would have understood.”

Shadows rimmed her translucent, pewter eyes filled with sadness. It would have been okay, and she would have understood if he’d slept with that woman, and not because she didn’t love him, but because she did and couldn’t stand to see him like this.

“I know,” he said.

“And it’s not because⁠—”

He cut her off before she could say anything more. “I understand, Kaylia. I do.”

He’d willingly put himself on those spikes for her, and she’d put herself on a different torture device for him. She would have forgiven him, but he was sure she believed he wouldn’t require forgiveness.

He never could have looked at himself in the same way. Right now, he was physically weak but still mentally strong and could withstand the torments these monsters had planned for them.

And he was sure he’d have to prove that once more. The emperor had discovered a new way to torture them; it was only a matter of time before he twisted the screws again.

Brokk prayed the emperor didn’t turn someone loose in Kaylia’s cell next time. His hands flexed as he contemplated the possibility; such a thing would send him into a spiral of rage and madness.

When Kaylia slid her hand through the bars, he grasped it and bent to kiss her palm. He couldn’t let them harm her in such a way.

“Do you think I’m your consort?” she asked.

He didn’t hesitate before replying. “Yes.”

“Next time, take care of you,” she said.

So, he wasn’t the only one convinced there would be a next time. He didn’t tell her that he’d fight it next time, too; it would only upset her.

And he couldn’t stand the idea of possibly lying to her.