Page 19 of Secrets of Ruin

The man didn’t look at Brokk; he focused on Kaylia as she strode from the cell with her chin raised. She wouldn’t give them the satisfaction of jabbing her with one of those poles.

When the emperor’s gaze raked over her naked body, there was nothing lustful in his eyes but something more analytical and colder. She was aware she’d lost weight since arriving here, not as much as Brokk, but her curves had flattened out, and her bones stuck out.

Her hair had grown since she cut it off in the mirror realm and hung in a tangled mess beneath her shoulders. It wasn’t enough for her to shield her breasts, but even if she could, she wouldn’t hide from him.

“Take me,” Brokk said again.

For the first time, the emperor’s eyes went to him. “The dragons have returned.”

“There’s a simple solution for that,” Brokk stated. “You can let the rest of us go, and the dragons and searchers will leave your realm.”

“And your brother will unleash war upon us.”

“My brother will pay you well for all of us.”

“I have no doubt, but we don’t seek riches.”

“Then what do you seek?”

“Pleasure, fun, little distractions such as yourselves. They keep us entertained. We haven’t been able to capture more of you, but we hope to fill our cells again. Until then, you’ll be our distractions.”

“If you let us go⁠—”

“If I let you go,” the emperor interrupted Brokk, “your brother will rain down hell on this valley. Do you think I haven’t heard whispers about the Shadow Reaver? I bet the shadows hunt for you, too, but they haven’t found you yet.”

No one had any idea how big Doomed Valley was. The emperor might know they were here because she was sure the man had eyes and ears all over this valley, but Cole and the dragons could be searching an area thousands of miles away.

They could also be opening portals into the same area over and over again and not knowing it because of how similar the jungle looked. Or they could be five miles away, but because the vegetation was so thick, they couldn’t see the pyramid.

“If you let us go, I’ll make sure my brother stays out of the Valley, as well as Lexi and the dragons,” Brokk vowed. “No one from Dragonia will ever enter here again.”

The emperor chuckled. “There’s no way you’ll walk away from this… any of you. I let you go, and you’ll return. I don’t doubt it. You’ll die here, dark fae; you all will.”

CHAPTER TWENTY

Kaylia’s heart raced, and she gulped down the lump in her throat as she gazed wildly around. It was one thing to suspect this; it was something entirely different to have it confirmed. These monsters would torture them until they murdered them.

She searched for some way to escape, but ophidians surrounded her, and she couldn’t go anywhere. If she lifted her hands to cast a spell or open a portal, they’d stab her with one of those poles before she could wiggle her fingers, and then she’d be useless.

There had to be some way out of this, but she’d been here this long and never seen an opportunity to flee. Time was slipping away, and today, they’d taken her from the cell.

“Of course, I intend to reward you before I kill you, dark fae,” the emperor continued.

Kaylia’s fingers twitched as she contemplated her best course of action. Depleted from the oppressive air of this place, her powers weren’t what they should be.

The only source of real energy here was Brokk. And this place had so drained him that she didn’t allow herself to brush against the little strength he still possessed.

“And why would you do that?” Brokk inquired.

“Because it’s been such a joy to watch you resist me. But you’re so depleted now, you’d probably drain the next woman you fucked until you killed her. You won’t be able to stop yourself from doing so.”

Kaylia’s fingers twitched again as the ophidians grabbed her arms. She lifted her hands to draw air to her, possibly using it as a weapon against them. If she could push them away and free herself, she might have enough energy left to open a portal.

Unlike the rest of Doomed Valley, the pyramid was an easily recognizable place she could return to… with an army. If she broke free, she could save the others.

The emperor would know that the second she entered a portal, he’d have to flee this place. He wouldn’t have time to kill the others before then.

She loathed the idea of leaving Brokk behind, but she would if it gave her the chance to save his life. It was the only small hope they had.