Page 112 of The Arcane God

“It was not easy, my king, but in the end, I prevailed when I was able to distract him enough to get the upper hand,” Steig said, just as they’d rehearsed.

“Distract him? How so?” Cole asked, arching a brow.

“By killing his witch,” Steig replied.

Gasped whispers echoed around the table as Cole’s smile widened again, and he burst out in deranged laughter. “Excellent news!” the man proclaimed. “Well done, boy. I didn’t think you had it in you. Truly.”

Steig’s eyes darted to the wall where Lara stood, unflinching.

“Ah, you noticed my daughter’s current predicament, have you?” Cole asked sadistically as his laughter died down. “I found out she was spreading rumors about me, you know. Telling others I needed to be removed from the throne. A treasonous offense. Putting her in a collar was a mercy, really.”

Ty felt Steig clench his fist beside him. The man was enraged—Ty could feel it seeping off him. But he swallowed it, keeping it barely in check. “I understand, my king,” he said, his shaking voice belying that statement. “I hope this long-overdue gift makes up for any disrespect my wife, or my extended absence, has caused.”

Cole stood all the way up and walked around the table, making his way towards them. “And my other nephew? Where is he?” he asked, circling around them like a man inspecting his new horse. He was closer now, but not close enough. The only weapon Ty had been able to sneak in was his dagger, and for that, Ty needed him right in front of him. He’d only have one shot to get a killing blow in before the others reacted.

“I believe they split up, my king, to evade capture,” Steig replied. “There was no sign of him, and since it was difficult enough to subdue the traitor, I wanted to return with him right away.”

“I understand,” Cole said, backing away again and returning to sit on the near edge of the table. “I cannot tell you the joy it brings me to finally see him in a collar. There is so much suffering he has to pay for.” His voice was dark and threatening, and Ty felt the man’s rage flourish. “After all he has done to our people.”

“I couldn’t agree more, my king,” Steig replied, playing his part.

“Oh, really?” Cole asked, looking at Steig in challenge. “That’s good, because I believe his punishment should begin now. Don’t you?”

Steig was silent for a beat, as was the rest of the chamber, wondering where Cole was going with this.

“Oh, Lara,” Cole called, turning to where his daughter stood against the wall. “Come here, darling.”

Ty kept his eyes to the ground, but he felt Steig look towards his wife, fear radiating from him as her footsteps approached them.

“I think your wife should be the first one to teach her cousin a lesson. What do you think, Steig?” Cole asked him, his golden hazel eyes watching Steig’s every reaction. He clearly wanted any excuse to put Steig in a collar now, too, and he was pushing him.

Ty willed his friend to resist. He could endure this—he had to. They still needed him to come closer.

Steig swallowed. “Whatever you think is best, my king,” he gritted out.

Cole chuckled sadistically. “Good. Lara, I want you to hit him as hard as you can,” Cole commanded offhandedly before returning to his throne.

Fuck. Lara looked up at Ty as if she’d simply been asked to pass the salt, and squared herself before him. He looked up at her—trying to mirror her emotionless existence—as she reared her fist back and punched him in the gut.

He doubled over—the strike just barely missing where Ena lay hidden inside his coat. Lara had always been a vicious fighter in the fighting ring, but it had been several years since he’d taken a direct blow from her. The power behind her fist had knocked the wind right out of him, and he struggled to breathe.

“Again. In the face this time,” Cole ordered from his throne.

Ty felt it coming before he saw it—Lara’s fist soaring through the air as it cracked into the side of his face, bursting his cheek open instantly. He felt the skin split, and blood well up in the cut, but he couldn’t react. He couldn’t do a damn thing.

“More,” Cole said. “Keep going until I tell you to stop.”

Lara struck him again, on the other side of his face this time, and when he bent over, she kneed him in the groin. She hit him again, and again, and again, his face swelling as the bruises began, and her own knuckles beginning to bleed from the blows. Ty started to get dizzy, his body aching as he tried desperately to protect Ena’s hidden body under his coat. He had no idea how long this went on for, the chamber dead silent except for the sound of Lara’s flesh beating his, but eventually, Cole spoke.

“That’s enough,” Cole said, sounding almost bored. “For now.”

Ty’s vision was blurry, the room spinning as Cole turned to the rest of the chamber, addressing his rapt audience.

“Let this be a lesson to you all should you attempt to go against Iblis’s will. There will be no mercy for you, for anyone, for embracing the false Goddess Gaia.” Turning back to look at Ty, he added, “I think we will start with letting my nephew rot for a few weeks. Starve him a bit. Weaken him. Then go from there, huh?” A pleased smile spread across his face as he turned to two of the other imperi against the wall. “Take him to the undercaves.”

Fuck, they were taking him away? How would they get to Cole now? Without Steig by his side, he didn’t stand a chance at fulfilling the plan.

He felt Steig stutter beside him as the man turned to look at Ty, his face strung the fuck out from watching Lara beat him, and their eyes locked in fear. “Wait—” Steig said, desperation in his voice.