Page 144 of Of Shadows and Blood

Desperate pleas to stop.

Their dead bodies slump over at the tenth or eleventh swing, their shackled hands left forever reaching for one another. Rolan stopped the whipping a few minutes ago and a definite silence vacuums the space.

My heart pinches and begs me to fight out of my own magical restraints. My blurred, shaking vision focuses not on the golden king before me but the prince who now sports a bloodied lip and eye, his shirt torn in half. A guard flanks him and nudges him behind Rolan’s throne.

“You choose this?” I seethe, baring my teeth at Rolan. “The slaughter of humans, the sullying of the Nyxian rising. You will disband the entire continent if you go through with this.”

Without looking at me, Rolan croons, “The Nyxians. When I discovered sects of their line still existed, I couldn’t help but look deeper. I was shocked to learn I grew up with one.”

“Only by blood.”

“Their cause was one I could easily taint. With a few upset rebels wanting change faster than ever, I gave them an in. Their people will thank me.” He rolls his shoulders back as if to ease tension.

The restraints on my hands pull as I try to lunge. “You’re using them. You have a choice, Rolan. Spare your people, spare the rebel cause, spare the carnage.”

Rolan’s hand grips the armrest of his throne as he leans forward. He stares at me quizzically, as if I just spoke in riddles. I meet his gaze, flipping my hair out of my bloody eyes despite the pain wringing down the back of my neck.

“Elivienne, I find it hilarious that you are choosing this fate. You have another option, mind you. Work with me, lead the Nyxians, and I will spare you and your betrothed. In fact, I also think it is godsdamned hilarious that Cedric thinks I am acting without reason. His line –” he rolls his neck – “is the one who started this. He slighted you and you defend him! My biological father, the man he was, was too pathetic to challenge Lux for the stolen land.”

“So, that’s the plan. Enlist the Nyxians to get you Krue and the Rhydian Range back?”

Rolan snaps and a group of guards enter the space, eyes trained on me. “No, it is more than that. More than the humans too, those mangy leeches,” he drawls. “But trust in this, there will be plenty of humans to spare when we’re through.”

“Who is we, Rolan?” I question, a darkening look in his face making my stomach squirm.

The guards part and a creature enters the room, larger than a bear but feline in features. Its eyes glow green as it scans us, the metal chain yanking it towards the dais. Its furry coat black and green shifting in the light. The thing prowls slowly, growling as it approaches Rolan. Its handler prods it with a magicked staff, sparks flying as the animal yelps.

“A wicken,” Sawyer stammers. “This is impossible. Wickens are extinct.”

“So were cairns,” Rolan beams.

The wicken seats itself next to the throne. The green swirls as if its eyes are alive with magic. Fear beckons me to run far away from this animal, this creature that could easily shred the entire room from the look of its claws.

Orvynn. Krue. The Rhydian Range. The cairn. This beast.

He plans to conquer with far more than brute force.

“Martine’s lust for power started this mess and the rest of Lux’s line continued the tradition. Alas, finally, someone in my family has the strength to do what is right and reclaim our land and reinstate our position in the royal hierarchy.” Each word is clipped and firm.

A guard whips the dead humans again, their flayed and sour flesh flying. The wicken makes a move towards their corpses but his handler yanks back. This is an untamed weapon. How many more does Rolan have?

Sawyer takes a step forward now, eyes checking the animal. “Your plan has gone too far, Rol. This is beyond our agreement. I can’t, no, I won’t stand by this slaughter.” He looks to me and nods briefly. “I stand with Lux. I stand with my brother.”

“Do not mock him,” I bite.

Rolan snaps his fingers and two guards move to restrain Sawyer. “Admittedly, I was getting tired of your duplicity, Sawyer. You cannot have a foot in both doors. Do understand.”

Sawyer whips his head at me and mouths “Forgive me” before the guard on the left stabs him in the ribs. Once, twice, three times, twisting the cess blade. The right guard catches Sawyer before he tries to flee, bunting the side of his skull and rendering him unconscious. They shackle him to the wall across from me. Tears begin to flow uncontrollably – tears I don’t know how I’m still producing.

A servant comes forward and delivers Rolan a piece of parchment on a gold platter. He examines the words before smiling and tucking it within his coat.

“Well, it seems that our forces have successfully made it past the border into the Caspian Pass. Lux is tricky, mighty even. But we will prevail. One last chance, dear Elivienne. Do you submit? Do not make me force you. The curse was already devastating. Do you willingly submit your magic and loyalty to Duresden? Forsake your holy lands, your allegiance to a failing kingdom and worship something more valuable: power.”

“Hell would have to freeze,” I growl.

“Thought so. We will reclaim our land, the Nyxian forces will reclaim the rest of Lux with the help of my forces and every member of the cess will fall. This is on your hands,” Rolan states, absolute coldness laced through every word.

Sawyer fights against his injury, calling upon whatever strength he has. The blade is still lodged in his body.