Binding Ties The Sentinel Wars - Shannon K. Butcher Page 0,40
kids. He had to get them out before they were irrevocably scarred.
“What do I have to do to free the young?” he asked between bites.
Vazel, the grotesque demon sitting across from him, pulled his eyes off Treszka long enough to glare at Eric. “They’re ours now. We need their blood.”
“Silence,” she barked. “You have no idea what my plans for these creatures are.”
He bowed his head in obedience, but the glare of hatred on his face was still aimed at Eric.
“So you admit you’re not going to let them go?” asked Eric. “If that’s the case, then go ahead and kill them now. I’d rather not see them suffer.”
The boys whimpered.
“I have no desire to kill them. I will if you force my hand, but my intent is for them to live a long, healthy life. We need them down here.”
That’s when Eric realized the truth, and it was far worse than he’d hoped.
Slayer blood was powerful. It held the traces of magic that the Synestryn needed to live. Slayers healed fast. Regenerated blood and tissue faster than even the Theronai or Sanguinar did. And they didn’t burn up any precious magical resources doing so. If fed and protected from injury, a Slayer could lose a lot of blood every day and live for decades.
That was what she’d meant when she said she wanted the young to live a long, healthy life.
She was going to bleed them to fuel her troops.
His desire to keep the kids alive warred with his need to see every last Synestryn die. He couldn’t stand the thought of the young being used as food, living their lives down here, knowing nothing more than pain and imprisonment.
He’d rather see them die a swift, painless death.
“I can see what you’re thinking, Slayer,” she said. “I won’t let you take my resources away.”
“You’re not leaving me much choice.”
“They’ll be comfortable.”
“The metal collars around their necks say otherwise.”
“A necessary precaution. These two tried to kill my soldiers.”
Eric glanced toward the young. “Excellent work, boys. I’m proud of you.”
“Take them away,” ordered Treszka, clearly irritated that Eric wasn’t paying complete attention to her. “Feed them. Let them sleep.”
“Stay strong, boys. I will come for you. We’ll get out of here soon.”
The young didn’t respond, but he knew they’d heard him. That was enough for now. They were strong. They’d survive as he’d trained them to do.
Vazel ripped a piece of meat free and shoved it into his mouth. Juices dripped down his knobby chin. “I told you he was more trouble alive. Let me take him to the pens. He’s no better than the others.”
“What others?” asked Eric.
Treszka’s nostrils flared in anger. “Leave us until you can learn the art of silence. Now.”
He shot Eric another death stare, but picked up his food in his giant fists and stomped away.
That left only her and about a dozen guards for him to take out. He glanced around the room, calculating his odds.
“You won’t make it out alive,” she said, as if reading his thoughts. “There are two hundred more of my men between you and the surface. You might as well get used to the dark.”
The information she accidentally provided was useful. Assuming any of it was true. “I will find a way out.”
She gave him a sexy smile, and for a split second, he almost forgot she was a bloodthirsty demon. Her beauty had a way of clouding his judgment, but the toxic smell coming from her reminded him of exactly what she was.
“Is that all you really want?” she asked, running her fingers down her neck to dip just inside the top of her velvet gown. Breasts were designed to make men stupid, and she really did have a spectacular pair. Especially for a demon.
He shook his head to steel his resolve. “Yes. I want the young and I want to leave. I’d also like you and every demon down here dead, if I’m being completely honest.”
“I’m no demon,” she said with a little pout.
“Sure as hell fooled me. If you’re not a demon, then what the hell are you?”
“A Synestryn queen.”
Eric blinked. “Those exist?”
“I rule this area absolutely. All of my kind who dwell here obey me. As will you.”
He laughed. He couldn’t help it. “You really shouldn’t say such things until you get to know a person. Makes you look like an idiot.”
One second he was sitting at the table. The next, he flew across the room, coming to a hard stop as his body slammed into