my flesh forever. With a swell of strength, I surged toward her, the chains screeching as I strained against them. “Take it off, now!”
Startled, she stumbled back a step. I bared my teeth in a growl that was more primal than intelligent, and a dark smile lit her face, her eyes glowing vivid violet. My reaction had been her goal; the outburst that Sean, with his continuous beatings, had not been able to evoke from me.
Breathing heavily, I clenched my jaw and stepped back, fighting to regain my internal equilibrium. Protector, help me. I cannot let her turn me into her animal. I am Prince James Thomas Kellan MacCrae, the fourth. The queen’s betrothed and the future king of Doon. My soul belongs to you. My heart belongs to Vee. And my life belongs to Doon.
“Are you praying?” Addie spit out the word like a rancid piece of meat, causing a droplet of her spit to hit my face.
Realizing too late that I’d been mouthing my plea, I clamped my lips shut and raised a challenging gaze. Nothing she could do would stop me.
She gave her wrist a quick flick and a black, scaly snake with fangs bared flew from her hand. I jerked back as it coiled around my arm, sinking its tiny, dagger-like teeth into my skin. With my arms positioned above my head, I was eye-level with the animal wrapped around my bicep. I bit the inside of my cheek as the muscles of its body contracted and it attacked me, fangs sinking in over and over, chewing through my flesh.
I turned away. It isn’t real. It isn’t real. The gnawing stopped, and when I looked back, it was as if the snake had fused with my skin, leaving another ouroboros branded around my bicep.
“I could cover your body with them to remind you that you are mine.”
She dragged the tip of her fingernail around the fresh brand, and all the fight left me. Crashing after my rush of adrenaline, I slumped in exhaustion. Unable even to keep my head upright, I let it loll against my shoulder as Addie continued her rant.
“Your Protector will no’ save you, nor will your tiny queen, because she believes ye are dead. She’s probably already chosen some other young buck to be her consort. Girls like that cannot bear to be alone.”
Whether Veronica assumed me dead or no’, I knew better than to believe she’d moved on. But Addie had no conception of the Calling, love, or family. “Duncan will come for me.”
Her laugh grated like stone against stone. “That’s right, you don’t know!” She clapped her hands together, her smile widening before turning into a sneer. “Your brother is gone.”
Panic squeezed my chest and I lifted my head. “What do ye mean, gone?”
“He abandoned you. Crossed the Brig o’ Doon wi’ a third of your precious kingdom.”
“Yer lying.” But as soon as I spoke, I remembered Vee’s vision. The Protector had shown her that either Duncan or I would need to leave in order to save Doon. “He’ll come back. My brother will come back for me.”
“With the Brig o’ Doon destroyed? Doubtful.”
“The mountain pass . . .”
“Blocked.” She shrugged and pivoted on her heel. She was halfway across the room before she turned back. “Don’t you see, James? You’re completely alone.”
I didn’t respond, but my gut tightened as I watched her slink away, taking my hope of relief with her.
She lifted the single lantern from its hook by the door and then said over her shoulder, “I’ve changed my mind about healing you tonight. You can hang there and rot.”
Ensconced in utter darkness, I tried to fight off desperation. My entire body ached from being unable to move more than a few inches. My wounds and broken bones throbbed with every beat of my heart, and panic began to set in. No one knew I’d survived. They weren’t coming for me. The flame of hope that had fired my resistance dimmed.
I let my head fall between my shoulders, the strain on my arms and back near unbearable. I didn’t know how much more I could withstand. But I knew I could no’ let Addie use me as a weapon. Death would be preferable to becoming her pawn.
Squeezing my eyes closed, lest my addled brain play tricks with the shadows, I pleaded with the Protector. Please, protect my brother and those with him on the other side. Keep Veronica in your care every moment. Give her wisdom and strength