“Sean, you know me. Our horses were foaled the same day. I helped ye come up with the name Titus.”
Sean froze. And that’s when I saw the glint of metal as he glanced down to the knife in his fist.
“Sean,” I barked, but he didn’t look up. “Remember the time we raced across Farmer Tavish’s field and tore up his crop? Our fathers almost skinned us alive.”
His gaze jerked to mine, his brows drawing down. “Aye, my father did skin me. And you won. You always win. Even her. Yer all she talks about. How to break yer will. How to win yer loyalty. As if it’s some great prize!” He stepped close and clamped a hand onto my throat, choking off my air. “But you will no’ win this time. Let’s see her heal you from this.”
As I struggled, Sean’s blade sliced into my side, sharp and cold, cutting deep. Instinct took over and I swung with all my strength. My fist connected to flesh and the rusted tip of the nail tucked between my fingers slammed into his temple. His eyes flared wide and he stumbled back. I grabbed him and spun his back to me as I looped a length of chain around his throat. He lurched away, but his momentum only tightened the metal links around his neck. He gagged and dropped to his knees.
White-hot fury pushed out everything but the memory of Sean breaking my bones, laughing as he cut my skin, his fists smashing into me over and over as I stood helpless to stop him. It was time for him to feel the pain. I yanked the blade out of my side, and watched ruby blood splatter the floor. I was probably dying, but I would take MacNally with me. I lowered the knife to his throat, but froze with the blade pressed against his flesh. Adelaide stood watching through the open door of the cell, her violet eyes caressing me with open hunger and appreciation.
“Do it,” she cooed, those two small words tempting me like nothing else had.
My muscles shuddered as I fought the weeks of buried rage boiling through my veins, urging me to end the man who had caused me unending pain. I’d never experienced true hatred before, but the anger rolling through me felt almost inhuman.
“Do it now.” Her voice shook as her eyes locked on mine. “He hurt you, cruelly and savagely, more than I ever gave him permission to. Kill him, Jamie, so he can never hurt anyone else again.”
Sean jerked away from me, but I yanked the chain hard, forcing his head back against my legs. She was right. He’d harassed and bullied countless innocents for as long as I could remember. Started an uprising against Veronica that led the kingdom into hysteria. Tied me up and made me watch as he forced Vee and Kenna to walk into the deadly Limbus. This had to end. He had to end. I couldn’t allow someone with a heart so corrupt to exist. With one swift motion, I drew the knife across my tormentor’s throat and he slumped forward.
Adelaide stepped closer, her eyes glowing as they swept over me. “You are more worthy than I imagined.”
I removed the chains from Sean’s neck and watched him fall to the stone floor, his lifeless eyes wide. Brilliant red leached from the line on his throat, still flowing even after death. I’d killed him.
But I felt nothing. No remorse. No relief that Sean could no longer hurt me or others. No sorrow at taking a human life. Nothing.
Dizzy from blood loss, my head spun and the room tilted. The witch stepped over Sean’s prone body and stopped in front of me, the train of her deep purple gown draping over his face like a shroud. I didn’t move as her hands reached up and caressed my face, my jaw, my arms, my chest, my side. Healing me. A reward I didn’t deserve.
She moved to unlock my chains, her movements uncovering Sean’s sightless gaze, and I couldn’t look away. A man I’d known my entire life. A son. A brother. A victim of the evil standing before me. A citizen of Doon. I squeezed my eyes closed. Bone-deep cold seeped into the soles of my feet and spread to the tips of my fingers.
Who had I become?
CHAPTER 9
Mackenna
Sometimes musical theater—even Jason Robert Brown—doesn’t fit the somberness of the situation. There isn’t a show tune for