navy blue suit that fits his lean yet muscular body like a glove, and a crisp white shirt that’s casually unbuttoned at the collar tries to make him look less a threat but fails.
He takes another step closer, and my grip tightens on my weapons.
“Did everything go as planned?” Adriel asks, his eyes locked on mine, and my eyebrows scrunch up with confusion.
“Yes, I laid everything out just as you instructed,” Siah tells him, and I try to fight against the panic that starts to rise inside of me at his words.
“Did any of her companions suspect anything?” Adriel presses, and Siah shakes his head.
“No. I put up the right amount of fight for the paladin that took me, and the rest fell into place very easily. She volunteered to trade herself for her family just like you said she would,” Siah tells him.
“Typical Sentinel,” Adriel jeers. “They always play the hero.” Siah and Adriel both scoff at the same time, and indignation burns through me.
“Sorik and his hunters are back there, waiting for my call so they can dispatch the others,” Siah relays nonchalantly, like they’re talking about the weather and not murdering everyone I love.
“Run!” I shout in my head at my Chosen, putting every ounce of terror and urgency I can into the word.
“You motherfucker,” I seethe at Siah simultaneously, and then I leap for him.
He moves like a blink out of my way, and I’m just able to nick him with my longsword as I swing out at the blur of movement to my left. Adriel’s laughter dances around my attack like a tornado, and I pump magic into all of my limbs, demanding they move faster so I can keep up with Siah’s speed. He growls at me and swipes at his side, his hand coming away streaked with crimson. I let go of my swords and flash throwing knives into my grip, pelting every flash of movement I catch with a blade in that direction.
I am a streak of movement just like Siah is, and rage is thundering through me, demanding more blood for his betrayal. Lamia pour out of the ruins like ants from an anthill, and I start snapping blades all around me to keep them at bay. I send pulses of Offensive magic and Sentinel magic out into the gathering lamia, and I smile as I watch hordes of them light up and then crumble into ash. I track the flash that I think is Siah as it tries to circle behind me and spin to keep him in my sights while I send ripples of magic out to protect my back.
Laughter and snarls drown my senses, but I keep my eyes fixed on the betraying asshole, waiting for the opening, for the kill shot that I know is just about to present itself. He’s moving in a predictable way, and I know in just another heartbeat where he’ll flash and my dagger will be there waiting for his heart. Satisfaction bubbles inside of me at the knowledge that two seconds after this dagger sinks into Siah’s chest, I’ll be there to cut off his head. I cock my arm back for the throw, and out of nowhere, something snaps around my neck.
Whatever it is clicks together, and the next thing I know, my throat is being shredded by blood curdling screams, and my body burns from the inside out. My vision tunnels as I become nothing but pain, and I beg for the encroaching blackness to take me.
“There’s my pet,” a deep voice whispers into my ear. “You’re mine now.”
19
Gentle fingers caress my forehead as they brush hair out of my face. I try to lean into the comforting touch as it brushes against my cheek. Too quickly it’s gone, and a strangled groan of protest sounds in my throat. I bring a weak hand up to massage the pain I’m feeling there, but my hand hits metal, and brutal reality kicks me in the chest. My eyes snap open, and I try to sit up, wincing at the incredible pain and fatigue I’m feeling all over.
“Slowly,” a voice commands me, and a cup is pressed to my lips.
I stare into cold, ice-blue eyes, and I have to blink away the hate and betrayal that starts to well up in my own. I clamp my lips shut against the rim of the metal cup, and a flash of something streaks across Siah’s eyes too fast for me to identify.
“This will