8. CHAPTER 8

CHAPTER 8

KALYLL

“Your Sub Rosa friends are off to visit the Envoy, likely to find out where you are,” Cardian said, leaning close enough that I could have reached out and strangled him, if not for the magical barrier between us.

“How predictable?” He went on, so pleased with himself. “Of course, they’re wasting their time. They’ll never find you.”

His small eyes shone with what he left unsaid, that I would stay here, at his mercy, for as long as he wanted me to. Though the word mercy didn’t really factor into the equation.

I looked at my hands, at the unnatural angle at which my fingers were healing. From outside this magical bubble, he could have his sorcerer do whatever he wanted to me. And he was enjoying himself so much that I’d begun questioning every single moment, every single interaction, I’d ever shared with him.

He hated me. Truly hated me.

I had to believe there was something I’d done or not done to deserve it.

My mind riffled through countless memories of our childhood and adolescence. I searched through each one of them, trying to see if I’d been cruel, if I’d hurt him in some way, but the more I went over our past, I realized that I’d been vastly absent. My duties as future King had kept me away.

While he played, I sat with tutors most hours of the day. I barely had time for anything other than studying and attending council meetings, during which I was only allowed to listen and learn.

While he partied and lived the pampered life everyone thought a prince should have, I learned battle strategies, drilled in the training grounds, and soaked my bruises at night, all so I could do it over again the next day.

So no, I hadn’t had time for my brother—my half-brother, I reminded myself. Had he wished I had? He never gave me any indication that he wanted me near him. On the contrary, he often complained that my presence felt stifling, that I killed the fun. If I was honest, there was no love lost between us.

From the start, he saw me as a suffocating authoritative figure, and I always saw him as a brat.

Would it have been different if we’d shared a father? If the blood bond had been stronger between us, if our connection hadn’t been diluted?

It was impossible to answer that question. We couldn’t change what it was. There was no point in wondering about it. Whatever had caused his hatred, it had brought us here.

A point of no return.

—Weak. You’re so weak, Wölfe whispered in my mind. None of that matters. He signed his death sentence the moment he hurt Dani.

An involuntary growl escaped me.

“The decorous prince is nothing but a beast and always has been.” Cardian laughed, delighted by the irony. “Growl all you want, Kalyll. Shift into that hideous monster and claw away at your prison like you did last night—I must admit, it was quite entertaining to watch—but it won’t serve you. Best to save your energy because you’re not going anywhere.” He batted a hand in the air. “But what am I saying? Keep on with your ridiculous behavior. You are quickly becoming my favorite sport. If you suffered with resignation, it wouldn’t be half as amusing.”

The energy field that surrounded me crackled as, from the shadows that lurked behind Cardian, that hooded figure reappeared. Woven with threads of silver and gold, the cloak and hood shimmered as though imbued with enchantments. Its length was long and flowing, and its hues seemed to shift with the light. This was the powerful sorcerer my brother had tasked with torturing me. I speculated he was a male. He was taller than Cardian, thicker too, a male’s build for sure.

He was responsible for the force shield that kept me and the beast contained. Yesterday, I had waited for nightfall, hoping the beast would be able to rip through the shield. I’d clawed at the barrier, rammed my shoulders against it, exhausted myself trying, but it had been useless. I ended up battered, my clothes in tatters, and my fury quickly morphing into frustration and hopelessness.

The sorcerer appeared faceless, only a black hole edged by the cowl of his cloak. His hands—also those of a male—were interlaced in front of him. An unnecessary amount of fabric draped around his arms, the end of the sleeves hanging around his wrists.

Gently, each movement practiced and graceful, he waved a hand in the air, and my ripped jacket, shirt, and boots which were discarded at my feet disappeared. I had been using the tatters as a pillow when I tried to sleep. It had been little comfort, but they wouldn’t even allow me that much.

“Lucky thing you kept your pants,” Cardian said, his mouth twisted in disgust, as if he were trying not to imagine me totally naked. “Still, you’re about to wish you had kept on more than that.”

There was a spark in his eyes that caused an involuntary shudder to go through me. He watched me closely, likely searching for a reaction, but I kept it hidden, revealing nothing and resisting the urge to tighten my broken fingers into fists that ached to pummel him.

Cardian nodded to the sorcerer, smiling.

The hooded figure moved his hands in an arc as if to encompass the sphere that held me. My entire body tensed as I braced myself for the pain of more broken bones, but nothing happened. Not at first.

Then a shiver ran down my spine, and I noticed a marked change in temperature. Soon, the air inside my prison turned frigid. My skin tightened around my bones, every hair standing on end.

“You’ve always enjoyed a nice fire, haven’t you? Lit year-round in your chamber. Why is that exactly? Is it its warmth you crave? Or is it its cozy comfort and glow?”

On the few occasions when he had visited me in my quarters, he had complained about it being too hot and stuffy. I had never liked the cold. I was surprised he remembered such a small detail.

My teeth began to chatter. I tightened my jaw and fought not to rub my arms or hug my torso to preserve the quickly fading warmth of my body.

Cardian took a step closer and watched me from head to toe. “Oh, your skin is starting to match your hair.” He glanced over his shoulder and said to the sorcerer, “Make sure it doesn’t kill him. Just barely.”

The male gave a single nod.

“I would love to stay and watch you freeze,” Cardian said, returning his attention to me. “But I have pressing matters to attend to. Elyndell has been left leaderless. We can’t allow that. Not to mention there are a few pests that need my attention.”

I rushed to the barrier and pounded my fist on it. Its surface crackled, distorting the space beyond, making Cardian and the sorcerer appear blurry.

“If you hurt any of my friends, I will kill you,” I shouted, my throat raw with the force of my voice.

Cardian only shook his head and smiled sadly as if to highlight the improbability of that pathetic threat ever coming to fruition.

“I’m sure you understand why I can’t allow them to… carry on. I can promise you that they’ll go swiftly. All except for one. I’m curious about your Jovinian girl. What’s so special about her? I’m really intrigued.”

I growled through my clenched teeth. “I will rip you to pieces.”

“My, my. She must be something. She did jump to save you when Varamede attacked. That kind of loyalty from a subject is admirable. What did you offer her? A prominent position in court? Gold? Or was it love?” He said the word with mockery, as if love were a tall tale, a mythical creature that didn’t exist.

But of course, he would think that. He thought loyalty could be bought. He didn’t understand that to receive something you had to give it first. I would give my life for every single member of the Sub Rosa. If they did the same for me, I could only count myself lucky.

And if he didn’t understand loyalty, how could he ever understand love?

I pity you,I wanted to say to him, but I kept my mouth shut. It was infinitely better if he thought my relationship with Daniella was a transaction.

“She’s at least as powerful as Varamede,” Cardian went on, “and that is saying something. She’s new to your group, so I’m sure it won’t be too hard to sway her loyalties. Not with the right offer.” He paused and made a show of pondering something. At last, he asked, “Are there any other services she might provide besides hurling herself in front of an oncoming attack? You know, is she… a good fuck?”

“Bastard,” I spat, tamping down the bulk of my anger, though not without effort. I wanted to hurl insults and curses. I wanted to strangle him with my bare hands for even daring to think of touching her. But I contained my trembling ire, disguising it with a shiver that he would attribute to the cold.

“Tsk, tsk, you’re the only bastard here. Literally.” He smirked, then whirled on his heel and left me with the sorcerer.

I took a step back. My arms moved up of their own accord as a violent shiver ripped through me. Breathing hurt my nostrils, my throat, my chest. The air was frigid.

Turning my back on the sorcerer, I lowered myself and huddled in a tight ball. I trembled violently, my body’s movements completely outside of my control.

I wished for the tattered coat, then imagined a warm fire and Daniella sitting by my side. Soon, I went numb all over. I couldn’t feel my hands. I stared at them for a long moment. Absently, I grabbed one of my broken fingers and set it straight. There was a crack, but I felt no pain. In fact, I felt nothing at all.

Almost amused, I straightened the others. I couldn’t bend them or feel them, but at least they looked right.

My eyelids closed and froze shut.