Chapter 31

Octane

This is it!

It's the day I die.

I can't say that I would have done things differently. At least I can go to my grave with my head held high. Then again, I won't have a head. If it had been any other day, I would have laughed about that one.

I'm not in a laughing mood.

I'm stuck in this tiny cell. There isn't even a window. I didn't think I'd miss the bars, but I do. Solid walls and a metal door are infinitely worse. I tried calling out for a while after they put me in here, but I have long since given up. No one is coming. This is it. I will more than likely never see Trinity again.

At least, I hope I don't see her again because if I do, that means she will be at my execution.

The slot at the bottom of the door is opened, and my untouched tray of food is removed. I didn't feel like breakfast, even if the food had looked and smelled good. Knowing that you're going to die soon will put a damper on any person's appetite. Also, knowing that a prick like the Prince is going to get to continue breathing pisses me the hell off. In hindsight, I might have made the wrong decision by letting him go. Why would they ever let me have an audience with the king? I thought if I let him go, in a gesture of goodwill, they would have allowed it. I see now that my thinking was flawed.

Ice is right; they will never believe a word I have to say. I wish I could turn back time. I'd use Ice to help us escape, and then I'd slit his throat, anyway. Except that, a move like that would have clouded the king's mind regarding Draig Dragons. He is after peace, but that might have all changed in that moment.

It would have.

I wish there was a way that I could out that piece-of-shit prince. My ears are still ringing with the things he said. Turns out that my gut was right on the damned money. I was right to be cautious. As soon as he started talking, all the pieces of the puzzle came together. I haven't had a chance to tell anyone about his evil-as-fuck plans. I know for a fact that he left out a whole lot of them. I will tell everyone today before he cuts my head from my shoulders. I will make sure that they know. I realize that chances are no one will believe me, but I have to try. Even if it means planting a seed. It might not save me. In fact, the opposite is true, but I have to try.

The door opens, and several guards stream in. My hands are shackled behind my back. I have shackles on my ankles as well. The chain between them is relatively short, which means I will have to take small shuffling steps.

I sigh.

One of the guards advances on me with something in his hands.

"No," I say when I see it.

"Open wide, Draiger," the guard sneers.

"No." I grit my teeth.

"Do it, or you will be sorry," he grinds out.

I shake my head, still gritting my teeth. There is no way I'm letting them put that thing in my mouth. It's a large rubber ball with straps. They want the rubber ball in my mouth so that they can tie it to my head using the leather straps. I won't be able to speak. I suppose I should have expected this. Of course, the lying prick of a prince wants me gagged.

Someone kicks the back of my knee, and I go down. Another one fists my hair, yanking my head back. The same guy kicks me several times on my right kidney.

I groan, and the ball is shoved into my mouth.

"Asshole," the guard mutters as he does up the buckles behind my head.

I give him what I hope is a death stare.

I'm sure I must look like some sort of SM horror show. I hold my head up high anyway as I am yanked to my feet.

"Walk!" He elbows me in the same kidney.

I clench my jaw around the ball and do as they instruct. It won't help to fight. It'll give them an excuse to beat me bloody before my head is lopped from my shoulders. I won't give them any ammunition.

I am led through various hallways. I don't see anyone other than the odd guard dressed in their regular attire.

Then we head up a set of spiral stairs that lead out into a side alley that looks like it is used by the staff. I squint my eyes against the rising sun. There is a slight chill in the air.

I hear the sound of a big crowd somewhere close by. There is excited chatter.

We round a corner, and I find myself in a large courtyard that is surrounded by high stone walls adorned with intricate carvings of mythical creatures. In the center stands a grand fountain, the water cascading down in what should be a soothing rhythm. The gardens beyond the courtyard are filled with lush greenery, colorful blooming flowers, and neatly trimmed hedges.

It"s beautiful. There are worse places to die.

My eyes are on all of the people. Aside from one or two naked individuals, they're all dressed in red. All but one. My heart sinks.

No! No, please! Not this!

Trinity is crying, her head bowed. She is flanked by several guards. Her hands and feet have been shackled. She is wearing a black pair of pants and a T-shirt.

A lump forms in my throat when I see her. She shouldn't have to see this.

Trinity screams my name when she sees me. The crowd goes wild.

"Welcome, everyone." The prince lifts both his hands. His voice booms across us from speakers that have been placed at strategic points in the courtyard. I see a small microphone pinned to his lapel. He is wearing a red velvet suit. His hair looks whiter against the crimson fabric. "I am glad you could all make it out for the show," he yells.

Show?

Trust this nasty piece of work to turn my death into a circus.

The prince is standing on a stage. There is a wooden executioner's block to the right of him. My eyes are drawn to a sharp-looking ax leaning against the wall nearby. It glints in the morning sun.

"We are going to show the Draigers what happens when they trespass on our territory," he shouts, his hands still in the air.

If the crowd was wild before, they go even wilder now.

"We need to remind them of their place. We need to send a message. This type of behavior will not be accepted." He walks slowly, working the audience like a pro.

I am forced to walk up the stairs leading to the stage. It's slow going because of the chains, which clang noisily with each step I take.

I am marched to where the asshole prince is giving his eloquent speech about how terrible I am. How evil. How I threatened to kill him.

"Kneel before the prince," a guard instructs me.

I shake my head, unable to talk around the gag.

"Kneel," he repeats in a rough rasp in my ear.

I ignore him and brace myself, knowing what is about to happen. I might be gagged, but I refuse to show the prince any submission or respect. Not on my own steam.

The crowd murmurs as they see my defiance, and I can't help but think that Trinity is witnessing this, too. These are images she'll remember for the rest of her life.

The blow is to my side this time, well timed with a kick to my kneecap. I stagger to my knees, and the crowd goes wild once more.

Before me is the execution block. I see a groove where my neck needs to be. The ax is a sharp reminder of the fate that awaits me. I keep my eyes front and center and my chin up.

"You're going to die, Draiger," the prince screams into the microphone, his voice amplified by the speakers.

The crowd is cheering and chanting.

"And it's going to be a spectacle for all to see!" he adds. "The dragons of Mistveil deserve some payback for all that has been done to us over the many, many years."

The crowd roars, their fervor feeding the prince's desire for revenge. He picks up the ax and holds it up above his head.

There's more screaming and cheering.

Then, there are loud footfalls on the wooden stage, and the crowd goes silent in an instant. So silent that a person could hear a pin drop right now.

"Brother." The prince sounds shocked. "W-what—?" he starts to say but stops.

Everyone in attendance bows, everyone lowers their gazes.

It is clear that the king is related to the general and to Ice. He, too, has a shock of white hair and vivid blue eyes. He is tall and formidable. I half expected the king to be scholarly, but he looks like a warrior.

"What are you doing here?" the prince splutters. He quickly pulls himself together. "I didn't think you wanted to witness a beheading, but welcome." He smiles broadly. "You arrived just in time." He lifts the ax above his head again, and the crowd starts to cheer once more. It isn't quite as loud as before.

There is a click over the speakers, and I realize that the king is holding a microphone in one hand. He's just turned it on. "Good morning, citizens of Mistveil City. I see that many of you took the time to come out to watch the proceedings."

The crowd claps.

"It is wonderful that you could join us, Sire," the prince gushes. "Put his head on the block," he instructs the guards, who push me down. "I would urge you to stay perfectly still, Draiger. We don't want an accident, now do we?"

The guards have their hands on my shoulders. Another has his boot in the middle of my back.

Before the prince can heft the ax, the king says, "Actually, I would like to hear his last words. Do you have any last words, Draiger?"

I shout "yes" around the ball gag, but it doesn't sound like much of anything.

"Is that really necessary, brother?" Ice scoffs. "Why would we give this scum the opportunity to speak?"

The king shrugs. "Why not? Humor me."

"But, brother—"

"It's Sire or Your Grace. Your Highness would work, too." His tone is clipped. It makes me want to cheer. A small victory, not even mine, but I'll take it, anyway.

The prince visibly diminishes. "Of course, Your Highness." He bows. It comes across as mocking, but then I know enough about this man to see the subtle undertones. I know his mind. It's crawling with serpents.

"Remove the gag," the king says. "Let him get up to his feet first," he adds when the guards try to remove the gag while I am still on my knees. "Let's be civil, shall we? If we are going to portray the Draigers as barbaric, we should at least attempt to be better than them."

The prince's face has turned a touch red, blending nicely with his suit.

The gag is removed once I am on my feet. It takes a few moments to get feeling back in my tongue and certain parts of my mouth. "Thank you," I mutter.

"It's ‘thank you, Your Grace,'" the guard sneers at me.

"No, that's quite alright. I am not this male's king. Your name is Octane; is that correct?"

I nod. "Yes."

"Is there anything you wish to say before you are put to death?" he asks me in a cool tone.

I clear my throat. "Yes, I have something to say."

"You have two minutes," the prince says. "Make it count." He turns angry eyes on me.

I know he is expecting me to out him. To tell everyone here about his proposal and his plans. At least, the parts he wanted me to know.

I'm not going to.

No one would believe me.

I have better things to say with my final few minutes on this earth.

I swallow thickly, pull in a fortifying breath, and step forward. The king holds out the microphone for me. "Thank you," I tell him.

"Get on with it!" the prince snarls.

"I want to make it very clear that Trinity is innocent. It was unfortunate that she followed the wrong people and accidentally ended up on our island, where I captured her. I held her captive. I treated her badly. I tortured her for information, but she never caved. She never told me a single thing. I grew to like her and respect her. It was grudging, but I couldn't help it." I clear my throat. "She was rescued by the father of her unborn child, his brother, and some of his friends. I tracked them to the tunnel and followed. I was beside myself with rage and jealousy. I killed all of the males and begged Trinity to come back with me. I stole money from the males. I took her with me to the tunnel. I was begging her to come back with me when the Red Guard showed up. You know the rest."

"It's a lie!" Trinity screams.

My heart sinks. What the fuck is she doing? I'm dead. I'm done for. This is her chance. They will release her if she lets me confess. They will give her a chance at life. She and her baby both.

"It isn't a lie," I insist. "Don't listen to her. Listen to me. I love you, Trinity. I fucking love you. I know you didn't want to hear me say those words, but I'm saying them, anyway." I choke up. I choke up in every conceivable way. It takes everything in me to hold back. I can't cry just before that asshole kills me. I refuse to give him the satisfaction. "I love you so much. I need you to know it. I need you to know how special you are."

I realize that I can see her. The crowds have parted a little, and I can see Trinity. Perhaps they're not as cold-hearted as I thought.

I grin and even laugh a little. "There you are, Little Red. You're so beautiful. And so fucking amazing. You're a warrior in your own quiet way. You're going to make a great mother. I will hold you in my—"

"That's enough," the prince says. "Get down on your knees and accept your fate."

I touch my hand to my chest, and the shackles clang together. My heart is beating like crazy. Trinity and I are looking each other in the eye. She's crying. I know she'll blame the hormones. The thought makes me smile at her.

She touches her heart, too, and mouths, "I love you."

I'm ready.

The guards don't have to force me this time. I go down willingly. I put my head on the block. The chain scrapes against the ground as I do.

The prince grins. He thinks he's won, but I know my people will not break as easily as he thinks they will.

"Stop," the king says.

"What now…um…Sire?" the prince says. It looks like he has bitten on a sour grape when he says "Sire."

"I would like a word with the Draiger before he is beheaded," the king says.

"A word? A fucking word? I don't think so." The prince picks up the ax.

"If you so much as move, I will have the guards run you through." Delivered with calm authority. I think I might like the king.

"Your own brother?" The prince's eyes bug out of his skull. "You wouldn't."

"The king has given an order, and if you disobey, I will be forced to set a very public precedent. What will it be, Ice?" The king lifts his brows.

"Fine." The prince sighs, lowering the ax. "But know I am waiting, Sire, and would like to continue as soon as possible…Your…um…Highness."

"Noted," the king says. "I will not keep you waiting too long; of that, you can be sure." Then he turns to me. "Remove the shackles on his feet."

"I wouldn't—" the prince starts to say.

"Do it!" the king growls. "Now!"

A guard does as commanded, and I am led by several more guards through the same door the king will have used to walk onto the stage.

We walk in silence, our footfalls echoing around us. I'm about to ask where we are going when we reach a library, where we take a seat at a long wooden table situated between tall shelves filled with books.

"Give us some space," the king says to the guards.

"Your Grace, I—" one of them says.

"Now," the king insists.

The guards move back, but they're still close enough to intervene if deemed necessary.

"Sit…please," he tells me, gesturing to a chair. Then he sits on the opposite side of the table. "I want you to tell me everything. No lying to protect your female. I want to know all of it."

I look into a pair of eyes similar to those of Prince Ice, only these are filled with interest and warmth. Perhaps a hint of humor, too. They're the same, but very different. I instantly feel more at ease. I feel more like being honest.

I suck in a deep breath, and I tell him everything.

"I believe you," he says when I'm done.

"You do?" I'm shocked, and it reflects in my tone. It must be written all over my face, too. I almost don't believe his reaction.

He smiles. "I do. I'm glad you turned Ice down. Now," he steeples his fingers, putting his elbows on the table. "I have a proposal of my own," he tells me. "I will explain everything first."

I lean forward, my eyes on the Red King.