“I have to bring her back,” Keksej admits, wiping blood from his leaking wound.
I blink, shocked.What? Why?
Don’t say anything. He has a tendency to over-speak, the king’s voice returns.
I start breathing faster.
“Please. Give her back,” the First Prince growls. “You trolls have always been idiots. I will do us both a favor and end this before it begins.” He raises his arms and charges to attack the king.
The armored man throws me over his shoulder, using his tail around me to hold me close as he pulls out his sword and blocks the blow. My body jolts and I whimper, but the prince is sent flying back by the force of the king's strike. I see the blue sparks in the air—enchanted metal.
I tremble so hard that the king sets me down and turns to face Keksej, who is still snarling with rage but has more fear in his eyes than anything else.
The Enduares are bloodthirsty monsters. They should eat me... And yet, they don't move to touch me. For the first time, I wonder if I have been lied to again. The Enduares have not attacked the humans, but they killed Sergi. I saw the king slit a giant’s throat and stab him in the heart. It’s hard to understand what is real.
"You will leave now," the king booms. His voice is commanding and unwavering. "If you ever return here, you will face death."
“I will tell the others that the Butcher still lives. Wait for our messengers, cave rat.” Keksej glares at him but backs away slowly before turning around and running off through the tunnel. It is a pitiful sight. The master who had hurt me so deeply, who has stolen my whole world, runs like a newborn babe.
It disgusts me to see his weakness. To know I belong to his family.
Belonged,a voice says in my head.
The king turns back to us, and I see that there is worry in his eyes when he looks at me. The sight shocks me to my very core. It's as if he... feels what I feel. He reaches out a hand as if he wants to touch my face but then stops himself before quickly pulling away.
"You can kill me. Eat me, I don't care," I sob. "But my brother has to live! If he stays in Zlosa, he won’t stand a chance. I’ll stay here if that’s what you want, I promise. Just take him to the elves.” My voice has climbed to a screech that even I don't recognize. I've never been so afraid before. My hands claw at the direction the giant had taken Mikal.
A soft, human hand comes over and touches my cheek. I look up to see Arlet, tear-streaked. "I'm sorry, Estela." No other slaves are in the hall with us, but I know they didn’t leave. They only took Mikal.
I shove against her. Hard. “Why did you let them take him? You knew,” I seethe, “you knew that he is all I have left. What is wrong with you?”
The wail that breaks out of my body is raw, and I fall to my knees, the world spinning around me. My mind races, trying to come up with a plan. Then the Enduar King touches me again.
"You monsters." I claw at his face, and my fist lands on his jaw. “If you won’t send your men after him, then at least let me leave.”
The king looks down at me, his eyes blazing as he catches my wrists. The song between us becomes so loud that it stuns me. I stop crying, stop fighting, as I am wholly consumed by the man who will tear the flesh from my bones.
His tail comes up to gently caress my cheek, but the metal is cold, and I flinch away. Trembling. "I know it's difficult for you to trust me. It is unsafe to follow them. We can discuss this later.”
I growl and use every ounce of strength to kick at the space between his legs. “No,now.” My bare foot connects with metal, and I hear the crunch as my foot fractures upon force.
I scream out in pain, collapsing onto the ground. Arlet jumps back as the king kneels down beside me, his armored hand rubbing circles on my back. I grit my teeth and try to hold back tears.
“You are cowards. Does the offer of my life really mean so little?” I sob.
I know you are afraid,his deep voice softly whispers into my mind.
My head snaps up, my teeth still clenching through the pain.
Yes. It is me. I told you I would kill them for you, but tensions are high, and you leaving will only make this worse.His eyes search mine as he speaks, and fresh waves of horror pass over me. A large, armored hand reaches out, grazing my neck.
You do not know what you are offering with your bargain. We can make a deal when you feel better, though there is no need. We belong to each other. You can trust me.
All I hear is him declaring me ashis.The tone in my head is possessive, borderline obsessive. Like a dragon guarding gold.
I spit at him. “No. Never yours.”
He nears me again, and I kick at him with my good foot. Clearly growing frustrated, he shouts something in a tongue I do not understand. When I start full-body thrashing at him, calling Mikal’s name through the tears, he uses his large body to cover me on the ground.