Page 26 of Stolen

I rounded the table and touched a marker positioned close to the Wastes. “This one is new. My knights reported it just this morning. A farmer found his wife and child burned to ash in his fields.”

Her lips parted. “I… That’s horrible.”

“Yes, it is. And it will keep happening.” I caught myself lifting my hand to shove at my hair again. Instead, I raised my left and rubbed at my eyes, which felt like someone had sprinkled sandpaper under my lids. Something brushed my sleeve, and when I looked down, Given was beside me.

“You should rest, Laurent. You look exhausted.”

“So do you,” I said softly.

We stared at each other, a world of problems between us.

I swallowed hard. “Tell me how to help you. I’m the most powerful priest who’s ever lived.”

The hint of a smile touched her lips. “I forgot you’re not one for false modesty.”

“Not when it comes to power, I’m not.”

She looked at the map, her gaze falling on the barren expanse of Eldenvalla. Her brow furrowed. “Soldiers won’t work. But if they escorted the mages—” She brought her head up sharply, her blue eyes wide with fear.

“What is it? What’s wrong?”

“I feel one of them.”

“Where?” When she didn’t answer, panic gripped me. “Given?”

“I have to go,” she whispered.

I reached for her—

But she was already gone.

Chapter Nine

GIVEN

There was no void this time. No colorless, shapeless nothingness to get lost in.

This time, I slammed into my body so hard I cried out as my eyes flew open. I lay half-reclined on the curved, dusty sofa.

And a demon stood over me, his eyes fully black in his beautiful face. As I gasped, he recoiled with a hiss.

I shot to my feet. “Wh-What are you doing?”

“You were gone.” He stepped toward me, menace rolling off him in thick waves. “He never gave you permission to go.”

“I was sleeping.”

The demon gave me a nasty smile. “He’ll punish you for this. He has ways.” The demon nodded vigorously, the movement so overdone and manic I stumbled back. My legs collided with the sofa, and I sat down hard.

The demon swooped down on me, seized my arm, and hauled me up. “He has ways,” he repeated, hustling me to the doors, which stood half-open.

“Where are you taking me?” I demanded, although I had to assume that “he” meant Midian. Icy fear wrapped around me, numbing my lips and making me stumble. It didn’t help that the hallways were littered with debris. My vision didn’t flicker to the pristine, elven palace of before, but I was grateful for it. I wanted to see the truth, no matter how ugly.

But I couldn’t let Midian know. Quickly, I pictured a brick wall in my head. No matter what happened, I had to keep that image intact. And I had to act like everything was fine. I’d pretended often enough in the past, whether it was with Queen Amantha or my brother or even his wives. Elissa was mostly kind but she was unhappy in her marriage. She couldn’t express her discontent with Rolund, so she took it out on others. As his sister, I was sometimes a next-best target. My brother didn’t like dealing with troubles that arose in his wives’ courts, which meant Elissa got away with her bad behavior.

Yes, I could smile and pretend. My whole life had been preparation for this moment. I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry at that.

We entered the hall of statues, and I lost any urge to laugh. The woman who spoke to me was a shattered mess, her head severed from her body. Dust swirled as the demon pulled me along, his boots clicking over the marble floors.

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