Page 69 of Empire of Flame and Thorns

Draven stalks around them until he is standing in the empty space on Tommen’s left. Tommen sways slightly on his knees but tries to keep his back straight as Draven comes to a halt.

“Beg forgiveness, and I will grant you a clean death,” Draven commands, his voice pulsing through the air.

Tommen’s mouth moves, but from up here, I can’t hear what he says. But apparently, Draven is satisfied with whatever it is that he says, because he raises his massive sword.

And then cuts Tommen’s head clean off his shoulders.

I gasp.

Down on the ground, several of the contestants jerk back as well.

Tommen’s head hits the ground and then rolls halfway around before coming to a halt. His body topples forwards and slams into the stones with a thud that I can hear even through the closed window. Blood spreads across the pale stones.

Jeb pees his pants.

The dark stain spreads across the entire front of Jeb’s pants as Draven flicks blood off his sword and then stalks around so that he is standing on Jeb’s right. Before Draven can even say anything, Jeb throws himself down on the ground, pressing his forehead against the stones before Draven’s feet. His hands reach desperately for Draven’s boots. The Shadow of Death kicks his hands away while a disgusted look twists his features.

“Please, I don’t want to die,” Jeb cries. Andhiswords I can actually hear, because he too is screaming. “Please. Please. I’m begging you.”

Draven only stares down at him with merciless eyes. “You really should have thought about that before you dared to attack Selena.”

“Please—”

“You have five seconds to raise your head and face your death like a man. Or I will kill you right there in the dirt like the spineless worm you are.”

A ripple of fear courses through Jeb’s already broken body, and he presses his forehead harder against the ground while frantically begging for mercy.

Draven spins the sword in his hand so that the point is facing downwards. Then he simply rams the blade through Jeb’s back.

A scream of pain rips from Jeb’s throat. Draven yanks the blade back out. More screams echo through the midday air as Jeb rolls over on his side. His body convulses and he coughs blood onto the pale stones before him.

Draven doesn’t even bother to watch him as he dies slowly and in pain instead of the quick death Tommen got. Instead, he raises his bloodstained blade and points it at the other contestants. Several of them flinch.

“Let this serve as a reminder.” He points to where Jeb is still writhing and coughing blood on the ground. “This is what willhappen if you try to kill Selena, or any of your fellow contestants, outside of the trials. Understood?”

Everyone quickly nods.

“Good.” Draven yanks his sword down and effortlessly slits Jeb’s throat, at last ending his torment. “Dismissed.”

Everyone scatters immediately.

I pull back from the window while confusion swirls inside my skull. There was something odd about what just happened. It didn’t look like a simple execution of a random contestant who broke the rules. Instead, it felt almost… personal.

Shaking my head, I push those strange musings aside. I have more important things to deal with right now. Like getting out of here.

Moving away from the window, I hurry over to the closed door on the wall opposite the bed. I pause for a second, pressing my ear against the wood, and try to see if I can hear anything.

No sound makes it through the door.

After casting a glance over my shoulder, I carefully edge the handle down. Thankfully, it’s not locked. I open the door a tiny crack and glance through it.

Disappointment flits through me when it turns out to just be a spacious private bathroom. After checking to make sure that there is no one in there, and no way out either, I close the door again and instead hurry over to the other door.

I repeat the same process. First, I just listen against the wood to see if I can pick up any sounds. Then I push the handle down.

To my great annoyance, this door turns out to be locked. I glare at it and rattle the handle a few times too for good measure. The stubborn door remains uncooperative.

With a sigh, I move back from the door and instead sweep my gaze over the rest of the bedroom. There might be a key somewhere in here.

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