Page 62 of The Kingdom of Flames and Ash

“Let me in,” I commanded, not wanting to be questioned.

He narrowed his eyes and then shrugged, allowing me in.

Then I gestured to Eldrin’s cell. “I need to go in there.”

“Alone?” He looked over my shoulder, obviously expecting Tavish to be with me.

I unfolded my wings and raised the sword. “Do you have a problem with that?”

“Fate, no.” He stumbled back a few steps and unlocked the cell. “I just don’t want you or Tavish to kill me.”

I shoved past him, entering the cell. Eldrin smirked, and I chuckled darkly then lunged right at him.

21

LIRA

Ididn’t hesitate, choosing to stab him in the shoulder. The blade was so sharp I didn’t even realize it had gone in until his face twisted in agony.

He hissed between clenched teeth, and my stomach didn’t revolt. The act of brutality didn’t even cause me to flinch. This bastard deserved every ounce of pain he got.

“I’m not falling for your brave facade.” Eldrin’s chest heaved. “You aren’t strong enough to do anything to me.”

Dark laughter caught in my throat, sounding like someone else. A bitter taste filled my mouth, and I fought the urge to spit. I didn’t want him to know how much he’d gotten to me.

Refusing to react to his words and grant him any sort of power, I lifted my chin so I could stare down my nose at him. “You’re going to tell me everything I want to know.”

He laughed. “I’m not.” He smirked. “Though I applaud Tavish for considering a different tactic than I expected.”

Of course he’d believe Tavish had sent me here. Since I was Seelie, I couldn’t think of anything original on my own. I dug the blade in deeper until I felt something stop the point from continuing —I’d hit bone. “Tavish doesn’t even know I’m here.”I yanked the sword out, making sure that it came out roughly so the skin wouldn’t be able to heal easily.

He groaned, his face flushing as his blood poured down his arm and hit the floor.

“I’m only going to say this one more time. You’re going to tell me everything you know, or your future is going to be the one you fear.” I had to latch on to the one thing he cared about most. The Unseelie people and the need he had for them to obey his commands.

“I don’t fear death. Not thatyouwould be able to deliver that fate to me.” He straightened his shoulders, trying to appear unaffected, but he winced.

“Death isn’t what I have in store for you.” I smiled sweetly, though adrenaline made my heart race in anticipation. “I’ve given it a lot of thought, and you do have one weakness. A weakness I will use because, frankly, I don’t give a blast about you.”

Sprite, is something the matter?Tavish linked.

Eldrin bared his teeth, though his white eyes widened. “I don’t have a weakness. That’s why I’ll win, either by death and you becoming Pyralis’s wife or by guaranteeing my own life and doing as I please. Either way, it’s enough for me to have peace.”

I’m fine.I hated that I hadn’t kept my emotions in check. I should’ve known Tavish would notice the spike.

Turning my attention back to Eldrin, I said, “I have no intention of killing you.” I placed the flat part of the blade on my shoulder, allowing the blood to run down the end and splatter on me. “Nor of giving you immunity. I merely plan to removeawing… or both your wings. It depends on how difficult you want to be.”

“You wouldn’t.” He laughed, though his Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed.

“That’s where you’re wrong.” Hope kindled in my chest, but I pushed the sensation away. I didn’t need to get too excited until I knew this would work. If it didn’t, my gut was completely wrong. Eiric would tell me to think things through instead of reacting, but I was already here, and it was too late. “Harming you will be retribution for what you’ve done to Tavish and to me. I’ve noticed you hold your sword in your right hand, so I’m thinking the left wing should be first. That way, if I only get to slice off one before you sing, it’ll be the one that will most hinder your fighting.”

His expression shifted into one of indifference, but his neck corded.

Where are you?Tavish asked.I just left to check on you in our bedchambers, and Finnian said you aren’t there.

Blighted abyss. Finnian had a big mouth. If I didn’t tell Tavish where I was, he’d fly off the deep end. Worse, I wasn’t sure if I meant that literally or figuratively. It could be both.I’m with Eldrin.

Knowing I was making Eldrin nervous, I took another moment, ignoring my racing pulse, and tapped my free hand’s index finger against my chin. “I wonder how the Unseelie would feel about you then? Do you think they would want to follow someone who had their wing removed by a Seelie?”

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