Page 131 of Land of Shadow

Valen stills.

Theo’s throat works, blood gurgling as he speaks. “She’s yours, isn’t she? Your mate?” He laughs, the sound like broken glass. “I should’ve known.”

“Let her go.” Valen’s voice is low, steady. “Let her go, Theo.”

“What a prize she’ll be for Father.” He giggles, his arm going around my ribs and squeezing. “He’ll rip and tear and feast.”

Valen snarls, but he doesn’t take a step.

Juno moans, and Theo reaches back and does something to her. I hear a crack, and she goes silent. Cold fear eddies inside me.

“Juno?” I call.

Theo continues as if I said nothing, “I’ve tasted her, your mate.” His cold tongue slides along my throat.

Valen’s claws curl.

“So sweet. Pretty, too. Though, I do wonder what she’ll look like once Father turns her inside out.”

I slowly ease my hand along my side.

Theo’s grip tightens, my ribs aching under the pressure.

“If you release her, I’ll do whatever you ask. I’ll kill Father for you, make you king. Isn’t that what you want?” Valen asks, worry twisted around his words like filigree.

“Already turning traitor?” Theo tsks. “Then again, you’ve always been a traitor, haven’t you?”

When I slide the syringe from my pocket, Valen’s eyes widen just a hair.

“Father has tolerated you for far too long. But I won’t. I’ll tell him you intended to usurp his throne, that you kept this human bitch hidden because she’s your true mate. He’ll destroy her while you watch.”

“Anything you want, Theo. Anything. It’s yours.”

“What I want is this bitch flayed alive and you dead,” Theo says matter-of-factly. “And I’m the only one who can give me that.” He takes a step toward the Oval Office, dragging me with him.

Valen moves closer.

Theo raises his hand to my throat, squeezing hard. “Now, now, dear brother. Don’t make me kill her right here. Step back.”

Valen obeys, his entire body practically vibrating with tension.

Theo minutely eases his grip.

I stab the syringe into the back of his hand and depress the plunger.

He hisses and throws me forward. I try to catch myself and feel something in my arm crack.

“The fuck?” Theo lifts his hand and stares at it.

Valen grabs me and pulls me behind him, his silver dagger at the ready.

“What did you do?” Theo thunders as his fingers begin to go black, his thumb turning to ash and the others following. The flakes float away, misting into shadow. “What did you do?”

Valen backs me up, one of his hands at my hip as he slowly moves away from his brother.

Theo’s wrist turns to ash, then more quickly now, his arm. He steps toward us, rage in his eyes, but his shoulder disintegrates, and he falls on his next step, his leg crumbling beneath him.

He screams, but the sound goes dry and raspy as his tongue turns to dust, the rest of his body following until nothing is left but ash.

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