Page 42 of The Soulbond and Her Beloved

She stomped her staff again, and Zaiperflewacross the room, colliding hard against the edge of the fireplace.

Ffffuckk...!

Agony lanced through his ribs, his entire body screaming in protest.

“You are disgusting,” the Oracle spat. “The embodiment of evil itself. How could you do this to your kingdom, to your fellow Grand Rulers? How could you do that to yourownblood brother?”

Blood filled Zaiper’s mouth, and he spat on the floor. “Oh, spare me the righteous outrage,” he sneered. “Kristoff got what was coming to him for looking at what wasmine.”

Her face twisted into something so dark it sent a chill down Zaiper’s spine.

She lifted her staff, and a blast of unseen forcecrackedthrough the air.

Zaiper heard cracks a split second before his entire bodyseizedin agony. A few of his bones shattering.

The pain was unbearable, ripping through him like fire and ice all at once.

“Youconniving old hag!” he roared in agony. "This will take weeks to heal, damn you!"

“You are a disgrace to the name Dragaxlov,” the old hag declared. “Your clan has long harbored ambitions of claiming the First Throne, butneverhave they stooped to such despicableacts to seize it. Youwiped outan entire kingdom.Slaughteredyounglings who looked up to you.Murderedyour own brother.”

Zaiper groaned through his pain, spitting out blood again. “One day, someone will take that cursed stick from you, Old Lady.”

“That someone will not be you.” The Oracle's voice dropped into something colder, deadlier. “Come clean to the kingdom. Confess your crimes and face the consequences.”

“How does ‘never’ sound?” Zaiper drawled.

“Tell the people what you have done, or I will.”

Zaiper let out a bark of laughter, ignoring the sharp stab of pain it sent through his ribs.

“Youcan’tdo that, you withered hagspawn. You are not allowed to interfere," he reminded her, wiping the blood from his mouth.

“I can, and I will.” Her golden eyes blazed like twin suns. ”Do not mistake my restraint for weakness, Devil's spawn. I would gladly sacrifice my life to expose the darkness you have wrought. To cleanse this land of your corruption.”

Zaiper’s smirk vanished.Surely, she does not...

“You don’t mean that,” but his voice lacked its usual arrogance.

“Foolish boy,” the whisper was coated with disdain. “The first pages ofThe Gods and Their Servantswill tell you an Oracle does not speak idly. Every word I utter is weighed and measured.”

His heartbeat was drumming against his ribs. "You expect me to confess? You expect me, Zaiper Dragaxlov, to walk to my own execution?"

“What Iwant,” the Oracle said coldly, “isjustice.”

“You cannot reveal secrets of that magnitude, the impact could kill you! That’s right, I also know a bit about that damned book and your oath,” he said smugly.

“Yes.” She was unfazed. “But I wouldgladly die before I let you get away with this.”

Zaiper gawked at her.

She stepped back, her expression unreadable once more. “I will grant you time to consider your choices, Grand Lord Zaiper. But know this, this matter will not rest. Justice will be served, with or without your cooperation.”

She turned, walking toward the door.

Zaiper’s mind raced.There had to be a way to stop this."Wait! I wish to strike a bargain!"

"Denied." Her voice was calm. "Consider your choices, Dragaxlov. I will return." She didn’t so much as glance back.

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