Page 116 of Between Wrath and Mercy

“Yes.”

Chapter 37

WhenIwastossedinto my cell, it was with no small amount of force. After we left the throne room, I’d moved my hands to the neck of the giant carrying me and slowed his heart enough for him to collapse. I didn’t want to kill him, he was merely doing his job, but I couldn’t help but take some small satisfaction when I heard the sound his knees made as he fell to the ground. I didn’t know what I was thinking—it wasn't as if he was the only guard. Granted, there was only one other soldier escorting me because I didn't seem threatening at first glance. It surprised me they still managed to underestimate me when I’d just thrown a dagger at their king’s face—one which would have hit its mark if not for Rain. I wondered if Dewalt appreciated the form considering it was his training responsible for it. Before I could get three steps in my dress, the other guard was tackling me, pulling my arms behind my back. He was careful, avoiding my bare touch. I didn’t make his life easy, struggling against him the entire way, so when he threw me into the cell and slammed the door behind him, I wasn’t surprised.

“Don’t pull that shit again, or I’ll put you in the chains. I’m eager to see how well the obsidian works.”

I growled at him, still pissed off about everything, and he slammed the tiny peephole closed, plunging me into darkness before I heard his receding footsteps.

I knew there was a flickering torch in the hallway, but only the slightest sliver of light was visible under the crack of the door. I pushed and pulled on it even though I knew he'd locked it, hoping luck would be with me. I heaved a sigh and started fumbling around the room, navigating by feel. Based on the smell and the sounds I could hear, I was afraid I would find company in my cell among rats. I kicked against what felt like a cot on the ground and reached, feeling a thin cushion of sorts. I collapsed onto it and closed my eyes and took calming breaths, finding it especially difficult considering every inhale reeked of rot and shit. Stuck in a small room devoid of light was too much for me to handle, and I was about to go somewhere much darker mentally. I had to calm down. I focused on my heartbeat, trying to maintain it.

The low rumble I could feel in my bones was helping to soothe me. Rain was fighting for me, fighting for us. I knew he’d have fought either way, but I wondered if my answer to his question had motivated him further. I didn’t like that he was upset enough to have trouble maintaining his divinity, but I took reassurance in the fact that I could still feel him in some way.

I sat for a while, replaying the events of the last hour in my head. Perhaps I shouldn’t have thrown that dagger. I should have waited, bided my time until I was able to kill him without witnesses. I wouldn’t let myself think I’d jeopardized Elora by throwing the knife. It was reckless, and I’d acted on instinct, unleashing a feral rage Soren breathed life into. I could have hurt her in the process. I tried to calm down, knowing Rain wouldn’t let that happen. He’d force his father to completely rescind the order, and if he didn’t, the queen would. She would see it from the perspective of a mother; knowing what the king said forced my instincts to act. I hoped. Either way, I wished I ignored his words and kept my temper. Now, Rain was having to work miracles to get me out. Though I didn’t doubt his abilities to remove me from the dungeons, the entire palace was warded against rifting, Rain not being the only conduit with the ability. But I knew he would find a way to get me out. I knew he’d come for me, without a single doubt. He was confident he’d have control of the Vestian armies if he needed them, so I had confidence his power would hold in other ways.

My head rested against the wall, better to feel the ground rumbling, and my eyes were closed when I felt a familiar tingle in my arm, ending in a shock of pain.

“Ow, shit,” I mumbled to myself as I rubbed my elbow. I got to my feet and walked to the door, pressing my ear up against it. I wondered if the impulse was just a reassurance they were working on a plan. But then I felt the tingle again, and this time my elbow jerked backward hard enough that I cursed loudly.

“Hello?” I called out, unsure if the thick wood would allow my voice to carry. Another tingle—this one much longer than the last—drew out so long I thought maybe it was just leftover pain from the previous impulse. And then it hit me so hard I thought my arm was shattering, and I screamed.

“What the hell!” I threw my body against the door, listening for any sign of footsteps, hearing a scuffle at the same time I felt another tingle.

“Stop, stop! I’m here! Stop!” The needling feeling stopped, but the pulse still went through me, and my already sore arm began to twitch. “Holy Hanwen, stop it!”

I finally heard something in the lock of my cell, and the door swung inward a second later, revealing Lavenia standing in the torchlight. “What the hell were you thinking?” She shouted at me, pushing me backward.

“I messed up!” I stumbled, blinking while my eyes adjusted.

“No shit! Gods damn it, Emma! You’re lucky you aren't already dead.” She crossed her arms, shivering. “Divine hell, it’s cold down here. Aren't you freezing? And the smell, gods.”

I shrugged. It certainly wasn’t warm, but I wasn’t that uncomfortable either. The smell, though—thatwas putrid.

“He sent me down here to see if you were hurt.”

“Are you sure he didn’t send you down here to hurt me? Four impulses, Ven!”

“I couldn’t find you, so I had to make you scream. I won’t pretend I didn’t enjoy it. Anyway, are you hurt? I have to get these keys back to the guard I compelled them off of.”

“I’m not hurt. Well, not bad enough that I can’t handle it. My divinity, remember?” I paused. “Wait, you’re not taking me with you?”

I couldn’t see her face in the dark, but I saw her head dip lower. “I can’t. There are too many people I’d have to get you past. You can tell Rainier is dealing with it.” We could hear the pebbles on the ground rattle a little louder as she said it. “He is doing the best he can. My father may be evil, but you’re a gods damn fool.”

“I know.”

“I don’t know if the fact you know you’re an idiot makes it any better.” Though she sounded angry, I could hear the echo of a smile. “Oh, and he wanted me to bring you this.” She grabbed my hand, pushing something small and metallic into my palm. “Which, excuse me, but what thefuck?”

“Dewalt didn’t tell you?” I slipped the ring on my finger and sighed. I didn’t plan to take it off ever again.

“You told him before you told me?” Incredulous, offended even, her voice rose in pitch.

“No, he saw it on my finger this morning. I hadn’t decided yet when he saw, so we didn’t talk about it.”

“But you’re decided now?”

“As of the moment I was getting carried out of the throne room, yes.” That reminded me. “Is that soldier alright, by the way?”

“Which soldier?”

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