Page 81 of A Dance of Water

The dungeons?she hesitantly asked Bastian.

Not your concern, pet.

Vale growled, the edges of the blanket ripped under his hands. He stared down at the torn fabric, expression unreadable as his fingers lifted away one by one before he resumed his pacing. The firelight toyed with the sheer canopy fluttering around her bed, making him seem hazy every time he swept behind it.

"Isn’t it a coincidence that her voice stops working right when we need to speak with her the most?" Vale seethed.

With exasperation and annoyance, Luella’s mouth curled into a slight snarl.

"I don’t like what you’re insinuating"—the silence hung heavy in the air before Bastian tacked on—"my King."

Vale pinched the bridge of his nose, head hanging low in the firelight. "I’m not myself right now," he gritted out.

She stared at the King, could have sworn she saw the faintest hint of his skin rippling unnaturally.

"That’s the most apology you’ll get, lamb, better thank him with vigor," Tharen retorted.

Az tried to get up, but she tangled her hands in his shirt, keepinghim by her side, safe, where he was not at risk of going back to the dungeons.

"No," she mouthed as she looked at her demon. He nodded softly, understanding.

Bastian tapped her foot. "Use me." Adding in the privacy of her mind,I’ll make sure Az is safe while you recover.

Thank you. Truly.

She wished she could speak so she could convey the brevity of her gratitude, but for now, she would have to resign herself to words whispered by thoughts alone.

23

MINE

VALE

Vale watched his captive as she lay, small and shivering in her bed. The canopy fluttered around her, making her appear as an angelic creature, too pure and innocent for his eyes.

Kill, kill, kill.

In the dungeons. Go to him!

His dragon roared inside him, calling for blood.

Rip him apart,seethed the dragon.Tear his limbs off and throw them out to sea, strangle him with his own entrails, and burn his flesh away from his body bit by bit until nothing is left but a charred husk of melted depravity.

Kill. Him.

Destroy.

Vale shuddered, wrangling his beast back into his cage of bone and skin. He did not go gently.

It was a constant battle, but this might be the worst one yet. All because of her.

And the memory of the name she had uttered.

Caliban

Never would Vale have thought to hear the name upon such sweet, innocent lips.

Never would Vale have imagined his reaction to be so volatile—not just to the name of his bastard half-brother, but to the prospect of her being threatened. He had notbeen able to stop his dragon from rising to the surface when the Umbra had attacked. He thought the beach was safe. Small and closed-off.

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