Page 15 of Severed Heir

The three were yanked forward. I could hear their breath hitch as they stumbled ahead like prey already marked.

One brave girl stepped out, her fire-red hair catching the torchlight as she tucked a strand behind her ear. “My family belongs to a barren realm,” she said quickly. “It’s been months since the Forgotten’s attack. We have no power.”

Rok pressed a flat palm to her cheek. “Then I’ll release it,” he hissed. “You are wind.”

She staggered back with a cry, part mourning and part relief. It reminded me of Malachi, how she used to say the wind carried whispers from the past.

The girl dropped to her knees. “Wind,” she whispered, her gaze locked on her palms as if she couldn’t believe the power had stayed.

Rok barely paused. He seized the next initiate by the chin, forcing his face upward. “Poison,” he muttered.

Something changed beneath the boy’s skin, like Rok was pulling it from his blood itself. A sweet, brine-like scent filled the air as dark fluid dripped from the boy’s nose. He wiped at it with trembling hands, tears shining in his eyes.

“Thank you, sir,” the initiate said, voice cracking. “I thought I was powerless.”

Rok didn’t answer. He slammed his palm over the last quelless male’s wrist. “Release,” he commanded.

The male crumpled onto all fours, roaring through his teeth as ash poured from his mouth.

“Flame,” Rok said with a smirk. “But your stepfather graciously lent you that.”

The initiate seethed, rage twisting his face. “He didn’t give me shit,” he snarled. “This flame is mine.”

“We’ll see,” said the captain.

I didn’t expect him to turn back. But when he paused in front of me, head tilting like a vulture sizing up its prey, I knew this wasn’t going to end well.

“Severyn, is it?” he asked. “Your brother said you had another power. Claimed he couldn’t strip it from you.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said.

He leaned in, breath warm against my ear. “Don’t play stupid. I don’t do stupid.”

I didn’t have time to react. His fingers latched onto my shoulder, and fire tore through me. I staggered, barely catching myself before I hit the floor. “Stop,” I grunted.

But his grip only tightened. His nails dug in, and I could feel it—he was enjoying this. My flame buckled, siphoning in jagged bursts as if he were tearing me apart one flicker at a time.

“Such power,” he murmured. “But no trace of ice in a girl like you…” His mouth twisted into a cruel smile. “Makes one question your true bloodline, doesn’t it?”

I gritted my teeth, fighting the wave of heat clawing through me. My vision swam. But I looked him dead in the eye. “I am flame,” I said, my voice like glass. “And I’m proud of it.”

“Rok,” Archer growled from the side. “Might I suggest you move along? Severyn poses no threat to your guards.”

Rok’s grin widened. He turned, slowly. “You have no say here, Serpent. Your job here is done.”

He stepped closer, so close I could see the veins pulsing beneath Archer’s skin. “Is that so?”

“Severyn Blanche is property of Malvoria,” Rok sneered. “That means she’s ours now. Her brother is dead, you shouldn’t carry that guilt of protecting her anymore.”

The words made my blood sing. Everyone knew about the Gemini bond. They knew Klaus and Archer had been friends. And now I looked like the helpless little sister with a schoolyard crush.

I focused on the flicker of flame beneath my skin, steadying myself. Archer had always stepped in. But this time, I needed to stand alone.

“I’m only here to observe how thoroughly untrained your methods are,” Archer said. “Normally, one is taught to wield a quell. Not tortured into it.”

Rok’s teeth flashed. “Might I suggest returning to your starry skies and wishing on them—or whatever it is you Serpents do—and leave the dirty work to those of us built for it?”

“Touch her again,” Archer growled, voice low and lethal, “and I swear—”

---