Page 31 of Shadow Master
“Yes. Special, I am. Special.”
A new breed of fomorian creature? This was not good. How much intel had this creature taken back? This probably wasn’t his first trip over. Had he set the trap that had injured Lloyd? So many questions.
“Let me go, damn you.” He wriggled in my grasp.
My lips curled in a sadistic smile. “Oh, you’re not going anywhere, creepy creature. You’re coming with me. We’re going to have a chat. Whether that chat is pleasant or not will depend on you.”
* * *
I slappedthe fomorian spy hard enough to make my hand sting.
He let out a string of curses.
“Do you want to die?” I pressed the tip of my blade to his cheek. “Answer me. What are the fomorians planning?”
“I don’t know,” he sobbed. “They don’t tell me their plans. I just get the information. That’s all I do. That’s my job. That is my purpose.”
“What did he say?” Hyde asked.
I reiterated.
“I think he’s telling the truth,” Hyde said. “Look at him. He’s no soldier.”
He was cut up, bleeding, and bruised. I’d gone to town on him, Brady’s face in my mind, his expression as he was forced to walk away burning a hole in my memory.
I shook my head. “Nah, there has to be more.” I cut him again. “Why doesn’t the mist hurt you? What are you? Are there more like you? Answer me!”
“No, I don’t know. I don’t know. Only me. Only ever me.”
I went to cut him again, but Hyde grabbed my wrist.
No,” he said. “No more.”
I yanked my arm from his grip. “You’re not in charge here, Hyde.”
His eyes flashed with anger. “And if you continue like this, you won’t be either. Think, dammit. You think he’s strong enough to withstand the torture you put him through and keep his mouth shut?”
I stared at the whimpering mess of a creature then sheathed my blade. “You want to live?”
“Yes, yes, yes,” he sobbed.
“Then you’ll do what I say. You’ll take me to the fomorian camp. You’ll get me to Brady.”
He looked confused.
“Hey! Do you understand?”
He nodded enthusiastically. “Yes. I’ll take you to camp.”
I jerked my head in a nearby cadet’s direction. “Patch him up, and reinforce his ties.”
Hyde followed me toward the forge, where I proceeded to wash my hands clean of the creature’s blood.
“You could have killed it,” Hyde said.
“I know what I’m doing.”
“Do you?” His tone was soft. “Justice, you’re blinded by your love for Brady. Right now, that’s all that’s driving you.”
