Page 142 of Eldritch
Zevander scowled. “I killed you.”
“And I healed. Turns out, my bloodline is quite useful.” He slid his sword from its scabbard at his back. “Shall we resume where we left off?”
Zevander raised his palm, holding it outstretched, and called upon the flame. It wavered, weaker than usual, but still a threat, as Theron’s eyes turned intense, studying it. “Let’s see how quickly sablefyre heals.”
Again, he smiled back at Zevander. “Here, I thought we were friends.”
“Is that what you thought?”
The smile on his face withered. “You’ve not forgiven me for what I did.”
“You betrayed me.” The words spilled from his mouth, though in truth, it’d been so long, Zevander could only vaguely recall the memory of what Theron had done. He just knew the bite of resentment still lingered. “I remained her prisoner for a century because of you.”
Remorse bled through the fissures of his stony face. “My greatest regret was spilling your secret.”
“And mine was protecting yours.” A sharp, stabbing pain struck Zevander’s skull, and he let out a grunt as he dropped to his knees, clutching his head.
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
ZEVANDER
Past …
“You’re lucky this didn’t fester.” Theron shook his head, wrapping a fresh strip of cotton around the wound at Zevander’s wrist, where his manacle had chewed at the flesh there. “Could’ve been avoided entirely.”
“This debate has grown moss, and I’m tired of it.” A few days of meals and water had returned his strength, and he was grateful to be sleeping on the marble floor of the observatory, instead of hanging from chains in his cell.
“You never spoke a word of what I confessed to you,” he said, referring to his professed involvement in betraying General Loyce. “Not even in the face of your worst punishment.”
“I never once believed it.”
Theron smiled, tying up the ends of the cotton. “Still, you could’ve pointed the finger at anyone to end your suffering. But you didn’t.” His brow furrowed. “Why?”
“The same defiant nature you nag at me about.”
Framed by the doorway across from them, the sturdy form of General Loyce stepped into the room, her gaze landingon Zevander. The smirk at the corner of her lips stirred his repulsion all over again.
“I’d sooner die than fall to my knees for her,” he added, glaring at the woman who approached to Theron’s rear.
His fellow slave glanced over his shoulder, quickly snapping his attention back to the gouge above Zevander’s kneecap. “A warning might’ve been kind.”
“What’s the fun in that?”
No sooner had he spoken the words than the general sauntered up behind Theron, eyes appraising Zevander’s bandages.
“Seems you’re healing quickly.” The predatory sweep of her tongue across her lips had him glancing away to hide his grimace. “Incredible, how resilient the body can be.”
Zevander ground his teeth, ignoring her comments.
“I’ve never seen a man so moored by his stubborn nature. So…iron-hearted. You call to mind the stories of Deimos, the fierce and vicious god of destruction. Tell me, what is it that you continue to live for?”
Zevander would never tell her that it was only the promise of vengeance that kept him breathing. He’d resigned himself to the fact that he’d likely never see his mother and siblings again, even if his dreams told him otherwise. The general would never set him free.
Hands at her back, she paced behind Theron, who kept his head low, his eyes on the task of cleaning and mending Zevander’s wounds. “I must say, I’m impressed. I did not imagine sweet Vaelora had such vicious bite in her. Such a small and delicate creature, terrified of her own shadow. Yet, she managed to devise a scandalous betrayal.” Pausing her steps, she sighed and shook her head. “In the end, her fears got the best of her.”
A bolt of rage speared through Zevander. “Perhaps you might face off with one of those creatures yourself, and see how you fare.”
“Careful.” Sharp eyes snapped to his like the lash of a serpent’s tongue. “I’m happy to add another scar, or two, for Theron to stitch.” She resumed her steps, the clack of her boots grating on Zevander’s nerves. “Tell me who devised the plan, and I’ll send you back to the mines.”
