Page 139 of A Drop of Anguish
He drops me on my feet.
“Jarron,” Mr. Vandozer purrs. “You’re looking rather pale. Though, you didn’t break her into pieces, so that’s a good sign you’re not too far gone, eh?”
Jarron growls, low and slow. He steps forward. “You will die now,” Jarron rumbles, his wings rising and falling.
“Will I?” Mr. Vandozer asks sweetly. “Do you even know who I am?”
“You are no one that matters.”
“Incorrect,” Mr. Vandozer smiles.
Jarron’s back tenses.
“I am the future King of Oriziah, and I will not kill you today, Prince, only because I want you to watch while I take everything from you. Piece by piece. Starting with the human girl you’ve connected to. Your replacement mate when you thought yours was gone for good.”
Jarron remains still, watching him. I can’t see his face, but something about his posture suggests he’s not angry. He’s somewhat relaxed and curious. He is waiting.
“I’m going to carve her apart in front of you.”
Someone clears their throat.
Mr. Vandozer sends a fleeting glance to the glowing form next to him. “Trust me.”
Liz’s eye roll tells me she has no intention of doing that, but she says nothing else.
“Then,” Mr. Vandozer continues. “I’m going to fuck your true chosen in front of you. And then, lastly, I’m going to take your throne. I’m going to replace you. With your chosen by my side.”
“So, that is your plan.” Jarron stands up straight. “Foolish, foolish male. You will be remembered for your idiocy.”
Mr. Vandozer smiles, but there’s annoyance on his face. It’s not the reaction he expected. He nods to Liz, who snaps.
Blazing light fills the cavern, and the rest is chaos.
Jarron leaps into the air and blasts magic at the half-destroyed force field. After only a couple hits, the entire wall crumbles like melting plastic, and Jarron darts right at Mr. Vandozer.
Something sharp carves into my shoulder and throws me back against the stone wall. The breath is sucked out of my lungs, and my body drops.
A raging, desperate roar pierces the air, shuddering through my bones. There are explosions of crackling magic and crumbling ancient stone.
Someone grabs me and forces me up. A sharp blade presses against my jugular.
I blink rapidly.
I squirm and push back against a firm chest behind me. It only presses harder. “You don’t want to do that,” a woman whispers.
I look over my shoulder to someone with a black mask holding me. All I can see are bright green eyes; the rest is covered with black cloth.
“What are you doing?” I whisper.
“Don’t worry, love. We want you alive. So long as he cooperates.” She winks. My stomach sours.
I curl a lip. “You’re one of them? Part of the Akrasia Games council?” I have no idea who this person is, but the more information I have, the better.
“The Cosmic Council, yes. One of ten.”
“Quit playing with your food,” a male voice says from somewhere behind me.
“Think the prince will kill him?” the woman says. She seems entirely at ease, like this is just a job to her.
