Page 139 of Devour
“No,” she whispers.
“I remember you too.”
She thrashes in Ivar’s arms. She screams, her rage taking on a life its own.
Blythe is studying me, reading me. I remain calm, letting the darkness swirl around in my body.
He is freer than he has ever been. He stretches his muscles, carefully inspecting his new range.
I feel it, the moment he flares to life inside my mind. I know she’s seen it too when Blythe’s eyes flare. She licks her lips subtly.
She doesn’t notice how much Ivar struggles to keep Lina contained. Blythe hears the hate in her voice, though. She believes me.
“Ivar and I both saw it,” I say slowly. “When we found her in the forest. Something different in those eyes. Something profound. Ivar wanted to fuck it out of her. I wanted to explore it, nurture it. I wanted to see if it would bloom. And I remembered her from that day years ago. She has the spark,” I purr. Knowing that is the hook.
Blythe gasps.
“Despite your attempts at convincing her otherwise, we both know you cannot make her Nihilian against her will. We need a way to control her, or she is worthless. I knew we needed a form of control, but I had time because she didn’t yet know her own power. She didn’t know of her own potential. I tried to convince her to love me. It almost worked, but then she learned of the boy. Some worthless village boy, who took her innocence before we took his life. Now, apparently, she hates me. But no matter because I learned of a new way.”
I push the girl to the ground at my feet. A tiny thing, the witch. I’m surprised she’s been able to survive out there this long. Does she even eat?
Lina is motionless again, in Ivar’s arms. Except, she’s trembling. She doesn’t understand what’s happening, but she’s wise enough to keep her mouth shut until she does.
“Why have you brought me a miniature witch?” Blythe asks, feigning annoyance. Her eyes betray her anticipation. “She was meant to feed the drakai, nothing more.”
“She has a much bigger purpose now. She isherweakness.” I nod to Lina. “She’ll do anything we ask of her if it means protecting the girl.”
Blythe’s eyebrows rise. “So, you were both right.” She looks to Ivar. “He did know of her potential.”
“He was right,” I say calmly. “But as usual, he underestimated me.”
Her lips spread wide, exposing two sharp fangs. “This is going to be fun.”
62
Lina
How can I possibly feel more pain? How much more agony is possible before I implode? Before the world simply ceases to exist. I shake my head, trying to keep the darkness from curling deeper and taking everything I am.
Astella is here. Astella is here, and we’re both going to die.
Or worse.
I can’t tell what they plan to do with us.
Haze was speaking the truth, when he told me there is no justice here. Nothing right. Nothing good.
“Lina,” her small voice calls. No one else seems to notice or care that their prisoners are speaking to each other. We are nothing to these powerful beings. We are tools to be used and discarded.
Anger simmers in my blood, but the pain cools it.
I find Astella’s eyes as she sits on her knees just feet away.
“You found me,” I say with a bitter laugh.
She smiles, small and sad. Her body is covered in mud. Her limbs thinner than I remember. I would do anything to hold her, protect her, care for her.
My Dread is right.
