Page 32 of Prisoner of Steel and Shadow

She swallowed, but her voice betrayed nothing of her thoughts. “Yes, High Lord. Of course.”

As soon as they cleared the palace gates, he tugged her into the courtyard, shifting his hold so that he now collared her throat. His grip was tight enough to bruise, but not to cut off her air as he pushed her up against one of the vine-covered walls.

“I thought we rid you of this rebellious streak of yours years ago.”

She held his gaze without flinching. “Apparently not, my lord.”

He brushed his knuckles over her cheek. “Apparently not, indeed. But I must admit, I do so look forward to taming you.”

Her eyes widened.

“Oh, yes, Shadow. I do mean to tame you. One way or another, you will be my lady. This game you’re playing? It’s done nothing but delay the inevitable. You want to prove that you are the realm’s fiercest blade? Fine. Kill them all, and then, once it is done and you are named my champion, you will cede the title and accept one far grander. And do you know why that is, Shadow, darling?”

“Because I live to serve you,” she bit out, the barest hint of temper leaking into the words.

His hand spasmed around her throat, making her gasp. “Try again.”

She tipped her chin up, still holding his gaze. “Because I am yours.”

“There it is.” He leaned down until his nose grazed hers. “You aremine, Shadow. I found you. I gave you purpose. I. Created. You. You will always belong to me.”

With every affirmation, his eyes bore into hers, cementing the words into her psyche, burying them deep.

“I belong to you,” she whispered.

“Good girl.”

And then he sealed his lips over hers and breathed in every drop of her power, draining her nearly dry. He hadn’t fed so deeply on her since their early days together, but it was time his faithful servant was brought back to heel. She slumped against him, the drain on her essence rendering her unconscious.

He caught her easily, sweeping her into his arms and resuming his walk up the palace steps as if nothing out of place had happened.

A servant rushed forward, concern etched on their face, but Erebos waved them off.

“It is nothing. She’s been working too hard. I’m taking her upstairs so that she may rest.”

He infused the words with compulsion, and the servant gave a relieved smile as they backed away.

Once he reached Shadow’s room, he laid her gently down upon her bed. To anyone else, the way he ran his fingers down her face might have appeared tender. In reality, he was twisting her dreams, giving the nightmares a little more bite. He had a point to make. He intended to ensure she didn’t forget it.

Her soft whimper told him it was working.

If he’d been the sort of man to feel guilt, he might have experienced some now at weakening her so thoroughly a mere day before she was to enter a battle to the death against fifty or so others. But he wasn’t a man. He was a god.

Gods didn’t apologize for anything, least of all for getting what they wanted.

Right now, this god wanted her.

So have her, he would.

CHAPTER11

RONAN

Torches lit the winding path leading through the palace gates, around a greenery-filled courtyard, and into a glittering ballroom. Music and laughter spilled into the night, setting the tone for what the guests would discover inside. Though the sheer number of lavishly attired people pouring through the open French doors was clue enough to that.

Opulence was the word of the evening, though another came to mind.

Spectacle.

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