Page 32 of A Crown Without Mercy

Lagar lowered his head and took a shallow breath. They had his mate, and he knew full well their threats were not idle.Either I tell them what they want to hear, or I’ll watch them torture her to death.

Riordan nodded to his brothers. They lifted her arms and fastened the iron shackles around her wrist’s. Her wool shirt parted and fell open when Riordan’s blade effortlessly slid through the material.

Kieran shoved her body and a look of defeat crossed Lagar’s face as he watched his mate swinging back and forth, while the tips of her toes drug across the begrimed stones.

“Stop!” Lagar demanded.

“Stop? We have yet to begin,” Nicolai threatened.

“Lagar, do not tell them anything!” she screamed.

Her head snapped to the side from the force of the blow and she felt the warmth of the blood as it ran down her cheek. Kieran then grasped her jaw in his hand and stood face to face with her. “Speak again and I will cut your fucking tongue out.”

Lagar couldn’t stand watching the swirling mixture of blood and tears run down his mate’s face. “Leave her be! I’ll rev-reveal what I know,” he stammered.

“No Lagar,” she wailed.

She could almost taste the steel when Kieran shoved the tip of his dagger into the soft flesh beneath her chin. “Shut. The. Fuck. Up,” he snarled.

Nicolai walked over, placed his hand on Kieran's shoulder, and gently pulled him back. He then dragged his blade across her throat. She tried to stifle her screams when her skin parted and the blood flowed from the gaping wound. “My brother’s words of warning weren’t enough?” Nicolai asked.

“Stop! I will—it’s true,” Lagar shouted.

Nicolai stopped just shy of killing her. He then struck her temple with the butt and knocked her unconscious.

“Speak,” Riordan demanded.

“We don’t,” he paused. “Know who—but she exists,” he mumbled.

“Must I spell it out?Where the fuck is she?” Riordan demanded, enunciating his words.

Lagar looked at his mate and, not having any other choice, he told them all he knew. “She—she crossed Kadric Orfaedo’s fields.”

“Kadric?” Nicolai repeated.

Riordan rubbed his face and stared blankly at Lagar. “Crossed or is being hidden?”

“We don’t think they are hiding. I know no more.” After speaking the words, his head slumped forward.Now death comes for me. At least my mate won’t suffer beneath them,Lagar thought.

Nicolai stood before Lagar and lifted his head. “Soon you will be nothing more than a shadow of yourself.”

“I think we have all we need,” Riordan offered. He then pounded his fist on the door a few times, while Nicolai and Kieran tossed the daggers onto the table.

“Milord,” the guard replied, as he stood aside and held the door open.

“A swift death for both,” Riordan ordered.

“You sa-said you would spare her!” Lagar bellowed.

Riordan turned to face Lagar. “I’ve changed my mind.”

“Milord.” The guards nodded to the brothers as they left and shut the door behind them.

They walked up the winding stairs, listening to Lagar’s bellows echoing behind them, as they silently contemplated Ranan’s involvement.

Riordan glimpsed a torch hanging from the stone wall which was partially askew, so he reached over and straightened it out as they passed.Is there no one here than can pay attention to fucking details?

Nicolai and Kieran side-eyed each other and a hint of a smile crept across their faces.

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