Page 105 of Wrath of the Fae

‘Thirteen captured,’ Reid tells him over the increasingly silent hall. ‘Killed twenty or so. The rest fled into the forests.’ He drops the three heads. ‘The Lord’s three sons as requested.’ Then he drops the snake's head at his feet. ‘Another one. The forests are filled with monsters like that. If we don’t do something soon, we won’t have any prisoners left alive to take.

‘The Thirteen you’ve captured?’ The King asks, sneering at the bloody head. ‘Are they-’

‘As Cyrus described. Powerful. I have triggered them. Their powers are yours to do with as you see fit.’ Reid gives him a slight bow, grabs a goblet of wine from a tray held by a human girl and downs it in three large gulps before slamming it back down and striding from the room.

As he reaches the threshold, the King calls out.

‘Elias!’

The word echoes around the silence. Reid turns.

‘The Lady Rhea was discovered walking in the orchard again this morning.’ The King gestures to me in the corner. Reid doesn’t look. ‘You will need to deal with her disobedience.’

‘Tell Cyrus. He is the one unable to control the girl,’ Reid replies coldly before turning away.

‘I wantyouto.’ The King stands taller as Reid slowly turns once more. ‘I order you to. Son.’

The King snaps his fingers, and I’m dragged from Cyrus’s lap and pulled between the two men.

Still, Reid will not look at me.

‘How many times has she snuck from her room this month?’ The King asks the soldier gripping my arm.

‘Twelve,’ he replies.

‘Twelve. Very well.’ The King holds out his hand. The flames from several surrounding torches swarm and gather in his palm. ‘Twelve seconds. Hold her arm over the flames for twelve seconds, Elias.’

My eyes widen as I look at the fire he holds.

‘You do it now. Or I shall have Cyrus prove to us all right here and now that he does, in fact, still know how to fuck. I will have her held down by my men, and we shall all watch as he fucks her, and if he fails to comply, I will have her fucked by every other man standing here.’

Truth. I sense no lie.

Cyrus is on his feet. Soldiers hold him back.

‘I will take the flames!’ Cyrus calls over. ‘It’s my fault.’

But The King continues to watch Reid.

‘Twelve seconds, Son.’

Reid storms towards us both before snatching my arm and pulling it hard over the flames.

I scream as the heat meets my skin and try to pull away.

‘One,’ the King says calmly, and painfully slowly. ‘Two… Three…’

The two men stare at each other as I burn. My dress melts, and my flesh becomes red. Then black. He takes his time with each number, smirking and watching Reid for any reaction.

He gives him nothing except cold disinterest.

One scream is all I allow myself. I grit my teeth and hold in the pain. But not just the pain, the rage.

Reid’s hand holds me so hard I feel myself bruising. But I’m not struggling to get away.

My silence and Reid’s unwavering stare has The King frustrated.

I know because the flames get hotter, and his smirk is replaced with an annoyed sneer.

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