Page 120 of Wrath of the Fae

‘You’ll fail. And I will piss on your corpse.’

‘I’m going to kill El. And then I‘m going to make Reid and Cyrus watch as I claim you again. I’ll have you bent over your throne, naked and trembling before this Kingdom. And they will watch what happens to a whore who tries to lead men-’

‘I’m glad you’re not dead,’ I tell him with all the hatred this body and soul has. ‘Now I get to draw out your death for decades.’

From his pocket, he pulls out something that looks like chainmail.

It’s a hood made of iron links.

‘We’ll see, my love. We’ll see. But first, you have some questions I need answered. I have missed playing with you.’

He laughs. And I scream as he puts the hood over my head.

twenty-three

Naked,Ihangfromthe ceiling by my wrists. The tips of my toes barely touch the floor, and the iron chains burn my skin.

Still disguised as the King, Jonah lays out various instruments on a table. Knives. Saws. Water with iron powder. Razors. A hammer. He lays them out one by one, watching me as he does.

I jump as I hear El scream furious threats to kill whoever she is with in a cell further away. Through her pain and fear, her determined anger shines through. More screaming. Blood-curdling and agonising.

‘I will cut you into pieces and eat you!’ she screams. ‘I will tear you limb from limb and make you choke on your bile! You will regret nothing more than daring to touch me.’

Jonah laughs as he finishes organising the table and saunters towards me.

‘She’s a feisty little thing, your friend.’

‘You have no idea,’ I snarl back.

He spins me around, his fingertips running over my stomach and back as I turn. Every bit of movement makes the searing pain ten times worse, and I grunt in reaction to it.

‘How did you get into the First Kingdom?’ he asks, stopping so I face him.

I refuse to reply.

‘Did you come alone?’

Silence.

‘How did you escape the portal? Your body was destroyed. After Daddy dearest carved it up, of course.’ He glances behind me. ‘Do you still have your wings?’

Not. A. Word.

‘I’m glad you are staying silent. Means we get to play.’ His fingers tap my side. ‘I carved my name into you right here. I think I will put it back. How would you like me to do it? There are no Dark Fae here, I’m afraid. So I will need to do it every single day to make it stay.’

‘If it means you stop talking, crack on.’

I scream as his stolen fire erupts. It burns blue and fierce on his fingertip as he traces his name on my flesh.

‘How did you get into the First Kingdom?’ he asks calmly. ‘Are there more of you lurking about?’ he keeps writing. ‘How did you escape the portal?’

He stops and admires his handiwork before lifting his smiling face to mine. I watch him through the hood of chainmail.

‘I am going to kill you,’ I promise.

El starts yelling again. Telling me to give the bastards nothing. To stay strong.

I laugh at Jonah.

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