“What a sad sight. Surely, this pathetic thing could not be the core of the great and powerful Abaddon.”

I eye the shimmering blue crown adorning his head, a silent chuckle rising in my chest. What a sad sight, indeed. A lowly soldier wearing the crown of the king. We’re much too old to play pretend, Slaine.

Though he can’t hear my thoughts, the sight of my smirk sends Slaine into a rage. The blow that lands against my cheekbone has stars sparking behind my eyes, and I blink rapidly, holding desperately to consciousness as blood pours from the fresh split on my face.

A cold laugh makes its way through the violent ringing in my ears, and a moment later, Slaine’s claws are embedded in my chest, lacing every one of my senses with agony. My mouth fills with the taste of copper as Slaine rakes his claws downward, tearing through skin and muscle and bone as if my organs were made of tissue paper.

“Not smiling now, are you?”

I just stare at him, not reacting to the pain or the taunt. Instead, I empty my mind, focusing on the ever-present tug of the mate bond. It calms me and fills me with a sense of need—a sense of purpose—and I hold on to it like the lifeline it is, knowing it’s the only thing that will get me through this.

Failing to get a rise out of me, Slaine frowns, clearly upset that I won’t play his twisted game. With a scoff, he rips his claws from my chest, lowering his hand dejectedly to his side as my blood drips from his fingertips.

Never taking his eyes off me, Slaine calls out, and the door creaks open to reveal the pale gray face of Rai, one of his soldiers tasked with leading me to this room and my cell.

“Yes, Lord? What can I do for you?”

“Take this animal back to his cage,” Slaine orders. “I’m done with him for now.”

With one last rage-filled glare, Slaine turns on his heel and stalks from the torture chamber, brushing past Rai without so much as a glance. Once Slaine is gone, Rai lets out a sigh, his shoulders slumping in relief.

“Gods. That guy gives me the creeps…” Rai cuts a gaze toward me, a sheepish smile replacing his frown. “It’s a good thing you can’t talk. If Slaine heard me…” He shakes his head. “Never mind. I don’t want to think about it.”