He had watched that initial game closely, waiting for some sign from Daemon that it was time to attack. The spelled chains couldn’t have held him by themselves, and, unlike Saetan, the pain from the Ring of Obedience didn’t debilitate him for long—at least, it didn’t drain him the way it seemed to drain the High Lord. No, what had made him hold back and wait was the threat to Marian and Daemonar. There was always a guard inside the far hut that was being used as one of the prisons, and that guard had orders to kill his wife and son if he broke free. So he had waited, especially after Saetan had surrendered to those two bitches, because he had realized that Saetan had known there wouldn’t be an exchange, had walked in expecting to become a prisoner, and had had a reason for doing it.

So when he saw Daemon, he figured the game was about to begin. But now, seeing that bored, sleepy, terrifying look…He’d danced with the Sadist enough times in the past to know that look meant they were all in serious trouble.

“Hello, Bastard,” he said carefully.

Daemon stepped closer. His fingertips drifted up Lucivar’s arm, over the shoulder, traced the collarbone.

“What’s the game?” Lucivar asked quietly. Then he shivered as Daemon’s fingers drifted up his neck, along his jaw.

“It’s simple enough,” Daemon crooned, brushing a finger over Lucivar’s lower lip. “You’re going to die, and I’m going to rule.” He met Lucivar’s eyes and smiled. “Do you know what it’s like in the Twisted Kingdom, Prick? Do you have any idea? I spent eight years in that torment because of you.”

“You forgave the debt,” Lucivar snarled softly. “I gave you the chance to settle it, and you chose to forgive it.”

Daemon’s hand gently settled on Lucivar’s neck. He leaned forward until his lips almost brushed Lucivar’s. “Did you really think I would forgive you?”

From the far hut, they both heard a child’s outraged howl.

Daemon stepped back. Smiled. Slipped his hands into his trouser pockets. “You’re going to pay for those years, Prick,” Daemon said softly. “You’re going to pay dearly.”

Lucivar’s heart pounded in his throat as Daemon glided toward the hut that held Marian and Daemonar. “Bastard? Bastard, wait. I’m the one who owes the debt. You can’t…Daemon? Daemon!”

Daemon walked into the hut. A moment later, the guard hurried out.

“DAEMON!”

A few minutes after that, Lucivar heard his son scream.

Dorothea’s hands closed into fists. “I’m telling you, it’s a trick of some kind. I know Sadi.”

“Do you?” Hekatah snapped.

I think it’s more accurate to say I’m the man my father might have been if he’d had the balls for it.