I chased such ridiculous thoughts away. I hadn’t bedded Thad in a primal rage, eager to prove my own dominance.

You liked it though. In fact, that’s what you like most about Benedict, isn’t it?

A loud thump interrupted my thoughts, and I chanced a glance over at Thad.

“Everything okay?” I lowered my hands and scooted closer. I swore as his body twitched and writhed on the ground, his face screwed up in concentration. I disregarded all my vows to let him rot and crawled forward slightly.

“What’s wrong?”

I cautiously crossed the space between us and laid a hand on his shoulder. He went utterly still. My heart caught in my throat. I bent close to listen to his chest, praying he was still breathing. His hand reached out and grabbed my neck, pulling me down against him. I snarled and twisted, and he let go when I bit down on his wrist. I only just managed to keep myself from pouring venom in with the bite, spitting his blood out onto the floor. I withdrew back to my corner as his tremors became more frenzied and violent. Now I wasn’t afraid only for him but also for myself. I threw my body against the iron bars, squinting out into the darkness for any signs of life.

“Is anyone there?”

I gritted my teeth, debating if I should use my voice magicks to summon someone. I screeched as loud as I could, the sound reverberating throughout the entire dungeon. Footsteps pounded towards the cell, and I shifted back to my human form just as the door was wrenched open and swords were aimed at my face. Thad screamed at them; the kind of scream that made your hair stand on end and your soul temporarily leave your body. I mutely pointed to Thad, and they lowered their weapons in alarm.

“Draken trash,” the demon hissed, his misshapen head giving him the appearance that someone had tried to dent it from the outside in and nearly succeeded.

“I don’t think the Overlord would appreciate the Cantradian heir dying on your watch,” I spat out, acting as unconcerned as I could manage with so many weapons pointed at me.

The demon’s misshapen eyes narrowed to slits, but he gestured to three smaller demon imps who loped forward, picking Thad up under his armpits and dragging him out of the cell. Thad’s blood left an ugly smear along the dirt and stone. I swallowed heavily, hoping I’d made the right decision. I was afraid of him, but that didn’t mean I wanted him to die. My plan was to get captured for information, not to get the heir of Cantrada assassinated. How would we rally the human slaves without him?

The demons dragged him down the corridor, pulling him around the corner and out of my sightline. At the last possible moment, his eyes flicked open. His gaze met mine with fevered need, and then he was gone. His screams echoed around the corridor as they dragged him away. My cell door slammed shut, and I was safe but alone.