Why didn’t I free them when I had the chance? I was so stupid! Thad had even tried to tell me before I had pissed him off enough to make him snap.

No. I couldn’t think like that. Circumstances changed, and now I have to figure out a new plan and count the positives.

Thad kept me fed and free from injuries, so I had no complaints there. Though I was chained to his bed, he rarely was even in his room. He spent most of his time in the company of the shadow demons, learning and experimenting with his new magicks. When he did return, he always reeked of blood and would only snarl at me, dropping off to sleep in the worn chair next to the door and sometimes ignoring me altogether. It was confusing, relieving, and frustrating all at once.

Sometimes he would drag me around the fortress, walking deliberately faster than my shorter legs could handle, so I was forced to stumble and trip after him. Other times, he would closet himself away with Severn but leave me to stand outside whatever room they were in, chained to the wall standing. One time, it was for the entire day. My legs were a mess of trembling, aching muscles by the time he’d thrown me back onto his bed.

As the weeks went by, I began to doubt I was ever going to escape. Thad was content switching sides, and whatever sick game he was playing with me clearly wasn’t at its conclusion. We fell into a routine, as odd and depressing as it was. Sleep, force me to eat, then be paraded around the fortress as his unwilling little toy.

Today, that meant standing outside in the pouring rain, chained to the mountain itself as he inspected a battalion of training shadow demons. They’d walked away from me, leaving me alone so I couldn’t see their soldiers in action, or count their numbers. I shivered in the cold, reminding myself I could sleep all I wanted when he was done.

“Draken.”

I jerked, droplets of water flying off my body as I twisted to face the demon who’d approached me. He was large and breathing heavily with a wound that bled freely from his neck and down his arm. The rain washed away the blood as it fell.

“I heard your race were mighty warriors during the first war. I don’t see it.”

I was tempted to roll my eyes, as if anyone could look threatening while chained and enslaved. My eyes flicked in the direction of the small valley to my left, where I knew Thad was training with the others. The demon noticed the movement and grinned, displaying a row of rotted, black teeth.

“He told me I’m to take you back, so come along nicely. I’ll be taking care of you from now on.”

I flinched, fear flickering into a tiny ember within my chest. That couldn’t be true! I planted my feet, prepared to fight. Thad wouldn’t give me away like that. He wouldn’t! The demon yanked my chain from the rock and pulled me towards him.