“I should have known better than to leave you alone.”

My chains whipped around me, but I lifted an eyebrow in challenge. Thad sighed, crossing his arms over his chest as he leaned against the corner.

“Are they dead?” he casually asked.

I shrugged, not caring. “Up to them, really.”

Thad cursed and bounded up the steps after them. I snorted and eyed the open window. I vaguely wondered how much the chains would drag me down if I tried to fly. My hands were shaking too much to manage the tiny key.

“Go ahead. See if you can.”

Severn’s voice dripped with condescending, and I whipped around. The dagger flew from my hand before I had even turned, but he dodged with a laugh. I willed myself to breathe normally, but I barely got my mouth open before his fist met the side of my face. I took the pain as best I could, letting my head follow the force of the blow. I let it carry me to the floor and stayed down.

“Your protector is busy. How unfortunate for you.”

My brow furrowed in indignation. “He’s not my—”

His foot connected with my ribs, and I doubled over. “You think I don’t see through your little act? You have him under your spell, just like you do those drakens. I won’t fall for it. I know what a monster you are. You killed thousands when you destroyed my armada. You’re not a killer, you’re a mass murderer.”

Severn’s words struck a nerve, and I stayed down on the floor.

“Come with me.”

Did he seriously think I would follow him? I went to snort, but my throat closed suddenly. A choked whine escaped me as Severn smirked, and the chains yanked me forward against my will.

“You really think I’d have something made specifically for you and not add my own special touch?” His fingers brushed the jewels studded into the iron band, and I couldn’t even lean away from him. Severn read the panic in my eyes and jerked the ends of my chains.

“Hurry now. We don’t want lover boy stopping the fun before it begins.”

Distress call. Do it now. Voice magicks. Something.

There was nothing. Just a tight, choking pain and my feet stumbling after him. He led me back to his throne room and kicked me to the ground. I tried to dodge his foot but he held down my chains, and I couldn’t move.

Thwap.

I didn’t know my body could make that sound, but I wouldn’t forget it. His body connected to mine so many times, until the pain of each strike became a pulsing, throbbing agony. The grip on the collar relaxed, and I sucked in a greedy gulp of air. Severn withdrew a knife and leered over me. I swallowed, closing my eyes and withdrawing deep into myself. I would become one with the pain. Crullfed never broke me and neither would Severn.

Severn hooked my chains to a notch in the ceiling, leaving my arms dangling above my head. My feet struggled to touch the floor, meaning I had to balance carefully on my tiptoes to take any pressure off my arms. I cursed at the lack of clothing I wore, exposing my skin to whatever torture he had planned. I prayed he wouldn’t find the key hidden in my breast band.