“Take out your wings.”

No fucking chance. I settled my gaze on a section of wall behind him and kept it there. If he was going to beat me, it was better to enrage him now and get it over it. He couldn’t take his time or be creative if I pissed him off enough.

Smack.

I barely felt his hand smack against my lip, despite it splitting open and bleeding down my chin. I wasn’t a novice to pain. He’d have to do better than spill a little bit of blood.

“Unsheathe your wings.”

I ignored him, and he pressed his knife against my neck. He trailed the sharp edge down my chest and bare stomach, pressing the blade in just enough to leave red lines.

“I will use this.” I believed him wholeheartedly. I’d rather he slice me up like a slab of meat than come anywhere near my wings. He pressed the blade harder into my abdomen, and I felt a trickle of blood slide down to the tops of my thighs. I relaxed into the fiery sting. Severn hissed in frustration and withdrew.

I couldn’t help the gasp of pain that escaped when he stabbed me violently through my shoulder, but I quickly went silent, keeping my muscles relaxed as white-hot fire pulsated through my veins. He couldn’t hurt me; I was pain. I focused on the dark blood visibly flowing through his transparent skin and wondered who he’d taken it from. Severn twisted the knife embedded in my muscles, and a strangled sound forced itself through my lips. The collar on my neck tightened, and I didn’t fight it. The only thing I feared was passing out. Who knows what he might do then?

“Lord Severn.”

The collar loosened, and the knife stopped turning. My windpipes gave an involuntary sound of relief as they could breathe again. Thad entered casually, not even looking at me. Asshole.

“I’m busy, doing your job,” Severn drawled, his eyes raking over Thad for some kind of response. Thad’s gaze deliberately flicked over to me, then just as quickly dismissed me. I could have growled in anger, covered in blood and throbbing in pain. Severn jerked his knife free of my shoulder, and I bit back a scream. Wiping the blade casually on his tunic, he turned to Thad.

“Give me one reason I shouldn’t take her now myself.”

Thad glanced at me again, and I could have sworn a flicker of regret flashed through his eyes. “I haven’t had her yet. She’s been ill.”

I jerked my head up. Severn’s eyes narrowed, his head tilting to the side.

“Ill?” he mocked.

Thad’s face hardened. “I had no desire to catch whatever plague she had. Sweats, chills, constant shaking. I could barely sleep through the racket, let alone accomplish the deed.”

He gave me a look of such disgust I physically flinched away from him. “She appears quite recovered.”

Thad nodded. “As of today. I spent some time with her mates underground in Cantrada and learned enough to keep her from dying.”