Severn’s suspicious look melted away, replaced by one of cold calculation. “I sent Yex and Jareth since the others mentioned they hadn’t seen you in a few days.”

Thad brushed away a fleck of dust on his shoulder, bored. “As I said, she was ill. I figured you wouldn’t want her dead, since the others—”

“You wouldn’t mind a more public exhibition then, as a show of good faith?” Severn cut Thad off abruptly, and immediately I felt a spike of fear. A public what?

Thad shrugged, unconcerned. I wanted to punch the apathy off of his face. “I don’t know if—”

“Consider it done. Tonight, at dinner.”

Thad reared back, alarmed.

“Is that a problem?” Severn leaned in; his red eyes glowing.

“Of course not,” Thad replied quickly. Too quickly. If I caught the quick bolt of panic that flashed across his face, it was likely Severn had as well.

“Wonderful. I will see you here at sundown, with the others.”

Thad reached out to free my chains, but Severn raised a finger. “Ah, ah. The draken will stay here until then, my guest while I conduct business. I’ll keep her nice and fresh for you.”

I lowered my head, watching the blood run down my body to drip onto the floor. Thad’s lips tightened, but he only nodded tersely, and walked away. He didn’t even look at me.

“Alone again.”

I closed my eyes. Don’t panic. My mind kept repeating the sight of Thad walking away from me.

“I’ve sired many children here, you know. I find it interesting science to learn what traits they can have depending on what witch I take, what position, or how much they scream when I do it.” Severn leaned close into me, his fangs dangerously nearly my jugular vein. I tried to lean away, and he laughed. “Then they break and aren’t fun anymore. So, you see, you’re rather enticing.”

I would have given anything to spit in my face, but the collar was merciless.

“I’ve tasted draken before, you know. Most witches break eventually, but the drakens? They took centuries. One of the benefits of your little curse.”

I wanted to ask how many, who, where, and what had happened to them. I wanted to stab him in his soulless red eyes until he couldn’t look at a single woman again the way he looked at me. But I couldn’t get a single sound out, and it made me cross eyed with frustration. He withdrew from me and sat down on his throne.

Severn was as good as his word. He made me stand on the platforms of my feet, straining against the chains that held me high enough that I couldn’t stand comfortably. He let me hang there covered in blood as he entertained scores of demons, half-breeds, and other creatures I didn’t even have names for. They all came to him to beseech the Overlord, and he acted as the mouthpiece. Or so he claimed. He was all too thrilled to introduce the ‘draken queen’ to all of his guests. I dared them to come closer so I could kick out with the claws on my feet.