Bound by Darkness (Bound By Series)

45. Deception

Chapter 45

Deception

THALIA

Rage.

Pure rage flowed through my body as I watched Kaydn step into the light.

“You traitor!” I screamed at him, at the blank expression on his face.

Rage seeped further into my heart as it channeled and funneled everything into fuel.

Love. Hate. Grief. Happiness.

Everything swirled within as death and darkness fed upon my heart like a feast, devouring every happy and sad moment I’d shared with him. Every story, every moment within twisted like a serrated knife.

“Traitor!” The woman screeched, laughter echoing in the tent as her hands raised in surrender. “Oh grow up, Thalia.”

A snarl rose from my throat. “I am going to kill you both.”

“Oh dear. I’m terrified. Except, you’re in chains with no way out,” she cooed, her voice drifting through me.

“Kaydn, if you’d be a dear and grab my book.”

“Sure,” he said, his eyes avoiding mine as he walked over to the back of the tent. His hands reached down, picking up a leather-bound book as he sat it on the table. It could only be one item.

“Finish breaking the wards. That’s an order while I catch sweetheart here up to speed.”

Kaydn was breaking the wards?

But how?—

Flipping the pages, his voice rang out, ancient and cold. The Language of Old.

The bastard knew how to read it.

“Quit gawking. It isn’t lady-like for someone of your stature,” she said as she stepped around the table, her frame slithering up to mine.

Her gloved hand brushed the hair from my face.

I spat at her, my teeth barring as I stepped back. “Do not touch me. I will tear those gloved hands from you?—”

Intense burning filled my head as I hunched over, a scream leaving my lips as the scorching continued.

She grabbed my hair, yanking me to stare into her masked face as the burning slowly subsided. “Try it again and I’ll light every precious memory you have on fire,” she snapped.

My head still spun from the intense heat. It was different from anything I’d experienced. She tossed me back, my feet barely managing to catch myself as I straightened.

Smoothing her cloak, she cleared her throat. “Now, be a dear and stay silent. We have much to discuss.”

Kaydn’s voice lamented in the room, the incantation nearing its close as his voice rose and fell in lulls.

“You will be coming with me and sweet Kaydn here to the rebel base. I have need of your casting. You will train with me, expend your casting for me, and fight for me.”

“Never,” I spat, my head still slightly dizzy from earlier.

The woman chuckled. “Oh, I’m sure you will. ”

She snapped her fingers, tent flaps flying open as two bodies were shoved into the tent.

Their hands were bound behind their backs as they straightened, gags shoved into their mouths to keep from speaking.

Every fiber of strength, every fiber of courage left my body as Moria and Fin stared at me, beaten and bloody.

Fin’s eye was swollen, and cuts lined his body from head to toe.

Moria’s cheek was bruised, rope burns etched into her arms and legs from where she was bound as her eyes met mine.

“Let them go!” I shouted, my body stepping forward.

The woman walked over, her hands squishing Moria’s cheeks. “This must be Moria based on your reaction.”

“Don’t touch her!” Heat seeped into every pour as my hands tugged at the chains.

The woman laughed as she slapped her, the sound piercing the deepest part of my heart.

“They fought valiantly, but their strength was lacking compared to my army,” she cooed. “And this one,” she said as she walked over to Fin, “apparently fought valiantly for your friend.” Her finger traced lines down his face. “Pity. He’s quite handsome.”

“Stop touching them!” I barked, my eyes switching from hers to Kaydn’s.

He stood there, doing absolutely nothing to help his friend… to help me.

With a final pat against Fin’s cheek, she stepped closer to me.

“For a price. Say you’ll come with me. Say you’ll fight.”

“I can’t. I have a blood oath with Iyanna,” I snapped.

The woman waved her hand. “Not a problem. You have something you bought from a friend of mine. ”

One of the rebels inched forward, pulling a flask from the satchel at their side. Another gripped my chin, shoving it open with sheer strength. It was a bottle. My silver bottle I had bought from the merchant.

Had it been one of her spies planted in the Hideaway?

The rebel tore the seal from the opening in one swift motion before dangling the silver liquid over my lips and tongue.

She spoke in an ancient language that was both exquisite and haunting.

I shoved and jerked back. Hells, attempted to slam my teeth together—but the fates were not on my side as the woman turned the bottle over, the silvery liquid cascading down my open throat and tongue.

The other rebel slammed my jaw shut.

He pinched my nose until my throat burned… until I couldn’t hold out any longer as I swallowed.