A Kingdom of Ruin (Deliciously Dark Fairytales 3)

But I’d be back. Unlike his mother, who hadn’t been able to cheat the grave, I would not let the beyond claim me. If I had to crawl out of this place, freshly whipped and randomly orgasming, I would. I would make it back to him just as soon as I could.

And I’d bring the cavalry. The dragon cavalry.

Click.

The sound snapped me back into the moment.

Was that…a lock clicking over?

I stared in absolute bewilderment as the door to Vemar’s cell slowly swung open.

What in the holy fuck, I thought as my dragon thought, Holy fucking shit, did that just happen?

He stepped out, facing my way. A cunning grin lit his face.

“Hey, Strange Lady…” he said in a singsong voice. “Time to see if you can use that sword, hmm?”

“Dragons handle their own problems,” Mr. Baritone said as another click rang out. His door swung open next. My heart started pattering a little faster. “And we have a problem with you. Now that things are a little more settled, there are some questions that need answering. It’s time you start talking.”

EIGHT

FINLEY

I opened my mouth to ask what possible problem they could have with me when Vemar spoke again.

“You are awfully quiet, Strange Lady.” He walked slowly down the left side of the main chamber, his hand out and fingers grazing the bars of the cells. Occasionally he hit someone’s arms or knuckles. He gave a tiny jerk every time, as did the person being touched.

They couldn’t see in the dark. Their animals were still suppressed. Whatever was happening now, whatever issue they had with me, I had an edge. I also wondered who exactly had the issue. Mr. Baritone had offered to help me that first night. Then again, he seemed like the alpha around here. He might’ve been using the collective we. And Vemar had been chatty with me this whole time, at least compared to the rest of them. He seemed to care about how much the officers were hurting me. What was his part in all of this? What had I done? Or was he just the muscle of the group?

Regardless, whatever was happening wasn’t good. I needed to make a move.

Gritting my teeth, I moved slowly and quietly to the opposite side of my cell. I braced my hands on the ground. Little sparks of pain erupted all over my body, but I ignored them.

Can you temporarily cut off Nyfain from feeling what I do? I asked my dragon as I pushed more weight onto my hands and got my feet under me before pushing to standing. More pain vibrated through me, not pleasant but endurable.

I don’t know about cutting him off, but I can muffle what he feels. The dragon will know I’m doing it, though. He seems to keep a close watch on our connection.

Muffle it, then. It’s fine if he knows. Maybe he’ll realize I don’t want to be interrupted.

Vemar reached the end of the last cell and paused. He tilted his head a little, and his other hand came out, as though he were getting ready to feel his way forward.

Back straight now, I took a few deep breaths, trying to work oxygen into my tired mind and aching body. Pleasure seeped into my blood—Nyfain was clearly on call.

I carefully stepped forward, aiming for little pockets of cleared straw so that I didn’t make any noise. In addition to not being able to see in the dark, Vemar’s hearing wouldn’t be as acute as mine.

He can’t smell Nyfain with his animal suppressed, my dragon thought. Pull out his dragon and let that beast take a nice, big whiff. That’ll slow this escapade a little.

It also might have him changing shape, which would wreak havoc, bring the officers or guards to kill him, and probably get me slapped with nuptials to Jedrek so the demon king can once again suppress you. Remember how we forgot to stipulate that he had to keep the spell off our people even after the marriage?

Nyfain resisted the suppression.

Nyfain shifted to do so. We don’t know how. Stop distracting me. I’m the brains of the shifter pair, remember? You’re the brawn.

I reached the side of my cell and gripped the bars.

Now what, Miss Brains? my dragon asked.

Damn good question. I had no fucking idea.

Vemar’s feet shuffled against the stone as he continued to move forward. Then he hit the rough stone wall to my left and felt along it in the direction of my cell, sightless eyes wide and staring at nothing.

“I know you hear me, Strange Lady,” he said, his voice low and raspy. “Are you nervous?”

No, just fucking curious why you’re coming for me, I thought, swallowing.

Mr. Baritone stood beside his opened door, head tilted to the side and down. Listening. Waiting. No one else had come out of their cells, but everywhere I looked, hands gripped bars or hung through them, everyone listening. Everyone waiting like Mr. Baritone. Clearly they were all in on this.