The prince huffed.
“What happened?” Cylea asked.
Jeondar waved a hand. “The queen was in attendance. Let’s just say she got on our nerves.”
It seemed Queen Belasha didn’t talk the same politics as Kalyll.
“Let’s do this then.” Kryn closed the heavy wooden door, then walked to the chains, followed by Kalyll and the others.
Between Kryn, Jeondar, and Silver, they picked up a heavy metal ring that had three chains sprouting from it. Each chain was attached to a huge spike embedded in the rocky ground. The ring had a hinge on one side and loops on the other. Grunting, the three males placed the ring around Kalyll’s waist, then snapped it close, securing it through the loops with a lock the size of my fists.
“You might want to sit,” Kryn suggested.
Kalyll shook his head and planted his feet squarely. “Let’s go, slowly.”
The others let go of the ring, and Kalyll nearly sank to his knees with its weight. Quickly, they attached smaller chains to his wrists and ankles, weighing him down further. Still, Kalyll remained on his feet, though he was visibly trembling with the effort.
Witchlights!How strong was he?
His cobalt eyes met mine and he nodded.
I took the flask with the marsh flower and walked to him.
He glanced at his restrained hands, then licked his lips. “I think I will need your assistance.”
My stomach buzzing with nerves, I pressed the flask to his chiseled lips.
“It will be bitter,” I said as I tipped it.
He dropped the shimmering liquid, never breaking eye contact. His throat worked up and down as he swallowed. When he was done, I pulled the flask away. He closed his eyes, and when they sprang open, they were dark, those dark veins moving under his skin.
I gasped and jumped back as he lunged, teeth bared.
My heart dropped. The marsh flower hadn’t worked.
CHAPTER 22
“Standback,beast,”Arabisordered.
I jumped back as the command reverberated through the space, making the water in the pool ripple. My back smashed into Jeondar just as the chains went taut, holding a wild-looking Kalyll back by mere inches. He sneered at Arabis, ignoring her command and growling in my face. Wine-laced breath tickled my nose. No doubt, the conversation with King Elladan had been carried out over drinks.
“Your trashy little potion didn’t work,witch,” Kalyll spat, his already deep voice a few octaves lower.
Jeondar placed his hands on my waist and took a step back to put some distance between us and the prince. Kalyll took notice of Jeondar’s hands on me and pulled against the chains, his chest rumbling. Surprisingly, the chains no longer seemed to weigh him down as they had just seconds ago. He appeared unbothered by them as if, as soon as his mood changed, his strength had grown exponentially.
“Is that all you’ve got?” he asked me, then laughed cruelly. “You’re worthless.”
I knew it wasn’t Kalyll speaking, but the word still bothered me.
“Fuck!” Kryn cursed. “What now? When he shifts, those chains may not be enough.”
“They won’t be, you idiot,” Kalyll assured him.
Kryn’s green eyes flashed with irritation. He glanced back toward the table where the syringe sat. “What about that?”
“Just try it, and I’ll bite your face off,” Kalyll threatened, looking straight at me. “I…” He shook his head, taking a step back. “There is…” Another shake of his head as he squeezed his eyes shut and seemed to fight against some internal force.
When his eyes opened again, they were clear. His legs trembled, and he collapsed to his knees, chest pumping as he breathed.