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But I cannot yield to him. He would kill my brothers.

He also might hurt Fawn.

Once he freed me, Nox taught me well. He showed me how to battle, kill, and destroy. If I were alone here against my adversaries, I would not hesitate to unleash my stag, even knowing where they hold me.

But I’m not alone in this.

Devastation leeches into me like the cold from the stones beneath me.

Inside, my stag bays his frustration. He doesn’t understand why I will not let him out.

“Your quarrel is not with her. Let her go.”

Crael laughs. He was always the cruelest of my brothers, who saw my affliction as a personal slight.

Marigold smirks, leaning up on her toes to kiss his throat as she strokes her fingers down his chest. “Let her go?”

I never liked the doe well. Oh, she is pretty enough. Seven fucked her on occasion. Then again, she had many lovers within the palace, as did Seven. Her vindictive side was exposed after Seven forbade her from entering his rooms, and she paid him back by feeding Fawn lies.

Still, who among us might have anticipated this?

My life has gone full circle. The misery of my past bears down upon me and renders me impotent. I am stuck between two states. I need them to let her go… A horrifying awareness blooms as I understand they will not.

I cannot let them hurt her.

I cannot be the one to hurt her, either.

Marigold’s face twists, making her ugly. “Why would we let the little toy go?” she says. “Sweet little omega doe.” She caresses Crael’s chest. “Crael should take her first. And then your older brothers may have a turn. All while you watch.” She laughs. “Pitiful, Eiden, thinking you have some say in this. Time to wipe your filth from the earth. But first some fun—some payback for what you did.”

Her cruelty toward me reignites old wounds. My sense of worthlessness swamps me.Pitiful Eiden.Leech. Weak. Should have been drowned at birth. Unworthy.

Seven and Nox delivered me from hell once and showed me light and love, but today, I’m cast back into darkness again.

Only my sweet niece is no longer with me, sneaking me a crust of bread and offering kind words. No, today with me is Fawn.

“Let her go. You can do anything with me. I don’t care.”

“Eiden, no,” Fawn whispers. “I will not leave you with them.”

My brave, sweet Fawn, using her love like a shield in this terrible place.

I could not love her more.

I would die for her, willingly, if my life might save her.

Only how?

Tears begin to spill down my cheeks.

Worthless cur.

You are no son of mine.

“Pathetic,” Onis sneers.

I cling to a fantasy in which Seven, Nox, and Jude storm this cold, stone cell, liberating us and taking Fawn to safety.

How much time has passed?