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Who the hells thinks they can touch her? Her not telling me only adds kindling to the spark, completely igniting me in my rage. I had to bite the inside of my cheek, so I didn’t say anything rash before walking away. Seeing the mark on her swollen cheek instantly did something to me. This stupid organ in my chest feels something I am unfamiliar with along with a feeling I know too well: rage.

I march toward Kylo, who’s already staring at me, his face twisted in shock and apprehension. Each stomp over to him thuds against the ground with a fury I have never experienced before. My fists clench at my sides, ready to command my shadow magic. James immediately halts whatever he’s doing, his gaze locked on my shadows and the anger emanating from me. He hurries over, his face etched with concern.

“Luke, what is going on? What happened?” James asks, as he falls into step beside me.

Within a few long strides we make it to Kylo. “Woah, Luke. What is so dire we have the shadows out and ready to go full-on Dark Prince?”

“I want every single guard who might’ve encountered Reign since first light gathered in the courtyard. Now! Especially Vanna’s personal guards.” Kylo doesn’t hesitate. He jogs to the palace without question.

“What happened?” James’s face now has that fatherly concerned look plastered on it.

I send shadows toward Reign. They snake around her wrists and drag her to me. She is trying to twist them free, but it is no use. She walks over to us with a loud exaggerated huff. Elm trails close behind her.

“Are these necessary?” She holds up her wrist with my shadowy grip still around it.

“Very.” I retract them from her, but they continue swirling menacingly around us.

Within minutes, guards stream into the training yard—half of them Vanna’s, the other half mine. I know it has to be one of her guards. My guards wouldn’t dare do this. She has somehow twisted the guards that I have trained for her into sick, conniving fucks, that obey her every whim no matter how dark and depraved it is. “Line up in two rows, one on each side of me,” I order.

They do as they are told. They scramble into place. There must be at least eighty of them, if not more.

I clasp my hands behind me, stand up straight, and start assessing the guards while walking down the center between both rows of them. “Apparently, I have not trained you properly. It would appear one of you likes to beat on the contestants. I would like to know who that is.” My voice is as cold as the killing steel on my side.

The guards exchange uneasy glances. I continue to walk slowly down the line, pouring more shadows out. “Apparently you need a lesson on not touching what is mine. Fess up. It will be easier for everyone if you do,” I continue, my tone dripping with malice.

I turn toward Reign. “Well, Prisoner… is the guard that did that to your face here?” I gesture to the mark on her face, barely able to contain the searing anger rolling off of me. “Who was it?”

James starts to interject. “Prince Lukene, maybe you shou—” with a warning glare, I put a hand out to silence him.

“Reign?” I press, my voice tight with impatience.

“Prince Lukene, this is ridiculous. You do not have to do this!” Reign pleads, her voice strained.

My irritation flares hotter, my pulse pounding angrily in my ears. “Who was it, Reign? I won’t ask again.”

She stands there and just looks at me with those beautiful lavender eyes widened in disbelief. She will learn to listen to me. This will be a lesson for everyone. I hear her whisper to Elm, asking him if he really thinks I would hurt a guard over this.

“Oh Reckless…” I chuckle sinisterly. “You have no idea what I will do when my things are messed with—whenyouare messed with.”

I immediately send four shadows out, two on either side of me and spear four different guards in their chests, ripping out their hearts, killing them instantly. The sound of their bodies dropping to the ground thuds loudly, followed by the tinier thuds of their still beating hearts. The force of ripping their hearts out sends blood splattering everywhere.

“I askedwho, Reign?” I repeat, my eyes never leaving hers.

“I…” Her mouth falls open, and I notice her fingers trembling slightly. She’s still not answering fast enough for me, so I send out three shadows on either side of me, ripping out the hearts of six guards this time. Now their thuds fill the space around us. I keep their hearts suspended in my shadowy grasp. They are still beating but slowly coming to a stop, pumping what little life remains in them into the ground.

“Stop! Stop! You don’t have to do this!” She has a look of pure panic written all over her face.

“Who Reign? Last chance before I kill every single one of my guards.” I drop the six hearts and ready more shadows, poised to strike. She still doesn’t answer fast enough to sate my burning rage.

My shadows wrap tightly around the heads of ten guards. Before she can even answer, the shadows squeeze them. Their eyes bulge before popping out, just seconds before their skulls implode—sending blood, bone fragments, and brain matter all around us.

“Twenty down now, Reign. I will kill every single one of my fucking men—who was it!” My tendrils dart toward the remaining guards.

“Stop! Please! There—” Her trembling finger points to a corpse on the ground. I stride over and see that it is one of Vanna’s guards. Filthy bastard. “Which hand?” I made sure all the guards I killed today were Vanna’s personal guards. I don’t trust the vermin, and I knew it was one of them. They need to fear me enough to never even think of touching her. Hells, I don’t even want them looking in her direction.

“Wha… What?” Reign stammers, gasping for breath, her chest heaving rapidly.

“Which hand did he hurt you with?” Her eyes widen. “Don’t keep me waiting, Reign. Who knows what I will do.” I have one of my shadows caress her cheek, smearing blood down her face.