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He was so thin, he looked like skin had just been stretched over his small skeleton.

And those eyes! Those empty sunken eyes stared at nothing …

"Why!" I screamed, tears breaking from my eyes. "Why did they do this to him?!"

I spun, ready to rip the answer from the cloaked man, only to find the door opening to reveal a familiar man in a wheelchair. He rolled into the cell, crown atop his horrible head — King Torsten.

Or the puppet who pretended to be King Torsten.

"So, you are the one who can hold the monster." He stared down at the boy, pleased expression curling his lips. "Shewill be very pleased." He nodded to himself. "What is your name, child?"

Jaiel didn't respond, those blue eyes glassy and unfocused.

"Jaiel," A woman said from behind him. "His name is Jaiel."

A chill ran up my spine as Lady Frexin stepped into the room.

The true King Torsten — one of the secret rulers of the Empire since its founding after The Fall.

"Yes, my lady," said the puppet king. "And you are sure you want to give this monster a position in your Empire? He seems … unworthy."

Frexin shrugged. "He must hone his skills if he is to be one of my knives."

"Yes, my lady," the man bowed his crowned head, then they turned to leave.

As the door shut behind them, Jaiel broke into sobs, shoulders shaking.

What? He'd been pretending?

Jaiel bit his lip and cried as silently as he could, hiding from those monsters.

I dropped to my knees and hugged the shape of the child, wishing with all my heart for him to feel it.

"As I've told you," the man in the cloak interrupted. "This is just a —"

"I don't care," I snapped, tears running down my cheeks. "I don't FUCKING care …"

I understood now, though — why Jaiel wore that mask of his.

I saw the truth, and it broke my fucking heart …

Chapter 40

Kaiya

"Kaiya!" Cold water splashed onto my face, and I jolted upright with a splutter — the terrible dream instantly replaced by a pair of wide green eyes staring at me from between the bars in the window next to my bed.

"Gods!" I jerked my blanket up and scooted back in my bed. "What in the seven hells, Liam?!"

"I'm sorry, Kaiya, but you were … crying, and I couldn't stand to watch it anymore."

My heart ached, and I wiped tears from my cheeks as I tried to shake off the nightmare.

"More bad dreams?"

Fuck. I nodded. The more of those dreams I had, the more certain I was that they were something more. But I didn't have it in me to face that and what it might mean for Jaiel.

Not yet.