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But that was all he got out before the air was forcefully pulled from his lungs.

Then the world went dark.

44

AXEL

The smell of Fae blood is what pulled him into consciousness, the bloodlust gnawing at him.

He blinked, finding himself on the floor of a stone chamber still in just his underwear. He shivered against the cold, sucking in a sharp breath as the memory of what had happened came flooding back. Trying to sit up, he found his hands bound behind him, not in chains but thick vines.

Fuck.

That was all he could think as he scanned the room, looking for Eviana. He found her standing nearby, turquoise eyes focused on him. Which could only mean?—

“Finally awake,” his father drawled.

Axel twisted as much as he could, the stone scraping against his bare skin. His father sat in a chair, looking bored and impatient.

“I figured the Fae blood would do it. Thank you for that, Eviana,” his father added.

Axel glanced back at the Fae, finding her sleeve pulled up and blood dripping to the floor. Not sure how he’d missed that the first time.

Axel knew where he was. His father had a room in the basement of Arius House. Several rooms, actually, that held all manner of things, but this room? Axel was well acquainted with this room. His body was already starting to quake as he began to mentally prepare himself, his shadows churning and preparing to defend him.

Not that it would do any good.

He twisted, getting his legs underneath himself so he could at least push up onto his knees. The ring was gone. He couldn’t feel the cool metal on his flesh. After all, he couldn’t be wearing it if his father needed to drain his power.

His father stood once Axel had managed to get propped up on his knees, and he tipped his head back as the Arius Lord came to a stop inches from him. His father’s power appeared, a whip of thick shadows that wrapped around his throat, yanking him forward but also keeping him upright.

“I assume you know why you are here,” his father said, and it wasn’t a question.

Axel said nothing. He only continued to hold his father’s stare.

“Tell me why Julius and Mansel are upset right now,” his father went on, so much darkness bleeding into his eyes, they appeared black.

“I suppose you should ask them,” Axel answered. He’d learned a long time ago not to give up information if his father hadn’t confirmed the knowledge yet.

The cold smile that appeared had Axel on full alert. His father had expected that answer, had planned for this. Just like he’d planned for that Ford fucker to incapacitate him. He had no doubt the Fae had delivered him to his father, who had then shadow-walked them here.

“What an excellent idea,” the Arius Lord said, releasing Axel from the grasp of his magic before he casually made his way tothe door on the far side of the room. A moment later, Julius and Mansel themselves came through, and it took all of him to control the panic. His heart was beating so fast he could hear the blood pounding in his ears.

Julius was the taller of the two advisors. Blonde hair that fell to his shoulders was tied back. Tall and thin, his pale blue eyes landed on Axel with interest. He was a Reselda Legacy, but while he was descended from the goddess of healing, he used his magic to do the exact opposite. His power could keep a wound from healing. Mansel, on the other hand, was more solid. He didn’t have a warrior’s build, but there were muscles beneath that three-piece suit. His auburn hair was cropped short, and mossy green eyes slid around the room, landing on Eviana before sliding back to him. He was a distant cousin of Axel’s mother and was a Nith Legacy. He preferred to use the creativity gifted from his bloodline to come up with new and unconventional ways of inflicting pain.

His father made his way back to the chair he’d been sitting in, relaxing into it. His legs fell wide as he rested his temple on his fist. “Go ahead, Son. Ask them yourself.”

Glaring at his father, he kept his mouth shut.

Until thorns burst from the vines binding his hands.

“Fuck,” Axel hissed, feeling his blood stream down his arms. There had to be thorns on every surface of the things.

Of course, those wounds went deeper and were ripped wider by Julius. The male had his hands in pockets, and he rocked back on his heels, the sadistic curl of lips telling Axel they were just getting started here.

“My father informed me you are upset,” Axel gritted out, his power already fighting against Julius’s magic, trying to keep him from doing more damage.

Already draining his reserves.