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Vex removed a vial from his pocket, setting it down on the table. “The truth,” he said. “I have a feeling that you have a secret King Claude will pay a lot of money for. For instance, why did the hound wake up when you approached?”

Magda recognized the truth serum. She knew that one gulp of it would reveal all of her secrets, jeopardizing not only her own life but Dagmara’s. If Vex asked just one wrong question, Magda would be dead in an instant.

“The hound was already awake,” Magda protested.

“No. It’s been asleep since I smuggled it here months ago. It doesn’t even eat or drink. One mysterious girl enters my basement, and suddenly it awakens? I’m sure this is one of the many secrets you hold, Dagmara.”

“I swear I don’t know anything—”

“Hold her,” said Vex. He began unscrewing the bottle.

“No! Don’t do this!” screamed Magda.

“Let her go!” yelled Ravi.

The third henchman pinned down the corner of the net before approaching Magda. Each one of them grabbed Magda’s arms, yanking her out of her chair, and pulling her up onto the table. They slammed Magda down onto her back, one man on either side, and she banged her head against the wood, causing it to spin in confusion.

“You’ll pay for this, Vex!” shouted Ravi.

Vex let out a laugh. “Ooooo I’m so scared…” he said sarcastically. “Don’t worry, I have no use for you, Ravi. You can go back to playing your violin.”

“If you let one drop of that touch her, I’ll kill you.”

Vex chuckled. “Don’t waste my time with empty threats.”

They held her down while Vex stood above her. Then Vex’s hand caressed Magda’s throat. He squeezed, tilting her chin back, and forcing her mouth open with his opposite hand. He shoved his fingers into her mouth, prying it open, while he attempted to pour the liquid down her throat.

Magda tried to fight back, but Vex’s voice drowned out Ravi’s, disorienting her even more. “You work in the Azuremi court, don’t you Dagmara?” taunted Vex. “Claude has been quite interested in Azurem. Let’s see what you can tell us now.”

Magda dug deep, hoping that somewhere she could channel any magic. She was a guardian, after all. She screamed as every fiber of her being reached for any source of power, but she only created a splintering headache pulling her in all directions.

“Vex, I swear, if she suffers—”

An acidic taste lit her mouth on fire, and the potion ignited inside her, flowing through her nerves all the way to her fingertips.

Vex released the grasp on her neck. He stepped back and said, “Now, tell me—”

Magda kicked her foot up, smacking Vex in the chin with the heel of her boot. He staggered backward, and the man holding Ravi mistakenly went to reach for Vex. In an instant, Ravi was on his feet and had grabbed the chair. He swung it forcefully, and the wood fractured as it smashed into the henchmen’s head, drawing blood before he collapsed.

The man on Magda’s right released her and went after Ravi, giving Magda her arm back. She reached for a wine bottle on the table, smashing it against the man on her left. He staggered backward, holding his face as glass and a dark-red liquid splattered in all directions.

Magda rolled off the table and smashed onto the stone, taking in her surroundings. Ravi was going after Vex, but there were two more henchmen left. One grabbed Ravi by the arm and yanked him toward the barrels, before giving him a shove. Ravi stumbled backward, slamming against the wood. But the man didn’t give Ravi an ounce of rest. He yanked on Ravi’s shirt, pulling him close, before punching him across the face. The other one approached, grinning, and gave Ravi another punch. One time. Two times.

Magda scampered across the floor, reaching the net and throwing it off the dogs. “Go help Ravi!” she yelled.

She breathed a sigh of relief as the dogs went after the henchman, snapping at their legs and feet as they let out horrifying screams.

For a second Magda thought it was all over, but someone grabbed onto Magda’s leg, dragging her back towards the table, and flipping her over onto her back.

Magda screamed but Vex was too quick. He slammed her head down into the stone, putting his arm up to her throat. Instantly, he was above her, straddling her body with his legs as he kept her pinned down.

“Now, where were we?” he asked Magda. He pressed his arm deep into Magda’s throat, making her vision spin. His other hand stroked her hair before caressing around the side of her cheek. “Right. I think I was about to ask you some serious questions.”

The fiery feeling ignited in Magda’s entire body, and she was certain that the truth serum had not worn off. She knew she had to fight it as long as possible.

“Now, tell me who you are—”

Suddenly Vex was yanked back. He was ripped off Magda’s body and pulled to his feet. Ravi grabbed Vex by the throat and slammed him into the table, before driving a broken glass bottle into Vex’s stomach.