Page 5 of A Bond in Blood (Blood Bound Duet #1)

Chapter 5

“ G et up,” a rough voice growled over me, moments before freezing water was dumped on my body.

I shrieked in shock, pulling myself upward. My eyes scanned the cell, finding Olen in his beastly form. He stood on all fours, glaring at me with a small Unseelie creature beside him. A creature who held the bucket I assumed the water had come from.

At least I hoped it had been water.

“I said get up,” Olen growled again.

I glared back at him. “No.”

“Now.”

“No. If I’m going to be his prisoner then I will spend my days in the cell he’s assigned me to,” I replied.

Olen’s laugh bounced off the gray stone walls, chilling my blood. “The king has made you my duty while he runs this court. I have things to do and you’re coming with me.”

“Why are you in your beast form?” I asked, trying to distract him.

The creature beside Olen gulped loudly. Olen’s head snapped down at the little being. “You are excused. Run to the king. See if he has any tasks for you.”

The creature, keeping its eyes on me, nodded before rushing out the open cell.

“Are we going to do this the fun way or the easy way?” Olen asked again.

I watched while he spoke, realizing his lips weren’t moving. Instead, the sound of his voice vibrated from his chest.

“The fun way?” I asked.

That was a stupid question .

I screamed, flailing my arms when his elongated snout gripped the hem of my now-filthy nightgown, dragging me across the cell. Right through the rot and slime that layered over the disgusting surface.

I choked down my gag, yelling curses as he dragged me through the long corridor. I was amazed my gown wasn’t ripped, but irritated as it pulled down the further he dragged, almost exposing my breasts to the unsanitary surface.

“Stop it!” I yelled, kicking my legs.

To my shock, one foot slammed into something warm—his face.

The dragging stopped, giving me enough time to scramble to my feet. I groaned as I stood from the pain still vibrating in my tailbone.

Olen whipped around slowly, his body heaving with the slow breaths he took.

“You kicked me,” he snarled.

“You dragged me through filth!” I countered.

He stalked closer and his menacing paws dragged against the stone. “Do you not wish to be?”

My head shook with annoyance. “What makes you believe anyone would enjoy that?”

“The mortal lands must not be any fun,” he replied.

His creature form twisted away from me. “Well, follow me. You’re not decent enough to go out while I complete my duties.”

“I’m not going back to that room,” I said, crossing my arms.

He twisted to meet my eyes, and a canine peeked through his lips. “Yes you are. It’s where you’re staying, princess. Your trunks are waiting for you.”

My feet planted against the prison surface while I held his stare. I was ready to challenge him. To claim my royal privilege to be treated with even a sliver of respect. The only flaw in my plan was the beast I glared at didn’t seem to care.

No, his eyes were lit with amusement at my determination.

His paws moved, pulling my gaze down then his voice echoed across the space. Somehow quiet but commanding all at the same time.

“Upstairs, princess.”

My body went rigid and reluctantly, I followed, refusing to allow him to drag me again. I picked up my feet, forcing my body to move. The limp was evident in my walk, but I continued forward, holding back my groans of pain.

“Something wrong?” he asked, walking ahead of me.

“You injured me last night,” I replied roughly.

He was silent while he continued guiding the way. Behind him, I was studying the halls. Taking note of the length of the prison and the stairway we now climbed up. My hands were stiff at my sides as my mind made a map of the exit the further he walked.

When we’d reached the top of the stairs with sweat running down my back from the physical strain, Olen finally spoke once more.

“You almost killed my king.” His body twisted as his black eyes met mine. “You’re lucky I wasn’t given permission to end your life for the stupidity.”

I let out an irritated sigh. “I know the fae aren’t well known for logic, preferring to live lives of amusement and frolicking, but do you really not understand why I would try to end his life?”

My hands twitched at my side as my mind reminded me I should also be trying to end the life of the beast before me.

Olen’s body moved and an odd noise rumbled from inside of him. A noise, I quickly realized, must have been a deep laugh.

“The fae do enjoy being carefree as they wish. I understand, princess. It doesn’t mean I agree.”

I narrowed my eyes. “I could petition Oberon. I could write to one of his wives. Mab or perhaps Titania. Titania has always shown me preference when I visit. She’s also well known for sympathizing with helpless women.”

I could barely register my surprise when I was suddenly thrown across the hall. Olen slammed my body against the opposite wall, his snout inches from my face with his canines bared.

“Do not utter those names in this place,” he growled.

His claws dug into my forearms and my lips trembled. I couldn’t form the words to reply.

“Do you understand?” his deep voice vibrated from his throat.

Slowly, I nodded my head while a tear ran down my cheek. Not able to process my fear, disgust quickly replaced it when a long black tongue licked my cheek.

“You’re an animal!” I yelled, staring into his black eyes.

“Of course I am,” he replied.

His claws released my arm, leaving a trail of blood in their wake. “Go,” he demanded, hitting my legs with his snout.

I held my wound, forcing my tears to dry while I followed him down the hall. Back to the bedroom. Unsure of what a day with the king’s right hand would entail.

I bit back the bile in my throat when Olen’s jaw wrapped around the creature, tearing its head from its shoulder.

Black blood covered the grass we stood upon, and my stomach weakened.

Olen had forced me to dress quickly. He nearly shoved me down the stairs the moment I’d stepped out from the dressing screen, telling me of his duties and his responsibility to enact on behalf of the king.

He hadn’t taken the time to explain that meant ripping heads from shoulders.

From what I could gather, the still twitching creature before me had made a deal with Ulrich. But they had failed to uphold their end of the bargain. So, as Olen had explained, there were two choices. One—submit fealty to the king and do his bidding for the rest of their days. Or two—die.

This creature chose death.

Shocking me.

Olen had repeated the options twice, his voice booming across the small town we’d traveled to. The spectators in the courtyard had kept their heads bowed low while the now dead creature had stood defiantly. Staring into Olen’s eyes, calling the Unseelie King a coward . Claiming, he could come and get me himself .

It brought shocked gasps from everyone in attendance.

So, when Olen gave the option for the second time, and the creature sneered death , he hadn’t hesitated pulling its head from its shoulders.

My eyes continued to stare at the body on the ground, with the head rolling off to the side. I’d never seen this much depravity in my life. First Leif’s rotted head. Then the fae openly engaging in carnal lust. Now this, a twitching body and head rolling out in the open with no one moving to stop it.

The thoughts ran through my body and finally, my stomach failed me.

I threw my hands over my mouth and ran to the nearest corner, bending at the waist.

The light of the sun shone above me while I embarrassed myself once again. Emptying my stomach in the open, repainting myself as a woman unable to hold in her disgust instead of the calm royal I should have been seen as.

My body stopped heaving and I stood, staring up at the sky. I leaned against the building I’d run behind, wiping my mouth when Olen’s voice filled the courtyard.

“Find her!” he bellowed.

Shaking my head, I shoved from the wall and stepped out from my hidden spot. “No need. I haven’t run off.”

He whipped around, black blood dripping from his jaw, his teeth coated in the gore. His snarl turned to an unsettling smile.

“The king would be displeased if you had.”

I rolled my eyes, wrapping my arms around myself. “Are you done with your duties?”

“Was that not entertaining?” he asked, cocking his monstrous head.

“Disgusting is how I would describe what that was,” I replied.

His laugh boomed out across the courtyard and the remaining fae scattered in response.

“You’ve been here for a day, princess. There’s still so much more to see.”

I glanced around the small town, taking in the little buildings, realizing I’d run behind what appeared to be an inn. It was quaint and well taken care of. Only, I couldn’t fathom why they all lived under the rule of such a gruesome king.

“What does Ulrich do for them?” I asked, turning back to Olen.

His fur rippled down his back before his low voice replied, “He does his duty.”

I let out an annoyed breath. “You didn’t answer my question.”

Olen’s body turned in my direction, his menacing canines still dripping with blood. “The king’s duty is not of your concern. You are here to complete the deal your ancestor made. You are not here to ask questions.”

Olen walked away and I stared off in the distance, where Ulrich’s city and palace lay barely within my eye’s sight.

The people in the courtyard began to return, along with their muttering, pointing at me. The spectacle in the middle of the town. Standing beside the corpse of a creature they’d likely viewed as a friend.

With a scoff, I picked up my feet and walked as fast as my injured body could take me. When I caught up to Olen, I sneered at him.

“I’m sure Ulrich would be displeased to know you are leaving me alone.”

Olen’s shoulders shifted slightly while his paws hit the ground below.

“Trust me, princess. He’d find you in an instant if you tried to run.”

The words were a warning but also thrilling in some way and I glanced back at the town, wondering if I should have tried. Maybe get the monster to come for me. Force him to meet me where I could attempt to end his life alone, with no prying eyes around.

And no one to haul me off to the dungeon later.

“Don’t think about it,” Olen replied.

My eyes turned back to him. “I wasn’t.”

“Princess, you’re easy to read. Try and run, I dare you. I haven’t had enough blood tonight. I could use some hearty, mortal blood in my veins.”

“That’s foul,” I replied.

“That’s life,” he snickered. “Keep walking. We have to be back before the moon rises.”

I turned my eyes back to the sky, watching the sun lower further in the sky.

“What happens if we don’t return? Will Lokii turn you into a serpent?”

Olen stopped. His body twisted while what I believed to be his brow rose.

“You mortals put some much trust and belief in these Gods . Tell me, princess, have they ever answered one of your prayers? Have they ever heard your wailing and cries?”

I blinked at him, my hands falling to my side.

“No,” I admitted, casting my eyes to the ground.

“You asked what Ulrich’s duty was,” Olen continued. “That’s his duty. He’s the one listening in the shadows. He’s the voice answering the cries. It’s not his fault if people don’t hold up their end.”

“But—” I began to protest.

He cut me off. “Why do you think the Gods stopped answering, Brenna?”

Olen stalked away and I watched in shock, unable to process what he’d said. Was he right? Was there something else behind this monster his people appeared to adore? Or was I being made a fool—again?