Page 9

In that moment, I hate both Queen Lorith and Princess Taelyn. If they never existed, I would not be facing this fate .

But to my surprise, the king shakes his head.

“No, Ruarok. I will not banish you, either. If I were to banish you, there would always be the possibility of your return, and I cannot live in peace with that threat hanging over all our lives. We would never rest. I need to know exactly where you are.”

His words fill me with confusion. “Where are you going to put me? In the dungeons?”

“No, the dungeons wouldn’t contain you. All you would need to do is charm one of the guards and they would unlock the door just to be with you.”

Damn, my father knows me and my magic too well.

“Where, then?” I ask.

“You’ll still be in the castle.”

I’m alarmed. “Where?”

He taps his staff to the floor, and the guards file back in.

There are so many of them. I know their numbers are to prevent me from trying to escape.

But even if I were to escape, where would I go?

I can’t flee the kingdom and still expect to live any kind of life, and if I were to stay, it would only be a matter of time before I’m recognized. Hopelessness blooms within me.

The guards take hold of me again. There’s no point in fighting back. I know when I’ve lost. The metal of my cuffs clink as I’m dragged from the room. I wonder if that was the last time I’ll ever see my father.

I’m surprised at the jolt of pain that strikes through my heart. Had a tiny part of me held on to the hope that one day things might have been different between us?

That hope is crushed now.

The guards drag me through the castle to where the coil of stone steps leads down into the dungeons. I’m confused. My father said I wasn’t going to be put in the dungeons, but that definitely seems to be where we’re heading.

The temperature drops by several degrees, and the walls grow cold and damp. Somewhere nearby, I hear the hollow trickle of water.

The cries and moans of the dungeon’s current inhabitants reach my ears. It’s misery and desperation I hear. Am I to become one of them?

We reach the bottom of the spiral staircase, but instead of turning right, toward the cells holding the current prisoners, I’m taken left. I have no idea what is down this way.

The corridor is lit by torches attached to the walls. We seem to be heading farther down. Is this even possible? I didn’t think there was anything beneath the dungeons.

“Where are we going?” I demand. “Where are you taking me?”

I hadn’t expected an answer, and I don’t get one.

Finally, at the end of the corridor, we reach a heavy wooden door. Metal bars run across the wood as extra security. One guard steps forward and uses a large iron key to unlock the door.

It swings open, revealing the room beyond, which is also lit by torchlight.

It’s the item in the middle of the room that captures my attention.

A huge metal cage stands in front of me. Its bars are silver. The air around it vibrates with magic. It’s so powerful, it snatches the air from my lungs.

“No!” I roar and try to pull back on the guards.

Cirrus Planetree, the head of the King’s Guard, steps forward. I hadn’t noticed him until now. I guess he didn’t want to get caught up in whatever mayhem I might cause with my magic.

“This will be your forever home, Ruarok,” he tells me.

“In this cage, you will be in a kind of stasis. You won’t age, you won’t need to eat or drink, your bodily functions will be halted.

You will, however, be perfectly aware of the passing of time.

You will experience the drag of every single moment.

An endless nothing. No distraction from your suffering. ”

The blood freezes in my veins. “You can’t do this to me.”

“Of course we can.”

One of the guards moves forward and opens the cage door with a pair of gloved hands. He seems afraid, and I realize that’s because he is. He’s frightened he will be the one to accidentally be pulled inside the cage. He’s the one who will spend eternity suffering.

Panic gives me one final burst of energy.

I dig deep for my charm magic, but it’s not there.

Not that it would be much use to me anyway.

There are too many guards. I do try to fight, though, throwing myself backward, using my feet to kick and shoulders to shove.

My hands are still cuffed behind my back, or I’d punch as well.

“Stop this nonsense, Ruarok,” Cirrus exclaims. “Accept your fate. There is nothing you can do now.”

I run out of steam. I want to drop to my knees and sob, but pride prevents me from doing so. I go limp in their grip.

Two of the guards take advantage of my weakness and rush me forward, throwing me into the cage. I fall to my knees, my hands still bound.

“Wait, please. At least take off the cuffs. ”

With my hands cuffed behind my back, I won’t even have the distraction of masturbation to carry me through the years. What is an Incubi who can get no sexual satisfaction? I’ll become a madman. A shell of myself.

Cirrus ignores my plea. “You brought this upon yourself, Ruarok.”

The cage door slams shut behind me and instantly seals.

The guards back out of the room and pull the door closed behind them. I hear the click as the lock is turned.

Fury rises inside me at the thought of the queen and of Princess Taelyn. A hatred like nothing I’ve ever experienced before burns bright inside me.

And I have all of eternity to nurture it.