Page 31 of Bellamy

“N-No,” he slurred as I started to pull away. Though it was weak, his hold tightened around my waist. “Don’t… leave me.”

I turned my face into his hair, my soul breaking even more. “I won’t.”

In that instant, I felt an indescribable anger toward Asa. Toward my king. His plan was working. Bellamy was vulnerable, and my kindness would push him over the edge. He’d soon give us what we wanted. Anything to escape the nightmares of his own mind and the pain inflicted on him.

I should’ve been happy about that; we were on opposite sides of this war after all. But I wasn’t. All I felt was sadness. And guilt.

Bellamy faded in and out of consciousness as I washed the dried blood and grime off him. He was too weak to move. He hadn’t slept. He hadn’t eaten. Washing his naked body—one built for pleasure—wasn’t nearly as awesome as it sounded. My chest hurt too much seeing him in that state.

“You can’t go on like this,” I said as I dried him off after the bath.

“I m-must.” Bellamy rested his weight against me, lacking the strength to stand on his own.

“You’re an idiot.”

He made a sound that was probably supposed to be a scoff, but it was more like a raspy croak.

“You won’t last much longer. You know that, right?”

A knowing look shone in his eyes as they met mine, his lids heavy. They then fell closed. He couldn’t fight sleep any longer. Like last time, I placed him in bed and sat with him afterward. He was asleep, but he wasn’t at rest. He emitted pained whimpers that tore right through me.

Helping him would more than likely result in my head being torn from my shoulders and displayed on a spike outside the castle gates.

Bellamy whined in his sleep, his head thrashing to the side. I pet his hair, wishing I could take away the nightmares. Ending his torment would welcome my own. What the hell was I going to do?

Deep down, I knew the answer.

“Don’t lose your value, Phoenix.”

Asa’s warning came from a suspicion that I someday would. And as I watched Bellamy sleep, remembering his gut-wrenching screams, I feared he was right.

Chapter Six

Bellamy

Time passed differently in the underworld. With no sunlight, days and nights blended together. As I woke to a faint blue light coming through the window, darkness swallowing the sky, I didn’t know if it was morning or night.

Phoenix stood at the window, the moon shining on his porcelain skin as he peered outside. Black horns rose from his dark auburn hair, and tattoo-like markings spread across the tops of his shoulders and down to his biceps, like swirls of black ink.

I’d never seen him in his demon form before.

“Touch,”Lust begged.

“Do you have a tail too?” I asked, surprised by the hoarseness of my voice. It sounded like I’d swallowed glass.

Phoenix turned to me. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”

“I would, actually. That’s why I asked. Obviously.”

A tic started in his jaw. “I’m not in the mood for your smart-ass mouth.”

“Well, good. Because I’m not in the mood to bless you with it.” Spotting a bowl on the bedside table, I reached for it, the chains on my wrists clanking. My stomach rumbled as the aroma of spiced meat and broth reached my nose. “This for me?”

“Yes.”

I suspiciously eyed the meat. “What is it?”

“Does it matter? It’s food, and you’re starving. So shut up and eat it.”