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“Your friend was correct,” Kaiser replied. “I would estimate that I could cut you into at least forty pieces before your heart ceased to function-”

“That’s kind of fucked up, man,” North muttered. “And you can’t cut her face up. Did you see that face? It was like staring upon the divine beauty of Venus herself and – ow, motherfucker!”

Kaiser punched North again and my lips quirked in amusement.

“No doubt a brutal end as you described is what you deserve,” Mirelle said calmly though she didn’t move any closer to my bars. “How many Flamebringer lives can I blame you for stealing?”

“You can’t seriously think I keep count of my kills?” I sneered. “Who in their right mind would even attempt such a thing during a war like this?”

“My count is currently at three-hundred and sixty-seven,” Kaiser said as if I had asked him. “Ninety-four Raincarvers, Two-hundred-and-twelve Stonebreakers and sixty-one Skyforgers.”

I arched a brow at him then gave Mirelle a pointed look. “Yes, well I did specify that no one in their right mind would keep track – clearly this empty vessel of yours isn’t in his right mind so he doesn’t count.”

Kaiser didn’t even react to that slight though North whirled around, growling furiously and lunging for my cage. His expression morphed from fury to adoration as he threw himself at me but Kaiser punched him before he could start comparing me to the light of the moon or some equally inane bullshit.

“It sounds like you’re a little light on Skyforgers there, Kaiser – have you come to add one to your tally?” I taunted.

There wasn’t so much as a flicker in his emotionless eyes, nothing to suggest he had any feelings whatsoever about the thought of killing me.

It was fascinating in its own way. I’d been called heartless many times in my life but even I held plenty of space for rage and bloodlust in my emotionally stunted range.

North began to pace back and forth, his eyes on the walls and firmly fixed on anything other than me but I could tell he was still fighting my allure.

“I’ll kiss you if you stab your friend for me, mutt,” I purred and this time I did release a taste of my gifts into the air.

North yanked a dagger from his belt, turning towards Kaiser with his eyes widening but before he could even attempt to strike the Fury, he lurched to a stop, caught in the grip of Kaiser’s possession.

“Spoil sport,” I pouted.

Kaiser eyed me like I was a puzzle he wanted to untangle while North howled mournfully.

“I wouldn’t have done it. I’m sorry, freyin. You know I love you. But she’s just so fucking everything .”

Kaiser punched him and I smiled wickedly as he crumpled to his knees and remained there, staring at the wall.

“Last warning, North,” Mirelle snapped irritably.

“Sorry,” he whimpered again.

“If you use your gifts on him for a second time I will take your right hand in punishment,” The Matriarch hissed at me menacingly. But still she remained out of my reach.

I gave her a wicked smile, seeing the devil beneath her skin and knowing she meant it.

It was tempting to call her bluff if nothing more than to change up the monotony of my day but I resisted the urge.

I was rather fond of my hands if I was being truthful and Mirelle Brimtheon wasn’t the type to make empty threats.

“I’ll be a good girl,” I promised, painting a cross over my heart and Mirelle’s eyes flickered to my chest where the torn shirt I wore left more than enough skin on show to draw focus.

My allure was tempting her too. The only one immune to it here was the Fury, my one personal exemption.

The only Fae I’d ever known to be utterly immune to my gifts.

It might have been intriguing were there anything else to his personality to draw questions.

But the answer to this riddle was clear; Kaiser Brimtheon was an empty vessel, he cared about nothing and so temptation meant nothing to him. It was kind of sad really.

“The Cyclopses can’t break her,” Mirelle told her children, turning her back on me in a way I supposed was meant to be insulting, though I cared little for the slights of Flamebringers.

“She’s been trained to evade their invasion and even managed to turn her gifts on Olaf and get him to attempt to help her escape.

I know she won’t break to physical torture and see no point in attempting it but even a witch must have fears. ”

I barked a laugh, flopping back down onto my cot.

“Oh sweetheart, all of my fears have already come true,” I drawled.

“I have nothing and no one left to use against me and the threat of death or torture means nothing at all to me – but I’ll admit I’m more than deserving of both.

Though there is a soul I wish to take with me into the beyond hence my continued existence in this broken, bloody land.

But aside from offering me that Fae on a silver platter, which I already know you can’t do, there isn’t a thing which might tempt me into giving you what you want.

Besides, your little Fury pet has already tried to slip into my mind and he can’t.

I’m an egg that can’t be cracked I’m afraid, but by all means do your worst – I’d rather enjoy something to break up this monotony. ”

“Is that true?” Mirelle asked, shooting Kaiser a hard look and he shrugged.

“It was the last time I tried. I can attempt it again.”

Mirelle’s cool demeanour cracked, her glower turning venomous as she looked back to me. “Try again. Harder this time.”

Kaiser said nothing but he did shift into his Order form, blood-red scales crawling across his body and puncturing holes in his clothes with the sharp spines of armour which emerged from them.

Shadows seemed to close in around him and a deep power began to stir in the backs of his eyes, bringing a red glow into focus within them.

I moved towards the edge of my cage, taking hold of the bars so that I could inspect him better. I hadn’t met a Fury before him and I could admit that his power intrigued me.

Mirelle’s smile turned triumphant in the corner of my eye and my grip on the bars tightened as I parted my lips on a ragged exhale.

“No,” I gasped, my eyes fixed on Kaiser as he took a menacing step towards me. “Please…don’t…I’m afraid…”

“And those fears will only grow,” Mirelle snarled. “Only deepen, their grip tightening around you until they consume you entirely unless you tell me what you were doing in my land? Why were you here and why does everyone believe you’re dead?”

“No,” I gasped, dropping to my knees, my eyes widening.

“Don’t…I can’t take it…please…this cage is so fucking boring and your little sycophants are so easy to manipulate, I just can’t cope with how dull it is here.

Please, put me out of my misery!” I wailed, releasing the cage and falling onto my back with a wicked laugh just as North lurched for me again, his weight slamming against the bars and making them rattle before his anger gave way to lust once more.

“Let me brush her hair!” he begged as Kaiser dragged him back and Mirelle cursed.

“I’m sorry, Mirelle. My power doesn’t affect her. I can’t feel anything from her at all.”

“Maybe that means I’m as empty as you?” I taunted but the jibe caused no reaction in him.

“Come. This is useless. We’ll find another way,” The Matriarch snapped before turning sharply and marching from the room. Kaiser dragged North along after her, the Fury not even seeming curious as to why his power hadn’t affected me, his vacant little mind clearly not capable of that.

My laughter chased them away while I stared up at the decorative ceiling above my bars and I imagined the sound of Dalia cackling along with me and Moraine sighing in exasperation.

Tears slid from the corners of my eyes as I laughed, the pain in my chest sharpening to a point which buried itself so deeply within me that I knew it would never, ever be removed. And wasn’t that just the truth of it.