Page 160 of Evil Hearts

Chapter 9:Xaug

I watch helplessly as they take away the only part of my soul that matters, her betrayal a wound far deeper than any physical pain I could incur. My lungs refuse to give me air and my body refuses to move from the spot I discovered her transgressions. Was it once? Twice? Daily? Was she locked away with him when she was supposed to be learning to lead my kingdom and I was working? Anguish consumes me and I force my body to move. To go to her and ask her why. I reach the prisoner cells shortly after her and see that she is laying on the dirt floor crying like that will change her fate. If I didn’t need the location of the Olanmantra from her, she would be dead and once I get it, she will be.

“Where is the Olanmantra, Kyliana?”

Shock widens her eyes as she takes me in and sees something she isn’t fond of. How did such a strong woman end up like this?

“I don’t know.” Her voice shakes me out of my thoughts and anger surges once more a roar ripping from my lips and making her flinch.

“Were the last few weeks all a fucking joke to you? Sleeping in my bed, planning our wedding, and then running to your precious guard!”

“No! They have been the best few weeks of my life! I would never fucking do that!” The pain in her voice pulls on our bonds and anger floods my veins. She doesn’t get to manipulate me. I knew better than to trust the daughter of Lilith and yet I let myself fall prey to her tactics.

“Your guard is being delivered here in the next five minutes and then we’ll see how brave you are when I rip his life from his body while you are made to watch.”

“No! Do not hurt that guard, you will regret it, Xaug!”

“Oh, so she does care about this guard,” I laugh maniacally at her protests.

“Of course I care. The only guard that I’ve ever been around has escorted you and I on every single one of our outings the last few weeks. He has a wife and small child. Only a heartless fool wouldn’t care.”

Her protests strike a cord within me and I wonder for the briefest moment if she’s being honest but as I look at my wrist where our oath bracelet once laid, my will is reinforced and forged in iron. I open my mouth to address her again but am disrupted when the door bangs open and Arietta marches in the guard she has been fucking. He is thrashing and yelling, demanding to know what is going on, her powers dragging him along like a doll. A wicked smile spreads on my face as justice presents itself to me.

“You are being punished for fucking my betrothed. That’s what’s happening.” His face pales at my words and he begins to stammer.

“I-I would never, your majesty.”

“Save it, my advisor said he caught the two of you.”

“It’s not true, your Highness. He is lying to you.”

I smash my fist into his face, splitting his lip.

“How dare you! You will hold your tongue about my advisor.”

“You’ve known me since you were just a wee lad. You have to know I would never do this.”

“I don’t have to know a fucking thing other than you betrayed me as did my betrothed so you will both suffer for it.”

I snatch him by the throat and watch the life in his wide eyes fade as silent pleas remain trapped in his mouth as his struggle ceases and he dies by my hand. I drop his lifeless body like the trash it is and turn to my disloyal betrothed.

“You will tell me the information I need to know even if I have to extract it from your lying mouth forcefully. Arietta, set up the crypt so I may begin.”

“I don’t know what information you want from me but I am innocent. If I have the information you need, I will give it freely. However, if you go through with this, you will regret it. The daughter of Lilith does not bend so easily.”

Her unwavering confidence mixed with the heartbreak written on her face are a maddening combination and I have to take a step back before I go mad from the bonds screaming at me. I search out Urzog, noting how quiet he has been and find him perched in the corner of the room like a shadow, a smirk playing on his lips.

“Urzog, you will handle the interrogation. I want the location of the Olanmantra by the time I return. My brother Xates will take over the kingdom while I’m gone. I shall return in four days and I better have answers waiting for me.”

I storm from the prisoner cells, slamming the door behind me and the bonds finally calm. I don’t understand why the oath bond is still pulling when she broke it. I just want it to fucking stop. I call my brother and have him come to the castle, packing my bag and gathering food for my trip. The last place the Olanmantra was known to live is about a day’s ride from here and I am determined to get some answers.