Page 146 of Lady of the Drowned Empire

Without warning, he slapped me across the cheek so hard my head snapped to the side. The sting of pain was so sharp, I cried out before I could stop myself. Tears burned behind my eyes.

“That’s for lying,” he gritted.

I sucked in a breath, my cheek vibrating.

Focus on the pain. The pain in my cheek, the pain in my wrists. Stay present. Stay calm.

“Where. Is. The. Forsworn?” he asked again, punctuating each word with such force more spit flew from his mouth.

“Why do you want to know?” I asked. “What is he to you?”

An angry flare in Brockton’s aura swiped out. “You seem to be forgetting, my lady. I have you tied up. You’re at my mercy.” His hand lowered to my neck, his fingers digging into my flesh hard enough to bruise.

My hands began to shake as his hand kept moving lower—over my armor, down my sternum, to my waist. He hooked his fingers into my belt, and I instinctively sucked in my belly, leaning back, trying to put any level of distance between us that I could. I was desperate to avoid his touch even if it was only through clothing.

“Now try to remember,” he said, his voice lowering to a dangerous pitch, “I ask the questions. Not you.”

I exhaled through my nose, my mouth clamped shut. He tugged on my belt, his knuckles against my belly.

“How did you get out of prison?” he asked.

I stared ahead, refusing to answer. Another wolf howled outside the keep.

“I said,” Brockton yelled, “how the fuck did you get out of prison?” His hand lifted inches from my face. His palm was still red from hitting me.

“I paid off a guard,” I lied quickly.

“Last I heard, Ka Shavo couldn’t be paid off.”

“You heard wrong.”

“I don’t think so.” His eyes narrowed. “What about the Ready?”

“What about my arkturion?” I asked defensively. I knew his reputation was in ruins—but did people believe he’d freed me?

“He let you out?” Brockton asked.

“No.”

Brockton stepped back, pulling his hand from me. He scratched his chin, his black eyes moving slowly across my body. “See, that I almost believe. Because I don’t think you could just get out of there. You were locked up for a week before and didn’t escape. No one let you out. Not your limp-legged father. Not your aunt. And we all know what little Lord Grey did for you.” He pouted, his face a mockery of sympathy. “How he gave over his ring for you. And how that didn’t even free you, because Ka Shavo doesn’t just let their prisoners go, do they?”

I tried to control my breathing.

“We all know the forsworn bastard got you out. The question is how. A question I was asking myself for two days. Until I saw something very interesting this morning.”

My heart pounded. “I paid off a guard,” I said again. “He opened the gate. I ran.”

“What guard?”

“I don’t know!” I cried.

“Because he doesn’t exist! Because the forsworn did it.” Brockton turned his head, the movement preternaturally slow as his black eyes held mine. “And if Ka Shavo doesn’t release their prisoners…then the only way out of the Stronghold with all its shadow magic and wards…is traveling.” His eyes darkened, as his mouth widened into a vicious grin. “I finally figured it out. How he runs so fast. How he’s always everywhere you are. He’s vorakh.”

My heart was in my throat. “You’re delusional.”

“Then tell me why I stumbled onto the borders of Korteria today and saw you with him. And then watched him vanish into thin air?”

My eyes widened, sweat beading at the nape of my neck. Tell the truth…truth to hide the lies. “The snakes were after him,” my voice shook. “Sent by his father, by Imperator Hart. I sent Rhyan away, to keep him safe. So, I could kill the snakes myself.”