Page 96 of Shifter King

Its words bit into her. She tried to bury her face her in her arms, but blinding pain sent her straining back against the wall."Ki, please stop. Please."

"This is about survival, Neyeb."

Shutting out the countless voices that assailed her took what little focus she had left, leaving the Ki Valo Nakar to continue to whisper and push. It pressed details and instructions into her mind over and over and over again. No matter how she closed her eyes or fought to block it, it refused to stop.

Please, Elonumato. Please stop this.

The door swung open and struck the stone wall with a sharp shuddering clang.

Wincing, she cracked her eyelids open. Not yet.

It wasn’t the sharp-eyed guard or the one with the serpent tattoo around his neck. It was—she squinted. Gabrice.

The powerfully-built man slammed the door shut. "Why?" He bellowed.

She cringed away, his voice cutting into her mind. Rage rolled off him like razors, slicing into her. Even the Ki Valo Nakar pulled back. "Why what?"

"Do you think I wanted anything to do with you? You didn’t have to kill her, you treacherous fly trap!" He grabbed hold of her and hauled her to her feet, then struck her across the face and shook her hard.

The bitter bite of alcohol filled his breath, whooshing in her face as he seized her. She cried out in pain, sparks of light and patches of darkness exploding in her vision. He struck her again and slammed her into the wall.

More lights exploded in front of her eyes. She couldn't quite focus any more.

"I would have given you children, you murderous vixen!"

"Your Highness," the guard bowed almost to the floor. "Your mother requires the Neyeb."

Another guard spoke from behind him. "Your Highness, perhaps you require rest—"

Snarling, Gabrice kicked the bowing guard in the chest and staggered away. Clipping his shoulder on the door frame, he almost fell. Slurred curses flowed from his mouth. Then he collapsed.

The door was open. It doubled and tripled, then blurred and collapsed. Blinking, Amelia dug her right hand into coarse stone. If she could just get up—

The guards helped Gabrice to his feet. Their voices blurred in her ears, but their minds were clearer. Their thoughts popped in on her, exploding in bits.

"What if he tells the queen about this? Will she sentence me to death? Veskaro?"

"He's going to drown in his own vomit, and who will they blame?"

"I have to get back. This has to be done. Genat might not wake up. The fever's rising."

So many things. Always so many things. Thoughts and fears, hopes and dreams.

"But they've done terrible things. Only following orders. But done all the same,"the Ki Valo Nakar whispered. "They're busy right now. You could do it. All three at once. Perhaps even the fourth and fifth down the hall. They would deserve every ounce of suffering you inflicted upon them. People would bless you for this."

No. It was—it would always lead to the same place. There were no exceptions.

She struggled to stand. The world swayed with her, seeming to tip as her ears rang.

Gabrice shouted and swore, striking out at one of the guards. Someone fell. A curved sword clattered and spun in front of the door.

Now.

She staggered forward.

"Oh, dark night," the Ki Valo Nakar swore at her."How far are you going to get?"

Grabbing hold of the cell door, she braced herself. Each step hurt her arm, the crude sling she had constructed barely keeping the weight off it.