Page 196 of The Chains You Defy

Never had I been more cautious than when I lifted myself back to my feet, picking her up and cradling her like the most precious treasure in existence. After all, she was precisely that. “They hurt you.They will never do so again.”

“More so, we did Galanta a favor by weakening you, Teachtaire Ollscriosta.”

My head shot around as an ancient voice interrupted my reunion with Nayana. Lightning blasted from my eyes as I narrowed them at the speaker.

Graigh. Forefathers of light magic.

How ironic that I was able to observe a bloodline of my species’ ancestors on the dais, struggling against their restraints formed from the element opposed to theirs.

Whatever they’d spoken, whatever the meaning, was inconsequential.

The Graigh, like every other soul present, were at my mercy and as good as dead.

My bared teeth delivered a silent promise to the one who’d addressed me before I refocused my attention back to my woman. First, my duty was to ensure she was comfortable—a task Adharcan had already claimed for himself, and he was currently grooming her hair with his tip—and then I’d deal with all her tormentors.

I’d kill them all.

For her.

As much as releasing Nayana physically repulsed me, eliminating everything that had harmed her was vital. Compulsion ordered me to obliterate anything and anyone. The Cuirt an Ghra would very soon learn that they hadn’t only messed with the wrong fae but also in the worst way possible. In touching—hurting—what was mine, they’d all signed their death warrants in this life and each one that followed. And if I found a way to undo their essences so they would have never been granted existence at all, I’d perform such an act in a heartbeat.

Kicking against a plush couch before hauling the thing into the middle of the hall with some tendrils, I placed Nayana on the cushioned piece of furniture, as if she were made from delicate china, and allowed my fingers to glide over her cheek. The tendrils that had relocated her settee detached themselves from me and joined Harc as they curled around her instead, muchto my satisfaction. They’d keep her safe while I would purge this world from all the gathered stains of faekind.

The writhing strands enveloped Nayana, steadied her, held her upright, and kept her warm.

My wrath burned hot like a furnace as my glowing purple eyes caught her unsteady cerulean gaze. “Nayana. Vengeance shall be yours. For whatever they’ve done to you, they shall suffer. There’s no need for me to know in detail what their crimes have been. I found you in their midst, broken and crying, and that’s more than enough to make sure they’ll never be able to repeat their actions. I’ll be your dark cyclone, hailing retribution down on your enemies, descending on those who only dared to consider causing you the slightest discomfort. If the ones who wronged you discovered the error of their ways, the outcome wouldn’t change. Anyone gathered here except you and me has forfeited their very existence. Each of your abusers’ demises will be a fitting sacrifice on the altar of your worship.”

Without even waiting for her potential protest, I projected my presence back into the hall. No matter her objections, there would be no mercy. Not in this.

Soon, everyone would remember why the only title truly describing my essence was Dia Dorcha—Dark God. And these lowlifes had dared to harm my chosen goddess.

Smoky clouds billowed around me as I straightened, and I swept my gaze across the room.

As I spotted the familiar form of Cantarlann, my lips curled up, one corner after the other. As a simple tool for my grandfather and as the architect of my female’s suffering, he deserved even less mercy than everyone else. Witnessing the downfall of his ancestors’ legacy beforedescending to Udiona himself would be his fitting punishment.

Altering the inky strand of power shackling him, I willed my shadows to take him off the wall and transport him to me. The onyx matter kept him under my control, the restraints as unyielding as my love for Nayana.

The monster in me rejoiced—Cantarlann’s fear tasted delicious, and a heady feeling of absolute superiority radiated from my larger-than-life frame. But even though he made the impression that he was seconds away from pissing himself, it wasn’t enough. Nothing would ever be, but I settled for the next best thing, which was letting him suffer beyond mortal comprehension. This wouldn’t make him pay in full, but I promised myself to find him in the afterlife once I’d left this plane behind, and then his torment would be eternal.

The escalating dread reflected in his face hit me with the realization that it had been far too long since I’d demonstrated what a creature I was and what exactly I was capable of. My retribution would be the reminder that not a single one of the stories about me was exaggerated, much to the contrary.

Perhaps I’d underestimated how reports tended to morph into distant memories the more time passed. Then, these recollections often transformed into colorful tales or horror fables, frightening and thrilling the young ones in equal measure. The antagonists of such narratives distorted into abstract eidolons, their infamy twisted to keep said younglings in check.

Even long-lived creatures like fae weren’t immune to those phenomena. Thus, a reminder of what was actually walking among the ordinary population was overdue.If only my enlightenment hadn’t occurred at Nayana’s expense.

Enough. Kill.

“You will watch as I annihilate everyone you love.”

Cantarlann raised his chin and stared directly into my gaze, defiance sneaking into his features. “Well, Prince. If I and everyone I love have to perish, at least we’ll die with the triumph that we have crippled you beyond repair.”

My hand shot forward and wrapped around his neck. “Never.”

Hysterical laughter bubbled from his lips and vibrated against my skin as Cantarlann’s face contorted. “Deny the truth as much as you want, but your refusal doesn’t change that you’re too late.”

Kill.

To assert dominance, I stole his air, shaking him hard. His face reddened, and only when his lips gained a purple sheen did I allow him to breathe again. “For what?”