Page 63 of The Chains You Defy

“You’ve talked to the queen about slaughtering the merchant??”

“Yes. I presume she’s been through some tough shit as well.”

“So, she’ll pacify the king?”

“Definitely. As long as we’re discreet.”

“Not your typical way to operate.”

“Last time I checked, my calendar didn’t announce today as Criticize Dion Day.” Growling at him as he patronized me, I stalked out of the main gates of the castle. The guards eyed us but were either informed or sensed how messing with me could only end in misery for them.

Fig, to my surprise, instead of riling me up even more, returned to share the intel he’d gotten.

“According to Antas, there was suspicious movement in and out of the compound during the last few days. A lot of heavily armed men accompanied a large number of closed cargo carriages.”

“The merchant’s business is of no interest to me.” What else should Antas’ observations mean? Feroy was a tradesman, after all.

“Let’s find out what’s going on anyway.”

“What in the name of all that’s divine?”

“All right, that’s unexpected.”

“Fucking shit.”

“So what Antas observed was him moving out, hm?”

“This coward. I swear, the moment I get my hands on him—and I will—he’ll suffer beyond his wildest dreams. How could he dare to flee like a thief in the night? He was supposed to remain here to stand in front of a tribunal.” My jaw locked so tight, my tirade stopped.

All the anticipation surging through my veins untilbeforehad morphed into fury the second I’d realized that Perran Feroy’s compound had been abandoned to the last man. He wasn’t here. No one was. But I could find him. Hunt him.

Oh, hunt.Yes.

Darkness spread inside of me in the form of a sphere, coursing through my body, infecting my brain. Blood rushed in my ears, and the guttural sounds leaving my throat sounded wicked, feral, primal. Ancient.

Hunt.

Hunt the vile person who had hurt what was mine. Who had dared to run away from me, and who thought I’d let his crimes go. I never would. Every second longer that this abomination was still breathing, the more prolonged his punishment would be.

Hunt. Torture. Kill. Rip. Tear. Kill.

The darkness seeped out of me and pooled at my feet. Like a male possessed, I spun around and stormed to the exit.

Find prey. Hunt. Hurt. Kill.

“Dion.”

My head whirled around, and I stared at the one who had the audacity to interrupt my pursuit. And why was I still wearing this skin? Seamlessly, my Glamour gave wayto my true appearance, glowing amethyst eyes burning from a backdrop of pure darkness.

“Hunt. Tear. Kill.”

“Fuck.”

The figure reeked of something akin to panic.

Good.

“Listen. If you give in to…whatever is happening to you…you won’t be able to help anyone. The merchant’s gone, and if you lose yourself in revenge and bloodlust, you’ll do more harm than good.”