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Annalise

M y father always told me I was special. I hate him for never specifying why—for never preparing for the threat that continually loomed over our heads. I always thought it was because I was his daughter, and in the eyes of a parent, you are always special. But as it turned out, he wasn’t my father. He was a man who loved my mother so much that he was willing to take the bastard child his enemy fathered and raise her as his own, away from the fighting so that her potential would forever be locked away.

But the war found me. The king of beasts found me. And now, as I am held by another, I’m curious what it is about me that is so special. Is it the untapped potential of being able to carry a beast like Cyrus’s power? Is it the uncertainty of what I am to these creatures that surround me? The unholy mixture between a human and whatever breeding me using trinkets caused? Or is it just what Cyrus always said: my beauty?

Whatever it is, it has ruined my life. It has made me the object of two powerful beasts’ desire. It has robbed me of life, not only for myself but for my unborn child, who will never know my touch, my smile, or the light of day because of the wickedness of this beast king.

I release a bitter chuckle as I look out the window at this new world. It’s much different than Cyrus’s kingdom. The beasts here hide behind a wall, keeping their existence a secret. I always thought the monarch of this land was a good man who ruled this country with a fair hand. But the ruler of this country is no man at all and no better than Cyrus. I lived among this land, oblivious to the danger I drew from behind these walls. A danger that followed me across the ocean into unknown territory and caused a stir for the sake of bringing me back. But I don’t plan on being as helpless as I once was.

I may not have a trinket, but Cyrus gave me his seal. Before, I was terrified to use it because I wasn’t sure whether he would think I was using it to escape from the estate. But I no longer care about what happens to me, not after what was taken.

It’s strange, mourning someone you never knew existed until they were gone. But it’s broken me beyond repair. I no longer care about the consequences. If anything, I pray that Cyrus kills me once he realizes I am using his seal. Death would be better than this—better than waiting for Elias to force his will on me.

I am no longer the weak woman I was when I met Cyrus. I am also no longer the woman who couldn’t fight back when he found me. I am different now because I am broken and without hope. There is nothing left for me but escape or death. Whether it is at Elias’s hands or Cyrus’s is up to fate.

Right on time, the door to my chambers is opened as guards who serve Elias enter to escort me to dinner. Elias has avoided me for a week. He’s kept me locked away and monitored by the same beasts who held me down and allowed this to happen. Today, however, I have been dressed in the colors of this kingdom to be escorted to dinner with the king. I am sure he plans to force himself on me after dinner, but it won’t come to that. I will ensure that it doesn’t. I’ve had a week to mourn and form my resolve from it.

I will avenge my child’s life no matter what.

When I think about the life I had at the hands of Cyrus, I can’t believe I could love a product of him more than myself. The sadness that grips my chest is unbearable. It makes it difficult to breathe at times and difficult to want to live at others. The only thing that’s keeping me going are the words Cyrus once spoke to me about my son. My absence in his life would place a void similar to the one Cyrus has. And seeing that void eat away at Cyrus firsthand is gut-wrenching in itself.

I can’t imagine what Ciel is going through in the time that Cyrus has separated us. His torture will extend once my absence at the estate is discovered. No matter what happens today, I could almost thank Elias for what he did to me. It’s given me the strength I needed to push myself past my limit and not care for the consequences.

I will no longer be at the mercy of these beasts.

“Annalise! How wonderful it is to see you emerge from the darkness of your loss.” I tense, turning to see the bane of my existence approaching with a smug grin on his lips. Elias is a cruel beast. He always has been. He spent his time turning Cyrus and me against one another and testing me on several occasions.

I don’t even know if Joan survived his attack. I had come to see Joan as a friend. And though I was angry at the time to discover who she really was and her purpose in my life, my anger was short-lived when I saw the vulgar display Elias left the estate in.

He’s as wicked as Cyrus.

Elias’s smile drops slightly when I don’t speak, nor do I bow upon his approach. I watch him with a narrowed gaze, focusing on my surroundings. Both guards beside me have weapons, and I’m sure I can overpower them once I activate Cyrus’s seal. My concern is Elias. I don’t know how strong he is, and I could barely keep up with the fight between him and Joan. But I know Cyrus is on a different tier than Elias. I can only hope that whatever amount of power surges through me is enough to either kill this beast or aid in my escape.

Elias continues to approach, irritation evident in his expression as he crosses his arms over his chest. He laughs softly as he studies me, probably from the sound of my increased heartbeat. But I ignore it, waiting for him to get close enough for me to slit his throat. He releases an irritated breath.

“I don’t want to begin our time together having to beat you—”

Elias’s eyes widen as I concentrate on Cyrus’s seal, calling on his power. It rips through me like lightning, covering my body in an intense heat, the world around me growing vivid. It’s so intense that it forces a gasp from my lips as I quickly attempt to become accustomed to the feeling. I have the guard’s weapon before he can blink; the blade inches from Elias’s throat as I lunge for him, my scream echoing over the hall.

Elias is fast, though. He dodges as the blade comes inches from his throat. But he’s off balance, and I lunge for his waist, my arms closing around his ribcage. I enjoy the crunch of his bones beneath my grip as we both collide with the ground, rolling several feet from the pure strength that radiates through me. Amid our tumble, Elias separates us, kicking me hard in the chest.

I cry out as I collide with a statue, but I quickly scramble to my feet in time to see Elias clutching his ribs, blood trickling from his lips. He looks up at me, confusion on his expression before it transforms into rage. I don’t know how long it will take him to heal his wounds, but I don’t plan on waiting to find out. The world is so clear, everything seeming to move in slow motion as I take off across the room. Each swipe of my sword is deliberate, aiming for his neck. But he continually dodges, his face twisted in pain. Suddenly, his hand lashes out, gripping my throat. I can tell from the force that if I didn’t have Cyrus’s seal, he would have snapped my throat with his current strength.

Elias’s smile is bloody as he looks at me, his fascination climbing to a new level.

“He fucking marked you?” he says.

“Die!” I screech as my hands come up, gripping his arm that holds me. I squeeze with all my might, the slow break of his bone vibrating under my fingers. He releases me before I can do any more damage, using all of his strength to throw me across the hall. Pain explodes all over my body as my bones break from the force of my collision with the wall. The thick walls crack and crumble around me, crushing my leg and arm.

I scream as excruciating pain washes over me. The small bit of control I had over Cyrus’s seal wanes. I can’t focus on his power—only the pain. I don’t even know if it’s possible to heal myself using his seal. Not that I would know the first thing about how I would attempt it. I don’t know what’s possible with his seal other than the transfer of strength. Cyrus never fully explained it to me.

I suddenly feel a grip on the front of my dress, pulling me from the rubble. The sharp edges of the shattered stone scrape at my cheeks and arms, the horrible pain of my broken limbs intensifying as Elias throws me into the ground. More bones break, and the floor cracks beneath me, and I can do nothing but moan in pain.

I barely register Elias pulling me by my hair and dragging me through the halls. I can’t do anything but allow him to drag me. No matter how hard I try, my limbs won’t move. The pain is too much. All I can do is focus on the seal’s power, praying that somehow it miraculously heals me on its own as I choke on my own blood. Our destination is a balcony. The cool wind whips over me as Elias pushes open the door, dragging me out with him. I scream in pain as he lifts me, holding me by the front of my tattered gown, his terrifying gaze filled with rage.

His eyes are cold as he glares at me.

“I see why Cyrus was so desperate to get you back. You are quite the fucking challenge, aren’t you? It must have taken him ages to tame you,” he snarls.

“Ngh!” My head lolls as the last bit of Cyrus’s power dulls to a flickering flame. Elias steps forward, dangling my body over the edge of his palace, and panic courses through me. Trees and rocks accompany the steep drop at the bottom. If he lets go of me, there’s no way I’ll survive.

“To think he had someone like you so timid by the time I found you. But you don’t feel that way for me, do you?” he growls.

He studies me intensely, and it takes everything in me to return his glare.

“Of course not. You’re a smart woman. And we haven’t had the time to get properly acquainted.” Elias chuckles, a smile finally appearing on his lips. “You have proven yourself a worthy adversary of a beast, Annalise. I will give you that. I can’t wait to break you down worse than you ever thought possible…that is if you survive.”

He doesn’t give me a chance to comprehend his sentence as he releases me. My eyes widen, and I reach for nothing, the air slipping through my fingers as I fall. My stomach dips and the world blurs around me, but instead of fear, I feel oddly at peace. The wind whips around my hair, rushing over my ears like a loud wail. But somehow, the world shifts as my heart can no longer comprehend the high levels of adrenaline and my brain the imminent fate that awaits me at the bottom. The world moves in slow motion around me, and instead of my life flashing before my eyes, I see Ciel.

I see his intense blue gaze and white hair as his eyes light up in excitement from my presence. I see him as I saw him for the first time, the moonlight accompanying his arrival as I brought him into this world all on my own. I see his red cheeks on the rare occasions that he cries. I see his chubby legs struggling to take his first steps, and for the first time since my capture, I can perfectly remember how my son smells.

I close my eyes, smiling, reveling in the memories.

He was perfect in every way and the only good thing to come out of my situation. To my shock, Cyrus holding Ciel in his arms and smiling down at him appears in my mind, giving me comfort. At least Ciel has a father who adores him and will love him despite his being half-human. He will protect him from any and all enemies. And he will raise him to take care of himself. He will give him everything that I couldn’t and more.

Ciel will be okay without me.

I don’t know why that comes to mind, but it is. I have to believe it to be true because I will never get to see it for myself.