Page 55 of Savage Throne
I glared at him. “And what’s that?”
“Kill again.”
I closed my eyes.
“You must, little monster.”
“Leo, everything isn’t always about death—”
“It is in this world, you have an army but not all of them will follow you so we must make that part right before I die. All will have to be loyal if they will serve you. And overall. . .they must fear you, starting tonight. You must show them that you are a monster.”
I opened my eyes. “What?”
“My daughter’s army is here on this mountain and you will meet them soon.”
I gritted my teeth.
“When you meet them. . .by yourself. . .some will think they have a great opportunity to kill you but you will show them that this isn’t the case and it willneverbe the case. Because you are a monster.”
“So it will be another fucking lesson.”
“Oh no, Monique. The lessons are done. Now this is thetest.” He tilted his head to the side. “Are you ready to pass?”
The question hung in the air between us.
It was a cruel challenge, shadowed under the moonlight.
As if I answered, he nodded. “Then, let’s go. Unless you want to see your other victims behind the targets.”
“They’re notmyvictims. They are yours.”
Chuckling, he walked off.
Chapter ten
Twisting in Torment
Lei
For the rest of the night, I suffered within the suffocating darkness of my soul trapped in the agonizing tension between my need to stay sharp and my overwhelming yearning for Moni.
Everyone had made it to the Palace safely.
My staff worked tirelessly; preparing rooms, handling needs, and bustling through our marbled blue halls with quiet efficiency.
With so many on the upper levels, there was constant noise—anxious conversations, the clinking of glasses and mugs, the shuffle of footsteps.
But none of it registered with me.
I was a hollow man.
Drifting.
Twisting in torment.
I couldn’t remember who told me to go to my bedroom nor could I recall when I’d arrived.
Yet soon I was, standing in the center of that cold, lifeless space, with the lights off.
