She tapped a finger against her chin. “What, indeed. I suppose I could kill them both now and get it over with. Or allow them to wake on their own and have a little fun with them.”
“Fun, my queen?” He lifted a brow in question. “You mean torture.”
She laughed, the sound deep in her throat. “I do. Won’t that be delightful, Erick? Bring me two chairs and rope. Let’s see if our little elemental enchantress still has powers when she’s away from nature.”
Chapter 34
Snowawoketopainthroughout her body. Her head hung between her shoulders, her chin on her chest. Her arms were in an awkward position, wrapped around something hard and unforgiving. She twisted her hands and felt the chaff of rough rope against her wrists. Then she realized then she was tied to a chair.
Without lifting her head, she tuned in her senses to her surroundings. The first thing she noticed was the empty sheath at her waist. She opened her eyes and saw stone flooring under her feet. There was silence around her except for the flicker of what sounded like candleflame. A warm glow shimmering across the floor and she suspected there were candelabras in the room.
She had no doubt she was in the castle in the Mystic Vale. The castle that was once her family home. The castle from which her father ruled the kingdom.
The castle that was hers by birthright.
She wanted to lift her head to see if Roderick was nearby, but she didn’t want to alert Seraphina that she was finally conscious. Reaching out her senses, she listened to the sounds of the room and heard the soft breathing of someone else.
Tentatively, she lifted her head. Across from her, Roderick was also tied to a chair. His chin was on his chest. He wasn’t awake yet. She tested her elemental senses to see if there was something—anything—she could use against Seraphina. She sensed no plants in her vicinity. Likely by design. Seraphina would know she had elemental power due to her previous display.
But Roderick’s elemental magic was more powerful than hers.
“Roderick?” she whispered, her voice low and rough as she tried to wake him.
He didn’t move.
She tried scooting her chair closer. The sound of the wood legs scraping along the stone was deafening in the silence. He stirred a bit, his head jerking to one side.
“Wake up,” she said, this time louder in the hopes he heard her.
She pushed the chair forward once more. The noise exploded around them. This time, his head snapped up. He looked groggy, as though he just woke up from a long nap. He glanced around, confusion in his eyes as he tried to get his bearings. Then his gaze landed on her. His brows drew together in question.
“Where are we?”
“The Mystic Vale castle,” she said.
“Are you certain?”
“It’s the only place Seraphina would bring us.”
Though she wasn’t certain, it made sense Seraphina would bring her back to her childhood home to hand her the final death blow. Why not kill her here, where her parents also perished? Where Seraphina took control and could enact her final revenge.
She got a good look at the room they were in. It was devoid of all furniture save for the chairs in which they were tied. There were large candelabras in each corner to give the room a warm glow. A wood door behind Roderick with iron hinges was the only exit.
“I’m sorry, Snow,” he said, sounding dejected.
“For what?”
“For getting captured,” he said.
“That’s not your fault,” she said.
She watched as he twisted his arms behind him, his face contorted in pain. “What are you doing?”
“Trying to get out of these ropes,” he said.
“It’s no use. The knots are too tight.”
He grunted. “Still…trying.” He sucked in a sharp breath, wincing in pain.
