My hand went to my mouth to prevent me from vomiting again.
“You see,” Skar said, waltzing toward the table, “I quickly realized a weak husk of a thing like this would not live long without any skin. Infection, blood loss, and the like.”
“So youturnedhim?” Garroway mewled.
Skartovius gave us a small nod. “His mind is just as miserable and weak as I assumed it would be. You needn’t worry, Garro—he is not my new pet. Just my subject. This way, he can heal and I can flay him all over again. Without end. Ingenious, no?” He beamed at us, oh-so-pleased with himself.
I shook my head. I was going to pass out if I stayed here any longer. “You’re fucking insane.”
Skar frowned. “That’s no way to talk to your king, Sephania.”
I locked eyes with them, shaking my head incessantly as I backed up. In that moment, all I saw were monsters. Just when they had shown me unimaginable pleasures of the flesh—a very human interaction that made me start to think I could have a future with these creatures—they now showed their true colors. The colors I’d always known were there but had hoped I could mask long enough to make this make sense.
I fled down the hall, stumbling as I ran.
Garroway cursed and came running. “Sephania!”
I reached the carpeted hallway, glancing down at the soiled rug where we’d done our deed, and continued on to the barred double doors at the back.
There, I stopped, doubling over and putting my hands on my knees. I was still naked. Outside were servants who hated me. I had to think rationally, even in this irrational time.
Garroway was there a moment later. I turned and shook my head. “Take me away from here, Garro. I’m begging you. I can’t be here.”
He held out a bundle in his arms—my clothes from the cell—and nodded firmly. “Then you’d best get dressed first, little honey badger. I’ll get the carriage.”
“Tell me why, Garro,” I asked from the bench. The bitter cold of the wind against my face felt welcome. The fresh air was necessary. It rejuvenated me after being trapped in that stuffy cell with pure evil.
I leaned back on the bench, closing my eyes and sighing. Garroway struck the two black horses with his whip, guiding us down the country road away from Manor Marquin. We headed for Olhav proper, the glittering city shining in the dark distance.
He grimaced. “I believe it’s Skartovius’ twisted version of looking after you, lass. As morbid and macabre as that was . . . Idothink he has, in some fucked-up way, good intentions.”
I cackled an incredulous laugh. “Surely you’re jesting.” I thrust a thumb over my shoulder. “Thatlunatic hasgood intentions?”
Garro pursed his lips. I couldn’t forget I was talking about his master. “You remember what happened when Master Skar learned you’d been defiled by that brute?”
I nodded slowly. “He lunged at him. You restrained him. Skar wanted to kill him immediately.”
“Yes, which is precisely what I’m saying. Don’t you see, Seph?” The moonlight cut a handsome glint across his face. “Skartovius Ashfen would not just kill to protect you . . . he would torture, maim, and destroy for you. He has been a vampire for a long time, lass. He doesn’t have the same morals or compunction humans do. They fled his body ages ago.”
“He doesn’t haveanymorals, far as I can see.”
“That may be true. But I’m begging you . . .” Garro trailed off. His eyes were imploring this time, begging. “Give him another chance.”
“I . . .” I didn’t have an answer. Not then. Not when things were so fresh and raw. I made a face, thinking of that word “raw” and how it related to the carved body of Dimmon Plank.
Garroway cleared his throat. “Do not forget what that human did to you, Sephania. Skar is making sure heneverforgets and will always regret it. A life of torment and pain is what awaits Dimmon Plank. Nothing more.”
“Skarturnedhim, Garro, just so he could recuperate and torment him all over again, day in and day out. Yes, I want Dimmon dead, but does that not worry you? He’s taken a new thrall—one he only wants to inflict unfathomable pain upon.”The words made a black pit open in my stomach as it dawned on me just how psychotic Lord Ashfen truly was.
“I know,” Garro sighed. “It’s . . . not helping build any favorable opinions about Master’s sanity, I’m sure.”
I snorted an ugly laugh, shaking my head. “I’ll say.”
“Just remember, he did it for you. Because of what was done to you. Does that not show he cares, in his own twisted way? He is a man obsessed.” Garro gave me one of his crooked grins.
Somehow, against all odds, he managed a tiny smile out of me. “Obsessed? More likepossessed.Don’t push it, cub. I know why Skartovius did it. But I don’t need him fighting my battles for me. Not like this. Fuck.”
Garroway laughed and lashed the horses. “There’s still a few hours of night left, lass. Consider me your escort. Where would you like to go?”
