Page 124 of Burn Her They Said
Chapter Forty-Three
Release
Bright yellow light streams in and widens with the opening of the door, prompting each of my Guards to rise quickly and stand one pace away from where I sit in chains. A dark shadow descends in the shape of the Emperor’s caped form, which looms larger the closer he stalks toward me. The confidence in his stride serves as evidence he has sobered since we last met, taking on a different quality than his gait when drunk.
Every spine in the room straightens, and an eerie stillness descends when His Majesty’s Guards follow him in and effectively block the one way in or out.
Emperor Aldritch stares down at me as he closes the distance, only stopping once the toe of his boot collides with the side of my thigh. He slowly lowers into a crouch, with Raki noticeably missing from its typical perch on his shoulder. He braces on one knee and sways when he thrusts a hand out in command.
Ivo breaks from the line to storm over and place a large iron skeleton key in the center of the Emperor’s palm.
I hold my breath as Varic’s shield expands to cover my skin before His Majesty’s pale white hand grasps the underside of my ankle while he reaches forward with his other hand to rotate the shackle. He inserts the key and twists until there is an audible click, then removes and balances the key over his bent knee to pry the metal ring open, finally freeing one of my legs.
I reach down and rub the area to make a show of how uncomfortable they were intended to be, and Varic knowingly retracts his shield, allowing me to redden the skin beneath. His Majesty shifts and repeats the action for my other ankle, while rage and fury course through Varic the longer the Emperor takes to release me.
The Emperor inches closer, with the weight of expectations hiding behind his expression of faux sympathy pulling on my limbs heavier than any shackle could.
“Have you learned your lesson, my little witch?” he asks, projecting his voice.
I nod, though I cannot please someone whose expectations are as mercurial as his moods. Just as it is impossible to keep an abuser from harming you if they have the ability to do so.
I do my best to avoid allowing his hands to touch the skin on my neck as he places the skeleton key within the last remaining shackle. The strange sense of relief is quickly consumed by fear as the weight of the last metal ring leaves my body, though I remain as trapped as ever.
His Majesty straightens, sitting upright to look down on me with a satisfied sneer. I am much too weak to stand, though I force myself up as steadily as I can with Emperor Aldritch crushing my hand, pulling me with him as he rises alongside me. I bow to him in deference, so as not to be locked up again for my insolence.
“You will join me for breakfast,” His Majesty commands as he turns to stalk away without any mention as to my relative state of undress, nor with any orders to clean up first. A deep sigh leaves me, mourning the loss of the warmth I could have if I were to change into clothing of substance, and ideally some form of footwear.
“Your Majesty,” Varic says as he takes a bow.
“Yes?” Emperor Aldritch asks.
“Permission to escort Imperial Grand Witch Tasch to your bathing chamber prior to joining you for breakfast?” Varic asks in the form of a question posed to an Imperial Army Commander.
The Emperor laughs at his delivery, then nods once.
“Do so swiftly. I do not appreciate being kept waiting.” With a flourish of his cape, he exits the secret room, followed by his Imperial Guards.
I brace against the cold stone as my feet fail to hold my weight now that the heat Varic shared with me has dissipated. His hands circle my waist, catching my wilting form before I collapse, pulling me to rest my cheek against his chest, where I greedily breathe in his scent. He lifts beneath my arms to help me stand, and a sharp, stinging pain shoots up my legs.
Cold spreads from where his hands curve around my back, imbuing me with healing, alleviating the sting, though he cannot give me strength.
“I can fly you there,” Fray offers, stepping closer.
“Or I can carry you. It’d be fastest,” Lars says with a goading smile.
I shake my head at both of their offers. “I need to show I can walk.”
“But can you?” Fray asks.
“I have an idea,” Varic says, and my brows rise.
“Do you trust me?”
“Of course.” The words exit my mouth before I can think of my answer. “Should I not?”
He shrugs. “I guess we’re about to find out.”
His gaze shifts to the floor, and an intense focus draws his features.
