Chapter 37: Black Blood
>>Aelin
A sickening sound—flesh tearing, a wet, grotesque rip—echoed through the throne room.
Ruoxy screamed, the sound piercing, primal. Blood sprayed as Draegon’s claws tore a strip of skin from her cheek, down to her jawline.
"No! Stop!" Ruoxy screamed as she clutched her face, her fingers trying desperately to hold the ragged edges of her torn skin together. Her shrieks turned into wild, incoherent cries as more skin began to peel away.
We all were mortified of what was happening right in front of us.
She swung wildly at Draegon, clawing at him, but he caught her arm with a sneer. "You’ll never fool anyone again," he spat, his claws digging into her wrist as he pulled her closer.
I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.
"Restrain him!" The queen’s shouts for order were drowned out by Ruoxy’s cries.
"Let me go!" Ruoxy howled, trying to wrench herself free, but Draegon’s claws tore into her again, peeling away more of her skin like paper. Beneath the gory mess, something black and unnatural gleamed.
I couldn’t take my eyes off of her.
Her blood wasn’t red. My heart pounded as I stared at her wide eyed. It was black.