Chapter 44: Betrayal?
Her laughter echoed through the corridor, eerie and sharp. Taria shivered. She didn’t know what was happening, but she knew one thing for certain now, she didn’t like it at all and she wanted to get out of the situation.
She wanted to rush to the portal, but Kaedros’s hand landed firmly on her shoulder, holding her back. The naked blade in Vexa’s hand served as another warning as its light shone silent, gleaming, deadly.
"Yes! Stop! That’s a command from your Lord!" Rauk was shouting, his eye wide as if he couldn’t clearly process what was happening.
The laughter cut off as suddenly as it had begun. Vexa’s voice followed, flat and absolute.
"But you are not my Lord."
Rauk reeled back as if struck, staring at her with wide, pale eyes. His lips trembled. "But..."
"You are not my Lord, you little fool," Vexa said, cutting him off. Then louder, for everyone to hear, she repeated, "You. Are not. My. Lord."
She exhaled in what sounded like relief. "You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to say that."
Kaedros watched Rauk’s face crumple like paper left out in the rain. The young noble opened and closed his mouth, his reality unraveling in front of him.
Poor kid, Kaedros thought.
In his mind, he began digging through his memory for a high-tier fire spell that he could use.
It would take time to form, but he needed to prepare.