Page 72 of The Never List
“Dungeons,” I say, my voice cracking over the word.
“On what grounds?” Baydel asks.
I have none. No solid evidence to stand on. The prisoner clearly just tried to attack Baydel, but still, there is a part ofme that wonders if he’d been provoked. I’d wanted to lash out my first night in the palace when Baydel put his hands on me without my consent… That could beme, and if it were, I’d want someone to hear my side of the story. To give me a chance. “On the grounds that I don’t relish death,” I finally answer.
“He tried to attack one of your kings, and you would spare him?” Baydel flicks his wrist toward the man in question.
I don’t get a chance to answer.
“He dies,” Baydel says, and the man hauls himself to his feet with jagged movements. One releases him immediately, and bile climbs up my throat as I realize what’s happening.
Baydel is controlling him.
The manleapsacross the marble floor like he’s rehearsing a dance. The Occuli sweep their green flames in time to his movements, never missing a single step as the man twirls and spins, all the while grunting with wide, panicked eyes.
I try to move—to do what, I’m not sure—but Kal holds me in place.
“A threat upon the life of a king is a forfeit of the life who dared it.” Baydel’s voice is laced with pure, undiluted delight as he maneuvers the criminal around the dining hall, each grand dance move more jagged than the next, each one bringing him closer and closer to that open window I thought about jumping out of earlier.
Oh, goddess, he’s going to—
The criminal spins in tight pirouettes, over and over again until he jerks to a halt and dips in the most forced bow I’ve ever seen. His eyes are filled with raw terror, thekind that has me swallowing icy breaths as my heart races.
Brooks shifts in his seat, like he wants to get a better view of the scene, and the criminal’s eyes soften just slightly, as if he’s fully accepted his fate—the calm of death washing over him with a tragic numbness that prickles my insides—
And then he leaps out the window, the muffled sounds of his screams echoing throughout the room as he disappears from sight.
I close my eyes, unable to stop my reaction. I know I should hold my mask, should smooth my features, should pretend like I’m okay with what happened, but I allow a few precious seconds to collect myself while the Occuli are still focused on the man falling to his death.
When I open my eyes, Baydel is watching me with a satisfied sort of smile that makes my legs shake.
Kal slowly turns us toward the doors, a casual move to initiate our exit.
“Now that that’s all settled,” Baydel says as we reach the doors, his voice too chipper for the gruesome scene he just directed. “Kal. Do me the honor of allowing me to escort your potential back to her rooms.” He’s not asking. Not after what just happened. Not after the power he just showed. “I’m sure you’ve already said your goodbyes.”
I can see the battle on Kal’s face. He’s actually contemplating arguing with Baydel—the king who just made a man dance to his death without showing any proof of his crimes. Kal’s silent concern fills my heart in a way I’ll never be able to fully express, but he has no business going toe to toe with Baydel. Not when his powers are no match for the king’s.
And besides, we’ve already agreed he’ll come with metomorrow. No need to fight Baydel when this isn’t goodbye.
I force a smile to my lips, grinning up at Kal as I slip my arm from his. “I’ll see you when you visit the Sapphire Cove, yes?”
Kal nods, planting a quick kiss over my lips before reluctantly striding through the doors.
Baydel extends his arm, and I can’t help but glance back at the other kings. Jullian is standing, almost hovering near the edge of the table, Brooks near his side, with Lucas content, finishing his dessert. How can he eat after what just happened?
I slide my arm through Baydel’s because I’m in no position to refuse his offer, my skin crawling at every place of contact as he leads me through the doors and into the foyer. I half expect to see Kal lingering there, but if he is, it’s not where I can see.
The elevator doors open for Baydel once we reach them, as if they sense his presence, and quickly close behind us. He doesn’t drop my arm, and though he’s only an inch or so taller than me, I feel two feet tall, trapped in a golden cage with a ruthless killer.
His power is a threat I can feel biting at my skin, so much so that I have to hush mine in response to it.
“You know, I’m usually very good at reading people,” he says as the elevator takes us down. “Especially potentials.”
“That’s a neat trick,” I say, keeping my tone in the sweet zone, blinking frequently as if I have no cares in the world. As if I’m not panicking over what just happened, what he just did.
“You, though,” he says, ignoring my comment. “You’re much harder to read.”
“Huh,” I say, practically squeaking. I count the floors as we descend, the breath easing in my lungs as we reach my floor.
