Page 270 of Seasons of War
The Phaedra's lust for power consumed his stare when he faced Zayne and gripped the top of his head, lording over him.
Zayne heard the words again.
“I own you.”
And he surrendered today, for the greatest lie he'd ever told. Because he'd already left Mellie in his heart and refused to ever be her husband. There'd be no children. No progeny. No new generation of control and domination. Only a last name for her to wield and all the visits to this study her heart desired.
“It seemed high time for Zayne's promotion,” the Phaedra said to the tattoo artist. “An officer's band normally would be the second badge of honor a soldier receives, not the fifth. But Zayne has never been ordinary.”
Filthy, disgusting man. He didn't care about receiving his second band around his arm or climbing the ranks.
“I just wish Adelle could see this.” The tears in Mellie's eyes made him burn with anger. He didn't want to speak about Mom in front of the man who had her killed.
“She'd be very proud,” the Phaedra said.
The sting of the needle wove contempt beneath Zayne's skin.
“I know I am, my son. You've come such a long way, growing into who I always knew you would be.”
A deadly beast the Phaedra captured and controlled.
Or so he thought.
Zayne dipped his head. “I will always serve you, my Phaedra.”
Delight lit the Phaedra's smile at finally conquering Zayne. “And so I will honor and protect all that is yours.”
CHAPTER 63
Kira
The Capital
Kallum, Ciondo
833 P.C. [Post-Collapse]
The night that decided everything arrived, and Kira felt covered in blood all over again. Zayne, Brock, and who knew how many others placed themselves in harm's way for her life.
One life.
It wasn't that Kira didn't want to be free—she'd give almost anything to escape this cell. But that was it. Almost anything.
“Will you have to hurt anyone?” Kira asked while Zayne sorted through his bag. He claimed the hardest parts were already over—arranging safe transportation out of Ciondo and taking over the camera system at the prison. Already, she tasted freedom in being off camera, but what was the cost?
She tried to never think of Zayne pulling the trigger on that elder, and especially not about those vacant eyes after, but it never left her mind. Right now, she saw it playing on repeat.
Zayne didn't hesitate to kill that man.
“I've minimized contact as much as possible,” he said.
“So you have to hurt someone.”
He paused and looked at her. “Yes. Hopefully, not badly.”
“Doesn't it bother you?”
“Yes.” He grabbed a small bag and tossed it to her. “Give this to the cat right before we leave.”
