Page 80 of Heir of Broken Souls

“Which one will get me drunk the fastest?”

A wicked grin spreads across his lips as he bows, holding out a bottle of dark amber. “Your wish is my command.”

Chapter30

Delilah

The hollow sound of my boots clacking against the cobblestone floor fills the dark passageway. The tall white candle in my hand quivers as I tremble violently.

Something deep within me, every nerve in my body, screams at me to turn around and run.

Despite this, I continue on, my will for answers outweighing my need for safety.

Steel rings out somewhere in the labyrinth of the halls, the sound halting my feet. Holding my breath, I wait and wait and wait…

A tortured moan of pain breaks through the silence. I take off in a sprint.

I can save him.

I can save him.

I can save him.

The chant rings in my head, trying to outweigh the fear slithering around my heart.

I turn a corner, and the candle in my hand drops from shock at the sight before me. Before I can stop it, bile rises in my throat, overpowering my need to scream.

Standing in the circular room at the bottom of the library, drenched in oily black shadows, is my father. No, that doesn’t feel right. That word doesn’t fit him anymore. It never has.

The man I was taught to fear wields a knife at Ace’s throat, pushing it so deep into his skin that a trickle of crimson runs down his neck.

Tortured, fear-filled forest green eyes land on mine.

Relief consumes him once he sees me, and I watch his knees buckle, the weight of him going limp in Peter’s arms.

The one who has many names.

Father.

Husband.

Human king.

The dark lord.

Peter Bartholomew Covington.

“It’s okay, Ace,” I whisper, my words trembling along with my body.

“Don’t be a fool,” Peter spits.

Ace’s face drains of all color, his eyes shining with the silver of his tears.

Something passes across his face as Peter pushes the blade further into his skin. If I didn’t know any better, it looks like he knows what is coming and has made peace with that fact.

But that can’t be right. He has too much to lose, too much to forfeit. How could he ever find peace knowing he left so much behind? That he never experienced all he deserved?

There is no peace in that.