Page 67 of Wings of Betrayal
And then I spot it. A ridiculously large metal throne, sitting atop a platform. Sitting on the throne is none other than Zalore. He lounges back, dressed in leather pants and a leather vest, which is open at the front, revealing his toned, tanned chest covered in intriguing markings. Some of them are symbols. The language of the gods.
More of them cover his neck and snake up the sides of his shaved head.
He locks his focus on me as he scans my entire body from head to toe and back up again. He licks his full lips.
A clattering sound steals my focus, and I see them. Four females, all naked, with metal chains attached to collars around their necks. Zalore is holding the chains, like leads on dogs, and his lips twitch in amusement as he takes in my reaction to the grotesque sight before me.
“What the hell is this?” I blurt out, and any amusement vanishes from his face.
The females—slaves, I suppose you’d call them—don’t dare look up and instead keep their eyes glued to the stone floor. Without taking his eyes off me, he bends down and clips the chains to several thick metal loops at the base of his throne. Hethen slowly makes his way down the stairs and stops right in front of me.
“Arms up,” he instructs, and I glare at him in disbelief.
He smirks once more, then grabs my wrists and forces my arms into the air.
“Hey!” I protest, but he ignores me and instead pats me down, taking his time around my chest and ass.
Creep.
He then attempts to remove my daggers, but on instinct, I snap my hand down atop his to prevent him from taking them. He locks his eyes onto mine and drops his gaze to my lips.
I can sense his immense power, but I know that I, too, am a powerful goddess, and I won’t allow him to intimidate me.
“Do not touch my daggers.” My voice is firm and somewhat powerful, surprising myself a little, and him too, apparently.
His eyes search mine as if waiting for me to back down, and then his lips twitch at the corners.
“I respect a powerful female. It makes for more of a challenge. I think I would enjoy breaking a powerful female like you.”
I narrow my gaze at him and step closer. “Yeah? Well, good luck trying.”
He chuckles quietly under his breath and makes his way back up the steps to sit on his throne. “I can see why he likes you.”
I don’t dare take my eyes off him, knowing full well this could be a test. I can’t imagine he would ever allow a female to step up to his authority the way I just have.
“Who?” I ask.
He averts his gaze to the male watcher who escorted me in, ignoring my question.
“Bring her in.” His tone is cold, and I somehow know who he’s referring to.
I brace myself as the male watcher disappears from the room. He returns moments later, holding a chain connected to a metal collar around Astelle’s bruised neck.
I widen my eyes as I look her over, my mouth gaping open at just how awful she looks. She is pale and thin, her naked body covered head to toe in bruises. She keeps her gaze down at her feet while she’s practically dragged across the floor.
My blood boils and my fingers twitch as I will my powers to the surface.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Ishoot my powers at the watcher escorting Astelle into the room, sending him flying across the floor.
Astelle finally looks up at me with fear-filled eyes and then quickly looks to Zalore before bowing her head low.
“Astelle?” I call out and rush towards her, but several watchers restrain me.
“Let me go!” I blast my powers in a wave of energy that expands out like a bubble, zapping the watchers across the room.
The first male I blasted is on his feet, his angry glare locked onto mine, and he balls his fists and then storms toward me. I raise my hands, ready to hit him again.