Spurned Queen

Chapter 48: Breaking Out

Lexi

I was faint. I was having wolfsbane pumped into my body relentlessly. I had had nothing to eat or drink since I woke. And worst of all, I had listened to Dylan's screams for the better part of two days. The little elf that helped me never returned, and now they gave me just enough that I was conscious but incapacitated.

The door opened. It was not yet time for another dose, so I knew Rowan was here. I could do little more than see and speak.

The chain that held me up began to rotate slowly until I faced the door. Rowan, still walking around pretending to be my mother, placed a remote back onto the table. I watched him passively.

A soft hand cupped my face. "My love, why do you have to do this to yourself?" If I had closed my eyes, somehow been able to ignore that stupid veil, I could almost imagine that it was my mother who spoke to me. But I couldn't.

"Your friend is half dead now, and still you won't tell me?"

I didn't bother with a reply.

"So be it," he said solemnly. "What if I used your mate instead?"

My eyes widened in alarm. "You have him?" I gasped. "He's here?!"

"Well sweetie I haven't been idle all the time you've been stuck here. I found him and I dragged him here right to my lair. He actually came willingly if you must know." He smiled cruelly.

I hung my head. Why would Aevran be so stupid? Why would he do that? I thought he didn't care.

"I don't believe you," I whispered. But I did. Rowan never made any statement he couldn't back up.

"No?" He smirked. He pressed the button for what I assumed was an intercom. "Bring him in," he ordered. Three witches dragged him in, bound in chains even thicker than mine.

Inwardly, I swore when I saw that he was, indeed, Aevran. Just his presence gave my body strength, clearing my brain somewhat. But what he was doing here was beyond me.

I immediately fixed him with a glare. "What the fuck are you doing here?" I growled.

He looked up at me from his position kneeling on the floor. His bright green orbs softened with fake concern. "Baby," he began, and I almost scoffed. "I just couldn't bear any more time apart from you. When my brother said there was a way to help you, I had to come, despite having to hand myself over to these damn wielders. Just to see you again, baby. I'm so glad you're okay."

The look in his eyes matched his story perfectly, but I had know from the first word that this was all fake.

"Oh, babe," I whimpered back, and only I caught the sliver of mirth in his eyes. "You shouldn't have come... you know they will hurt you. Did they hurt your brother, Boo Thang?"

Nearly everyone in the room gagged and he shot me a brief glare, but my eyes dared him to object. "No, my precious," and it was my turn to look amused, "Aevran is the king. You shouldn't be so worried about him." I stared at him, but he gave no indication that he had said anything amiss. "Don't worry butterfly, we'll make it through this together."

"Okay love bug, I trust you," I cooed, saccharine sweet.

"Okay that's enough, take him back to his cell," Rowan interrupted our exchange irritably, and they obeyed. "I didn't expect you to be in such a mushy relationship," he grumbled. "You'd think you didn't know each other's names."

I didn't. "Jealous?" I prodded him, now smirking. He just stared, but I couldn't see his eyes, of course.

"No," he answered. "because the agony he is about to go through is something I would never come near doing to anyone... if you would only give me the Pearl."