Shadow of the Abyss

Chapter 394 Fifth Circle II

"what the hell do you think you're doing?" elder ashe demanded sharply, perhaps too sharply. "you have insulted the duke heir!"

within his chamber, elder yorke's lips buckled out of anger. "duke heir," he grumbled. "he has not my loyalty or my love!" he looked at elena, her legs folded over the other on the settee. "i have given such things to lord conall, not the duke heir."

"are you mad? conall is a bastard! it's hardly a comparison between the duke heir and conall. they want to whip you, you blasted fool!"

yorke's seamed eyes appear to blaze fire. "whipped! i am a transcendent elder to house rivia! i—"

elder ashe slapped him. "recognize where you are! the castellan is one of the dukes bannerman. they'd sooner have you dead than ruin this engagement, or is it you believe the marquis will plead for your life? when you spat over the face of house nier before commoners and noblemen alike?"

"i've done nothing wrong," yorke insisted.

"it's not about right or wrong. it's about perception! you are a bloody elder. a transcendent who has openly objected to the marriage between our two houses!"

"if you do not apologize," elena said cooly. "the unity between our two houses will be shattered."

for the first time, yorke looked surprised. "unity? my lady, you rode to inka to break the engagement. how can you have the face to say such things? is it because he bedded you!"

"what did you say?"

"they say your moans sweltered through the halls," elder yorke added. "how could you turn lord conall into a cuckold."

elena went red, though not from shame. storming to her feet, she crossed the boundary between them as her palm lashed across his cheek. "i don't know what you've heard, but i am still your lady! i am still elena, the rightful heir to house rivia. i will not accept such false allegations. nox and i merely shared a room, nothing more, nothing less."

elder yorke gave a flat, empty laugh. "false? several maids have found you with his seed on your belly. your clothes ripped and—"

elena gave him another lick of her palm. "go home, yorke. you are dismissed."

"i cam here on orders of the marquess, my lady. i cannot merely leave. even if you command it."

elena didn't bat an eye. "then you will either apologize or be executed on the grounds of treason against house rivia." she turned halfway out the door before elder yorke's voice held her step.

"and what do i tell lord conall?

again, elena could not believe her ears. it simply ached hearing someone she once trusted speak as if she were a cattle to be poked and prodded. and she had to wonder who held yorke's loyalty: house rivia or conall.

the vale king looked at her as if she were filth. "cry somewhere else, not in my presence. it's disgusting. you are a noble. not some common wench."

"why does it have to be me? why can't i just be with the person i lov—"

"enough," decreed the vale king. "these are the consequences of your actions, not mine. if you can't deal with them, don't bet." he held her by the cheek, bathing in that look of hollow despair, and kissed her.

"monster," elder ashe said, turning away, shaking.

teary-eyed, she pushed him away, the sting of his lips against her own, covering the one she had given conall before she'd left. despair ran heavily across her paling face, yet she could do nothing... the contract forbade it. defeat traced her image as she stumbled back onto her bottom, shattered. the walls were shrinking, closing down around her, squeezing the air from her lungs.

darkness swallowed her vision as she threw her head back, echoing a cry with the last of her strength.

at the sight of her faint on the floor, the vale king rolled his eyes. "so dramatic... you. take her away. have my medarc look at her. if anyone asks, tell them her fiance beast that tried taking another bite."

ashe, who'd thrown himself to catch her, glared furiously at the king. "how could you be so heartless? is she not your fiancee? how can you treat her less than a piece of—"

"i use what is mine, but it isn't your concern, elder ashe. it's the marquess. this marriage is beneficial to your house. i'm sure you need us more than we need you. after all, you kept the engagement for a thousand years. desperate if you ask me.

now, i have to wonder what the marquess is thinking." he smiled again, thinking it over. "he needs us. that's why he sent you and yorke to collect elena. it's who i know you'll keep your bloody mouth shut when he arrives."

"monster..."

"hmmm. instruct your lady to play her part well. a selfish fool like her is bound to be the end of house rivia if all the facts aren't laid out for her. neither of us wants that. and surely not the marquess. you may leave."

in resigned defeat, elder ashe carried elena out of the room as tasha sauntered in moments later, smiling.

"my lord, you are absolutely wicked. you keep surprising me. how far do you intend to take... elena."

"until she is no longer useful," altair said, his voice no longer as cold and empty. it was flat, as if he were speaking about a stranger.

i cannot control when the vale king might appear, so there are scenarios i simply can't control. as disdainful as it is... the vale king has chosen elena to be a sacrifice to his madness.

he looked at tasha, breathing a sigh. "i plan to break through by the end of the week. prepare me a formation. i suspect the tribulation that will fall upon my head to be catastrophic."

"as you command, my master."