A Shard of Amber Light (Unbroken Book 1) by S.M. Baker

Author:S.M. Baker [Baker, S.M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sara Baker
Published: 2019-07-30T16:00:00+00:00

18

十八

“There are different kinds of poison,” Charlotte explained, a sickly grin curled across her face. “Those that kill in an instant and those… those that kill slowly, like the gathering of rain on a hot, cloudless day. Poisons nearly endless in their agony.”

My stomach clenched, nausea rolling through me.

“And then there are those that give the appearance of death, teetering between life and the abyss. We’re going to give Mohkave the latter. I don’t want to kill him, darlings, just make it look like he’s dead.” Her eyes glinted. “Unless you want him killed?”

“No.” My voice shattered the silence following her pronouncement. Before I was completely conscious of it, I stalked forward, snatching my dagger and pressing it against her neck. I bared my teeth. “If you touch him…”

Her lips stretched wider.

“Why Cienna,” she purred, as careless as if she didn’t have a knife pressed to her throat. “I have to touch him. He’s so pretty after all.”

Pressing the knife harder against the pale flesh of her neck, I watched with satisfaction as blood welled out, staining her unblemished skin.

“Hey,” Dao soothed, keeping his face blank, though his eyes glimmered with an echo of the lust I had for her blood. “I want her gone too, but we still need her. After we’re done with her, you’ll never have to look at her again.”

Gritting my teeth, I narrowed my eyes and glared at her through the sharp slits, my mind racing. Slowly, hesitantly and reluctantly, I removed the blade. Charlotte’s grin faltered when I pushed her, watching in satisfaction as her body collided with the wood floor.

“That’s a good girl,” Dao murmured. I snapped my eyes at him, my glare returning.

“Don’t call me that.”

“Relax, Cienna. I didn’t mean anything by it.”

Exhaling, I brushed passed him, trying to conquer the itching feeling of being caged. I hated how comfortably it settled over my skin, like the embrace of a familiar friend.

But aren’t you just a pretty caged bird? the general’s voice tormented me.

“If you kill him, know your life will be forfeit as well.”

“Such violence,” Charlotte murmured, her voice playful and carefree.

Spinning around, I glared viciously at her, my hands clenched so tight my skin bled into a pale, unnatural white.

“I don’t want to hear any more. Just get the job done. If not…” A jagged, bloodthirsty grin rippled across my face. “I’ve warned you of the consequences you’ll face.”

Not giving her, or anyone else, time to respond, I stalked from the room, closing the door behind me with a pointed click. Pressing my back against its cool surface, I listened to the mess of voices left outside.

“If she tries to kill you, I won’t stop her,” Dao snarled.

“How unsporting of you.”

“Charlotte.” Bao-Bei’s voice cracked like a whip.

“Oh, alright,” she crowed petulantly.

Muffled footsteps approached. Scrambling to the bed, I slipped under the covers and pulled them over me. Someone opened the door, and I spun round to glare at whoever it was.

Bao-Bei appeared in the crack, her face heavy with bags beneath her eyes.

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