Broken Ones (The Coilum Series Book 1) by Mallory Bautsch

Author:Mallory Bautsch [Bautsch, Mallory]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: anonymous
Published: 2023-08-21T16:00:00+00:00

There was a flowering weed in a crack on the floor. Just a foot to her right, the yellow petals sprouted from the center like rays shooting from the core of the sun. The stem was a twisted, knobbly thing, with leaves too big for the plant to carry, and it casually drooped over, yet remained standing. Defying the law of nature as if saying, I can survive. I will make it.

Evalyn didn’t know how, seeing as it was stuck in this dungeon with her, rotting and starving and without sunlight nor rain, but at least she had company. The girl dipped her chin to the weed, head throbbing at the motion, and leaned against the pillar behind her.

Laughter outside the door jolted Evalyn—she’d fallen asleep. By the time she willed her eyes open half an inch, Rouhs was a foot in front of her, scarlet irises drilling into her own.

“Didn’t I warn you, Princess?” he drawled. Strands of hair clung to sweat droplets on his forehead. “I see you’re too repelled by my presence to respond.”

He wasn’t wrong. But her jaw was too swollen to move, and she was too stiff, too weak, to bother trying. The Faerie leered at her silence. When he sprung for the girl and forced her to stand, the sound came out.

“No.”

Rouhs cackled. Humid breath brushed her face. “Didn’t I claim to love my fun?” He traced a finger down her bruised cheek, leaving a stinging ache in its stead.

“Don’t touch me,” she hissed, pulling on her shackles. Each word shot lightning through her jaw.

“A challenge indeed.” Rouhs stroked a hand down her arm.

Evalyn’s legs buckled. Her father had ordered this. She’d essentially asked him to.

Try again.

Challenge accepted.

Rouhs clicked his tongue. “Ailfbane didn’t favor ones like you. Luckily, I prefer the resistance in my females. What a fitting turn of events for his fate to be in your hands… and yours in mine.” The Princess tried to shove Rhous away as much as she could, squirming and squealing under his hold. But his magic wrapped around her chains, bridling any of her remaining self-control.

Again, she was vulnerable.

She knew her nightmares were about to become reality.

Rouhs shifted forward. “How’d you kill him?” The Princess shut her eyes—anything to control her fright. “Did my brother suffer? Or was it quick? He made his end grand, I’m certain. He always had a flair for dramatizing his missions.” Sharpness traced the curve of her ear, a thin stream of warmth and wet following its path. In his bind, she was more powerless than the child in that forest.

He sniggered and groped her arms. She let out a harsh, pained scream, “Get away—"

“You’re an exciting one, aren’t you?” Rouhs declared, dragging nailed fingers down her side, slicing through tunic and skin.

She resisted the urge to sink to the floor, and instead blindly struck, slamming her forehead into his. He stumbled back as they regained their composure. Fresh, hot tears slid down the Princess’ face and the male shook his head, scowling.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.