bChapter /bb138 /b

    Kimberly’s POV

    Thorne’s face was a mask–no emotion, nothing to show for the tension hanging between us.

    He didn’t even flinch when Kimberly’s cry echoed through the room.

    Without a word, he walked toward me, grabbed the rope that bound my hands, and yanked it. It snapped.

    My hands were free.

    I didn’t move, still eyeing him with suspicion. “What are you ying at?” I asked, my voice edged with uncertainty.

    “You’re free to go,” Thorne said, his tone as cold as ice.

    I narrowed my eyes. “Does thise from Lance?”

    Thorne’s gaze never wavered. “I made the call.”

    Instead of feeling relief, I burst outughing–a sharp, sarcastic sound that filled the room. “Oh, so now you’re the big boss? Just because you turned on everyone you knew and kissed up to your enemy, you think you can call the shots? And now byou /bexpect me to thank you?b” /b

    His expression remained as t as ever.

    “Where’s the dungeon?” he asked, cutting through my words like a de.

    I raised an eyebrow. “Why? You looking for someone important?”

    His face darkened. “Don’t give me attitude. Answer the question.”

    bI /bcould feel the anger bubbling up in me. He stood there, bas /bcold and unbothered as ever, and I could barely keep the rage in check.

    I had never liked Thorne. Men like him were the reason I didn’t trust anyone. I had agreed to work with him only because of ra. And Thorne, so blindly in love with her, seemed like someone I could manage.

    But now? This bastard had sold them all out.

    “Do you want to know where Lance is keeping ra?” I couldn’t hold back the venom in my voice. “Do you feel sorry? For betraying her? For getting her

    into this mess?”

    Thorne’s eyes darkened even more. “This is none of your business.”

    “Then fuck you,” I spat, my words as sharp as a knife. “I’m not telling you anything. I’ll never let you hurt her again. For all I careb, /bshe hopes you brot /b

    somewhere miserable.”

    He snorted, as if my words had no effect on him at all. It only proved what I already knew–he was heartless. Aplete prick.

    “You’re such a big boss now,” I taunted, “Why don’t you find her yourselfb? /bAsk Lance. You practically saved his ass. I’m sure he’d btell /byou anything.”

    Thorne turned away, ignoring mepletely.

    From his pocket, he pulled out ba /bsmall package and ced bit /bbon /bbthe /btable. bMy /beyes flicked to the bandages and antibiotics blying /bbthere/b.

    “You’re right,” Thorne said, his voice low. “bElára /bprobably doesn’t want bto /bbsee /bme

    I bfelt /ba flicker of something, but it quickly disappeared.

    b1/3 /b

    b20:18 /bFrib, /bb1 /bbAug /bGu

    “Give this to her,” Thorne continued, his voice steady. “Tell her to take care of herself. And tell her I have my reasons.”

    He turned to leave, and I just stood there, watching him walk away.

    Part of me wanted to shout at him, demand he exin himself. But I couldn’t find the words.

    He had already closed the door behind him before I could say anything.

    I stood there for a long moment, the silence pressing in on me.

    The next few days felt like a nightmare.

    Mi visited daily, bringing soldiers with her. They tortured ra, each day a new form of torment. I watched as they beat her senseless, knowing there was nothing I could do–my hands were tied.

    The worst part? Mi seemed to enjoy it. She sat there, dressed to impress, watching as the soldiers tore into ra. The make–up she wore couldn’t hide the bruises, couldn’t erase the damage.

    But when she showed up again, her golden tooth was the one thing that caught my eye.

    “Shiny,” ramented, her voice cold, the smile she gave Mi barely a curve.

    “It fits your bad taste,” ra added, her words cutting through the tension like a razor.

    Mi’s eyes narrowed, her lip curled in fury. “Shut up, bitch!” she yelled, her voice rising.

    She beckoned one of the soldiers, and in moments, a stun gun was brought over. The flicker of electricity, the thought of it coursing through ra’s body, made me sick to my stomach. But ra’s face remainedposed–she wasn’t giving Mi the satisfaction of seeing her fear.

    Then, just as Mi was about to press the button, a voice rang out from the door.

    “Who says there isn’t?”

    I snapped my head toward the sound.

    Standing there, arms crossed, was Kimberly.

    “Well, well,” Mi’s voice trembled with shock. “What are you doing here, traitor? You should be locked up.”

    Kimberly stepped into the room, her soldiers trailing behind her like shadows.

    “The King gave me my job back. As the Cab Minister,” Kimberly said with a sneer. “And I should be asking you: what the hell are you doing here, harassing ra without permission?”

    Mi stood frozen for a moment, her face shifting from defiance to fear.

    “I didn’t need permission!” she snapped, raising her chin high. “I’m the Queen. I go where I please.”

    “Wrong,” Kimberly’s smile widened, icold /ias ice. “Without authorization, you’remitting ba /bserious crime. And I intend to make sure you’re ipunished /ifor it.”

    She snapped her fingers.

    Her soldiers closed inb, /bsurrounding Mi’s menb. /b

    “One arm,” Kimberly said, her voice almost casual.

    In seconds, Mi’s men were on their knees, pleading for mercy. But it was toote.

    With a sickening crack, one soldier’s arm was snapped, and then another. Within moments, all of them were down, each one writhing bin /bbpain/bb, /bbclutchings /bat the stumps where their arms had once been.

    Mi’s face was pale, her body trembling.

    “Does the future queen like to have a taste of that?” Kimberly taunted, her voice filled with satisfaction.

    Mi was speechless, her lips trembling as she backed away.

    Kimberly’sugh rang out, full of dark amusement. “I’m too important to be reced, Mi. You? Not so much.”

    Mi’s face flushed with humiliation, but she couldn’t argue. Kimberly was right. She had no power here.

    “Get out,” Kimberly ordered, her voice icy.

    Mi hurried out, her men trailing behind her.

    Once they were gone, Kimberly turned to me, her face softening for the first time since entering.

    “Look at you,” she said, rushing to my side. “That fucking Mi–she’s going to pay.”

    I grabbed her hand, my grip tight. “Forget about her. Have you heard from Thorne?”

    Kimberly rolled her eyes. “Why the hell are you still asking about that traitor? He’s dead to you.”

    I looked at her, my voice barely a whisper. “Maybe he has his reasons.”

    Kimberly’s eyes narrowed. “What reasons? He didn’te see you once while you were locked up. He’s out there partying with Lance. You think he gives a damn?”

    I shook my head, my voice breaking. “I know Thorne… This isn’t him. Not like this.”

    Kimberly’s jaw tightened. “Fine,” she mutteredi, /ipulling a key from her pocket. “Come with me.”

    She unlocked my chains and helped me to my

    feet.

    “You’ll see with your own eyes. Then you’ll understand.”

    2018