Something was dripping on my head, and it was so annoying. I groaned and pried my eyes open. Something crusty was covering them, and it was hard to force them open. I couldn’t move my arms either. They were chained above my head, numb from having to hold up my entire body weight and from just generally draining of blood.

I found my footing and coughed. Something in my ribs felt… Broken, and my head ached with a passion.

“My prince.”

I looked up from the floor and tears started streaming down my cheeks. “Aki. Please, help me. I think my ribs are broken.”

“Yeah. That tends to happen when you fall hard on them.” He came further into the room. There were no windows here, so the only light source was the lantern in his hand. The light was cutting in my eyes, and I had to look away.

“Please… I’m in so much pain...”

“You need to answer some questions. Then I’ll free you. Understand?”

I nodded.

“Where is the queen?”

I looked up at him again and frowned. “She… Was in the throne room. I didn’t see where she went. Is she alright? Please tell me she’s alive.”

“I ask the questions here. Tell me where the queen is and stop playing dumb.”

I softly cried, and my legs couldn’t hold me up anymore. They buckled under me, and my wrists were screaming at me from the added weight.

“I don’t know anything. I promise.”

“We’ll have to see about that. Obviously, you just need to stay here a little longer. To get that tongue working.”

“Please, Aki, I don’t know anything!” I whined pathetically as he exited the door.

“We’ll see,” he said and looked back over his shoulder. “Just tell the truth, Quinn, and they’ll let you go.”

He closed door as I roared at him. Cursing him.

***

“Let’s do this one more time. Where is the queen?”

Tears were streaming down my face, and I was so tired. I just wanted to sleep. I hadn’t slept properly since the explosion, and I hadn’t been unchained a single time. I couldn’t feel my hands anymore.

“I don’t know,” I softly cried.

Aki cracked his knuckles and then slammed them against my cheekbone. I didn’t scream anymore. I was too tired and my throat too dry.

“Quinn, how many times do I have to tell you that it’ll be so much easier if you just cooperate? Just tell us what you know, and it’ll be over. You can go back to your life.”

I sobbed and shook my head. “I swear I don’t know anything. I swear.”

Aki sighed deeply and turned back to the door. He knocked on it a couple of times, and it opened. A man I didn’t know came into the cell, grabbed my chin and lifted my head up.

His almost black eyes swept over my face. I was panting, praying they’d let me go now. I just wanted to lie down. Have a bath. Most of all, I wanted to not be chained to the wall anymore.

“The bastard knows nothing,” he murmured. “He’s a snivelling child. He wouldn’t be able to withstand torture this long and not break. Has he said anything of use?”

“He has confessed to a lot of things,” Aki said with a shrug. “Nothing we can use, though.”

“Release him. Get him cleaned up and properly dressed. Have a doctor look him over. We can’t lose another.” The man looked back down at me with a faint smile. “Your Highness, as of now you’re the only confirmed surviving av Stál. You’re the king regent, head of the Andaheim empire.”

“My sister is dead?” I whispered.

“Yes. She’s assumed dead.”

I closed my eyes, and he let my chin go. Aki came forward, and I shied away instinctively.

“Relax, I’m unchaining you now.” He unlocked the cuffs, and I would’ve fallen down if he hadn’t caught me. “It’s okay now, Quinn.” His voice was so soft, and I clung to it and him.

He carefully lifted me off the floor and carried me all the way back to my chambers. He undressed me and led me into the washroom. The tub was already filled, and he helped me get into it.

“There. That feels better, doesn’t it?” Aki asked softly and knelt down beside the tub.

“Yes, thank you,” I whispered and pressed my knees to my chest. My wrists were horrendous. And my hands were paler than the rest of me.

“It’s gonna be better now, Quinn,” Aki murmured.

I whimpered and tried to suppress it. I didn’t want him to touch me, but at the same time, I craved affection. I craved a hug. I couldn’t figure my head out, and the only thing I kept thinking about was the fact that I didn’t want anymore pain.

I just didn’t want to be in anymore pain.