Gathering Darkness by Morgan Rhodes

her fingertip, she infused even more of her obedience spell into his very being. The four designs—the symbols for each element—were so simple, yet so powerful, especially when etched so deeply into the flesh of an immortal.
    And even when the scars finally faded from sight completely, they would still control him.
    She
would control him.
    â€œDo you think you’re ready?” she asked.
    The words bubbled up and escaped before he could stop them. “I exist only to serve you, my queen.”
    She slid her hands up his chest and throat, then over his cheeks. She held his face between her hands, as she had with Danaus. He had no choice but to meet her gaze, unsure whether she would let him live or kill him now and be done with it.
    No, she wouldn’t do that. She’d spent far too long preparing him for what was to come. She needed him.
    â€œYou will carry out my orders without hesitation. I shall give you a gift in return for all you’ve done and will do for me, my beautiful boy. Do you understand and agree to this?”
    He could feel her scrutinizing him for signs of dissent. If he flinched, she would strengthen her spell even more. More pain, more torture. He would lose that much more of himself. Already the need to obey her was a snake wrapped around his throat, squeezing until he could barely breathe.
    He held on to an image of a beautiful girl with raven-colored hair and sky-blue eyes, the girl he’d once pledged to protect with his very life. He believed in her. She would give him the strength to survive this.
    â€œYes, my queen. I understand completely.”

CHAPTER 8
    NIC
    AURANOS
    C leaning up after King Gaius’s vicious wolfhounds was not the duty of a palace guard. But it was Nic’s duty. He didn’t think it was a coincidence.
    A nasty pair of guards named Burrus and Milo laughed as one of the leashed dogs dragged Nic, quite literally, toward the stables in her search for the best place to relieve herself.
    â€œHaving fun?” Burrus asked.
    â€œSo much fun,” Nic replied without hesitation.
    â€œBe thankful this is the worst the king’s asked of you this week. He seems to be in a foul mood.”
    Was the king ever in a
good
mood? One that wasn’t just for show?
    â€œDon’t worry, though,” Milo said with a sneer. “I’m sure he’s nearly done with you. Looking after his mutts will seem like a luxury compared to what your future holds.”
    â€œAuranians,” Burrus mumbled. “Good for nothing.”
    â€œExcept wiping the arses of the king’s hounds.”
    They both burst into gales of laughter over their own incredible wits.
    Ignoring his fellow guards had become easier in the weeks since Nic had been promoted from stable boy to palace guard (although
promoted
was arguable given his current duties). It didn’t take long for Nic to decide that, though he shared living, sleeping, and eating space with the other guards, he had no desire to become their friend.
    He’d only gotten into one fight this week, which had earned him a black eye from Burrus that had yet to fade completely.
    Limerians.
He spat to the side.
    He hated every last one of them.
    He usually tried to be quick with a quip or a joke or a story, anything to distract the enemies that wore the same uniform as he.
    He’d come to despise the color red.
    Milo and Burrus finally wandered off. “You done?” he said to the wolfhound. She looked over her shoulder and growled at him, baring the same sharp teeth that had torn apart a fat rabbit mere minutes earlier. “No, no, that’s fine. Go at your leisure, madam. I have all the time in the world.”
    She squatted. He waited.
    So this was it. This was how he would survive in this new age of the conquered Auranos.
    Why am I still here?
    â€œShouldn’t be,” he answered himself.
    His family was dead. His sister, Mira, had been murdered by the king himself for