Chapter 240

THE AIR AROUND ME CRACKLED with screams of anguish and my knees turned to water when I recognized Alek's final cries from that awful morning. The sounds rooted me to the spot as I heard the laboured breaths, the groans and whimpers of pain before it startedthe slight crackle of energy followed by his inhuman, bone jarring, shrieks of agony. My chest heaved and I gulped breaths, holding back tears until the sounds grew quiet and I heard his broken whispers to me, his tortured voice shattering my heart. Tears fell, plodding on the thick carpet at those final words.

Then it vanished. The room still and silent like when I'd entered.

Swallowing, and swallowing again, I shook off the sudden, overwhelming grief and turned to glare at the portrait, dagger itching against my palm. The gaze looked blankly past me.

Stumbling on the thick pile carpet, I stiffened my limbs and ignored the portraits, continuing my way around the curving corridor. Those bulging lights continued and I counted two m