Kira woke when she felt Toran’s body stiffen. As he stood, he growled deep in his throat and exposed his upper teeth in a snarl.
“What is it boy?” Muffled voices carried from the other side of the metal door, but Kira couldn’t make out what they said. When they stopped and the barn fell silent, the door slid open and Cael and Zerek strolled in. Nigel stood by the door, his arms folded across his chest. She saw disappointment and regret in his eyes before he looked away.
Toran jumped to his feet and lunged for Cael, only to cry out as the chain yanked him back. Sunlight streamed through the window—shining on the source of Toran’s pain. The thick leather collar held metal blades against his neck. Whenever he pulled, the blades drove into his flesh. In addition to the fresh blood matted at his throat, long gashes sliced across his back. Kira tried not to think of the torture he’d endured at the hands of these monsters.
Zerek held a leather whip in his hand. He’d coiled it like a rope, but when Toran dove for him, he dropped all but the handle and snapped it in the air. Toran cowered before jumping at him again. This time the whip hit him square across the face. Toran cried out and slumped to the floor.
“Stop it!” Kira begged. She crawled to Toran, examining his fresh wound. Laying her hand over the injury, she tried to heal it, but nothing happened, not even a hint of burn from the Crystor.
“The Princess would like a word with you.” Zerek snapped the whip again.
“She’s no princess—far from it,” Kira said.
Zerek laughed. “Perhaps you should be the one to inform her of that.”
“Why? Are you afraid of her?” She stood and leaned against the wall, leaving Toran between them.
“When you see what she has planned for you, you’ll change your attitude.” Zerek held out his whip again, ready to strike. “Come with us, or I will whip him ‘til he’s dead.”
Kira took a step toward them. “You touch him and I’ll scratch your eyes out.”
Zerek pulled back the whip and gave it a flick in Toran’s direction. It made a loud snap above his head. “You choose. Go with us or he dies.”
“Fine, I’ll go.” Toran lurched to his feet and growled at Zerek again, pulling against the chains. Kira buried her bound hands in his fur and stroked his back. “It’s okay, I’ll be right back.”
Zerek laughed. “She speaks to the beast as if he understands. Perhaps she has a gift.”