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.And my victory today will be complete.Because as you both burn at the stake, you will suffer with your last breath, knowing that your death will bring the destruction of her soul.”Broderick yanked against his shackles, every muscle in his body strained as he tried to pull his chains from the wall.“What is this grudge you have against me? That I didn’t know we were brothers? I apologize for not knowing! Why must she suffer because you cannot continue living at peace with that mistake that was not my—”Angus slammed his fist into Broderick’s stomach.Doubling over, Broderick coughed up blood and saw white sparkles at the edge of his blurred vision.“You still think I’m stupid enough to believe that lie!” Angus shouted in Broderick’s face.“You knew goddamn well we were brothers! Fraser told me you were the one to convince our father to turn me away…a babe at your doorstep!”Broderick grunted as Angus kicked his ribs.Monika’s rushed to Angus, who shoved her aside.“Stay…back…Mon—”Angus kicked again, cracking Broderick’s ribs.With a rapid succession of punches, Angus battered Broderick until he lay on the floor, bleeding and moaning.Monika whimpered somewhere in the corner.“Fraser Campbell was a cruel bastard, but he at least took me under his roof in spite of my mother’s betrayal.All Hamish ever did was attempt to erase his mistake by trying to kill me…and you were right there by his side.So don’t tell me you never knew.”Though his bonds drained much of immortal abilities, Broderick cried out as his body healed and his ribs snapped back into place.His breathing returned to normal and the swelling around his eye receded enough to see Angus pacing and clenching his fists.“He lied to you, Angus.My mother had several miscarriages.”Angus kicked him again.Broderick grunted and forced himself to speak through the pain.“I never would have told our father to abandon my own brother, half-blood or otherwise.”Angus growled and hauled Broderick up by his shirt, slamming him against the wall.Broderick swallowed the blood in his mouth and whispered, “Fraser either lied, or Hamish never told us.”“Father Campbell? Do you need assistance?”Angus clutched Broderick’s face.“You’re lying,” he gritted through his teeth.Broderick groaned as his ribs healed again.“Your whole life has been a lie, brother.” He hissed and winced through another bone snap.“I’m sorry.”He shoved Broderick once more before letting him collapse to the ground with a grunt.Monika rushed to his side.“That damn cure almost killed me!”Broderick lifted his head and Monika helped him back into a seated position.Angus held Marcus back with a hand on his throat.“I want her…now! She owes me!”The two guards came into the chamber and stood on either side of the door.“You’re just in time, Sparenland,” Angus growled.“The trial is about to begin.” He shoved Marcus toward the guards who slapped shackles on him.“What?” Marcus swung at the guards and Angus slammed him against the wall, holding him while the guards finished locking the iron cuffs around his ankles and wrists.Marcus spat in Angus’s face.“You bastard! Your Inquisitor is a Vamsyrian! He’s just like MacDougal!” Angus and the guards dragged him out of the room and into the cell across the corridor, his accusations echoing through the dungeon.Broderick met Monika’s confused gaze.“He was able to administer the cure to himself?” he whispered.She shrugged.“He must have had help.”When they finished locking Marcus in his cell, Angus nodded toward Broderick and Monika.“Take the Vamsyrian and the witch with us.The werewolf will burn with them once the trial is finished.”* * * * *Monika’s wrists chafed from the ropes and her back ached from standing on the wooden platform for hours.Angus had made her the main focus of the trial by touting her as the witch who controlled them all.Father Meier’s questioning was brief and the poor man didn’t have much of a chance to defend himself, since he refused to answer most of Angus’s questions about this Army of Light.Angus thrilled at demonstrating Broderick’s healing abilities in front of a rapt audience.Such a demonstration was conviction enough, so his portion of the trial was even shorter than Father Meier’s [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]