"She's different," Sasha muttered. "Easy to break. Still human."

"What's her gift?"

"Fuck off, Rhyn. Who would you rather see her with, Kris or me? Kris must be livid I've stolen her from him."

"She's better off dead."

He wanted to keep Sasha talking, to find out what it was about this woman that was so special that both Sasha and Kris wanted her. And to spend more time outside his cell. He'd long since stopped trying to escape, knowing the magic of Hell and the Dark One was too old for him to break. He'd still rather be humoring Sasha and eating his oranges than sitting in the damned cell!

"You don't seem too thrilled yourself," he added.

"The timing is bad," Sasha said with a glance. "I may need something of you soon."

"You know I'll refuse."

"We'll see," was the growled response. "I do have news for you."

"I don't give two --"

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"Andre is dead-dead."

Rhyn fell silent. The only brother who'd accepted him and treated him half decently was gone?

"Thought that might mean something to you," Sasha said, searching his face. "I guess not. Maybe I've succeeded in breaking you after all."

"Never, fuckhead."

"Without your protector, you'll never be welcomed at the Council."

"I never was," Rhyn growled. "One of you was always trying to kill me."

"And now you've got no one to protect you. You've got nothing, Rhyn, but a place by my side. Think about it."

"Done. No," Rhyn said without hesitation.

"Get the fuck back to your cell."

Sasha left, pissed this time. Rhyn watched him, even more curious after the odd interaction. Sasha had told him many things before to try to break him, but this time, he sensed the truth behind the words.

Andre was gone. He felt heaviness sink to the pit of his stomach, and regret trickled through him.

Of all the brothers, Andre had been the only who believed in him. The eldest and wisest had found him when he was a child, wandering the immortal world, alone. Andre had raised him as much as anyone, sponsored his petition to be recognized by the immortals, cleaned up all the messes he'd never meant to make.

Regret turned to sorrow, and Rhyn gazed around him. Whatever killed Andre would never have succeeded if he weren't trapped here!

He snatched two more oranges before the magic constrained his movement. He took his time going back to the cell block.




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