They were escorted into a huge, sweltering room and lined up against the back wall. Above them, a balcony ran along the length of the wall, and half of the two connecting walls; it was held in place by four twelve-foot-tall versions of the hellhound statues outside.

On the other side of the room was a large stone altar with manacles attached to it. Ten feet beyond that was a ledge, and then a pit glowing orange from the lava that flowed below. To their left was a huge throne made of the same gray stone as the walls; next to it, bound and gagged and sitting against the side on the black marble, was Amiya.

The man on the throne stood when they entered and moved toward them. His long blond hair was pulled back and tied at the nape of his neck, showing his face―a pointed nose, icy blue eyes, and thin, petulant lips. “You must be the pests,” he said with the cocky, arrogant demeanor of a bratty child.

“You must be Xavien,” Cael concluded calmly.

“King Xavien,” he corrected, obviously trying to sound menacing but only achieving a sulky tone.

“Sit down,” a haughty voice commanded. A woman seemed to materialize as she walked up beside him.

Xavien returned to the throne, looking ill-tempered, while Kieran sauntered over to the group. She was identical to Amiya, with the exception of her long black hair, her dark eyes, and a birthmark on her right wrist that was in the shape of a hellhound’s head.

Yet she seemed so much more beautiful than her sister―perhaps it was because of the lusty smile on her deep red lips, or her curvaceous, scantily clad body. She wore clothes made of black leather strips―her top was gathered together between her full breasts with a gold hellhound clasp, and her skirt was just a wider strip which barely covered enough to be called a miniskirt, and showed off her long legs.

“Well, I have to thank you,” she told them, her voice a husky purr. “You’ve brought me the final ingredient.” She glanced back at Amiya. “The last thing I need for my immortality. You've saved me a lot of tedious work.”

“Why do you need her?” Cael asked calmly.

“She is to be the final sacrifice.”

“But that would kill you.”

She laughed. “No,” she said with a satisfied smile. “I was only keeping her safe until the time was right. She is a very stupid girl, you know―she was bound to get herself killed, and that wouldn’t have helped me at all.”

They glanced over at Amiya, confused.

“Oh, she told you everything she knew, as planned,” Kieran said. “I told her all that nonsense about a connection between us as a back-up plan, just in case someone got to her before I did. Then they would kill her, thinking it would kill me. But you see, it’d still be my doing, so it’d count.”

“Count for what?”

“Malluk has asked several things of me,” she said, seeming happy to explain. “One of those things was the extinction of my family, but he wanted Amiya for last. He wanted my final act to be killing someone so good, so pure.” She smiled at that. “My mother died some time ago, unfortunately―some incurable disease. But at least they tell me that she suffered in the end. My father, though, was still living, as well as a few cousins and an aunt.”

“And you’ve killed them all.”

She grinned. “Yes. And now sweet little Amiya gets her turn. Then the only mortal tie left will be one that pleases Malluk―my heir, the one who will take my place as High Priest and Xavier's as king.”

“Who is that?” Cael asked.

She chuckled, then made a tsk-tsk sound. “You’ll know in due time―you’ll serve him someday. Well… if I choose to let you live, that is.” She sighed blissfully then. “Today is a historic day. You should feel quite honored to be here. Today, I finally become a goddess. As soon as the sun is high enough to light the altar"―she pointed up to the top of the room, where the wall turned into a rough-hewn cave with a giant hole in the middle―“I will give Malluk the final sacrifice. Quite pleasingly, that gets to be Amiya, and then I’ll fulfill my destiny.”

She smiled as she looked at Cael. “Until then, we’ll just have to amuse ourselves, won’t we?” She walked over to him on bare feet and ran a finger down the side of his face. “At least your human blood makes you attractive. You aren’t vile like the rest of those nasty creatures. But are you pretty underneath your clothes?” She put her finger under his chin and led him forward several feet, then turned him to face his friends, wanting them to watch. “Xavien, remove his shirt.”

The king jumped up to do her bidding. He took a dagger and cut away the green tunic so they wouldn’t have to untie his hands.

Cael stood perfectly still, making no attempt to struggle, his cold stare never leaving Kieran’s face.

“Mmm,” she purred. “He has a body to match.” She ran her hand down his chest and stomach, stopping at his pants. Slipping one finger in, she pulled slightly, suggestively. “I’ll find uses for you after you’re broken in.”

His expression remained frozen, neutral, showing nothing. She moved her hand back up and clenched a fist in his long hair. She pulled him closer, so that her face was level with his, then traced his lips slowly with her tongue before kissing him. He let her, even seemed to give back…

But a moment later she jerked away, licking blood from her bottom lip. “Oh, he bites,” she said with a grin. “How delicious.” She licked his lips again with a flick of her tongue, teasing him, then smiled as she turned her back on him, daring him to try something.

His calculating gaze moved around the room, and then up to balcony. Four guards stood above them, crossbows aimed and ready to fire. The ranger stayed still.

“You have strength and potential,” Kieran said, looking at Falcon now. “Perhaps you would like to serve me and save yourself from your excruciatingly painful end.” Her alto voice was velvety smooth. She leaned closer to Falcon until her face was only a few inches away.

He held his ground and stared back defiantly.

She put a finger at the top of his shirt, then chanted something under her breath. When it was glowing a dim red at the tip, she moved her finger down, his shirt burning just enough to slice it open. He could feel the heat, yet it didn’t burn his skin.

She ran her hand over the muscles of his chest. “Mmm, better and better.” He fought to keep himself calm and heartbeat steady, and she smirked. “I see,” she almost whispered, and he could feel her breath on his lips, “that I excite you.”

He thought she might kiss him, and at that moment, he wanted her to. His stomach tightened, and he swallowed hard. His mind felt hazy, and he couldn’t seem to look away from her obsidian eyes.

“Surely you want to come with me,” she said, her hand moving up so that her finger could caress his bottom lip.

All he could think was Yes―his mind was empty of everything except her. Her hand moved across his face and then slid to the back of his neck, holding his head in place. Her full, tempting lips grinned as she hovered only an inch from his mouth. He wanted to lean in, to taste her. It took all his strength not to, though he couldn’t seem to remember why he was supposed to be fighting.

“Tell me,” she breathed, then ran her tongue across his bottom lip.

His breath caught.

Julia whimpered softly beside him, and suddenly there was a beacon of light in the engulfing darkness. A single word came to him―Jules―and it broke the hold of Kieran’s seduction. Then he could see Julia’s blue eyes in his mind, and the love that filled them, and it gave him the strength he needed.

He pulled away. “No.”

Kieran grabbed a handful of his hair and yanked his head back fiercely. “So you condemn your friends to suffer before you.” She gave a low, throaty chuckle. “I will make sure it is exquisitely slow, just for you,” she told him, taking obvious pleasure from the idea. “And you will serve me. It doesn’t matter to me if you come willingly or not.”

Abruptly she let go and walked to Julia. “What about you?” When Julia was silent, she asked, “Do you have more brains than your friend? Or, like him, do you look forward to the torture?”

Julia stared at her with wide eyes, looking frozen in place. Her gaze shot to Cael, who shook his head slightly.

Kieran swung her arm around, letting her body turn with it, and the back of her hand connected with Cael’s face. The ruby ring she wore cut his cheek, drawing little beads of blood, but his head barely moved with the force and instantly straightened.

She laughed. “Oh, I bet you last a long, long time.” She moaned softly with delight. “Just enough elf in you to make you proud and strong. I’m going to have such fun with you,” she promised. “Both pleasure and pain.”

A tear slid down Julia’s cheek as Kieran turned back to her. She grabbed Julia's face in one hand and squeezed. “I’ll take your silence as a no. Apparently, you want to see him suffer. I can appreciate that,” she said with a grin, and then moved on to Lotus.

Julia’s eyes filled with torment, and Cael shook his head again. His look was tender, telling her it was okay. Then he turned his attention to Lotus while Julia looked at Falcon. He apologized with his eyes. She nodded slightly, understanding and forgiving. "I love you," she mouthed silently, and he returned the gesture.

Lotus stood tall and kept her head up, looking directly into Cael’s eyes as Kieran stepped in front of her. “And you,” the high priestess said. “I heard that nymphs literally taste sweet. Is that true?” She leaned in, but Lotus turned her head away. Kieran grabbed her throat in a tight grip and kissed her forcefully. But the kiss was quick―she didn’t give Lotus time to bite as Cael had.

Kieran licked her lips. “It is,” she said, surprised. “Mmm, I think I’ll break you in next.” She turned back to Cael. “But first…” She smiled sadistically. “You’ll watch and beg at my feet.”

“Why don’t you just kill us?” Julia whispered brokenly. She stared at the ground as Kieran walked over to stand in front of her.

The high priestess laughed. “Where’s the fun in that?” She put her hand beneath Julia's chin and gently raised her head. “But don’t worry,” she cooed. “You will get your wish… eventually.” She pulled her hand away from Julia’s face and then slapped her hard. The force of it caused Julia to stumble, and Falcon moved to steady her.

Kieran smiled and twitched an arched brow, and Falcon understood―they would each have their turn before she was finished. She was a cat and they were mice.

“Move the elf to the altar,” Kieran told Xavien, her tone taking on an annoyed edge.

“Do you want me to summon a cleric―”

She turned on him. “Did I say you could speak?”

“Sorry, High Priestess,” he mumbled, shrinking away from her and doing what he was told.

Cael walked willingly, his head held high, looking more of a regal elf than ever. Kieran was right―he would take the longest to break. Though Falcon admired his courage, he was stupid for making it worse for himself. It wasn’t as if she were torturing for information―she was just doing it for fun.

Cael lay on the stone altar, his head turned and his gaze meeting Lotus’, telling her to be strong. Manacles were clasped into place around his ankles and wrists, just above the rope.

As soon as Kieran turned and went to Cael, when her attention was no longer on the rest of them, Falcon looked around the room, wondering if he would have a chance of achieving anything by fighting. Aside from Xavien and Kieran, there were two guards in the doorway to the left, both carrying swords; he might be able to disarm one and use his weapon. He could possibly take them both out, even with his hands bound. Once he had a sword, he could cut Julia free, and she would have her magic. She could fire at the men on the balcony.

But then he glanced up at them and realized that they would shoot before he even reached the guards in the doorway. Even if he tried to untie her, they would kill him and probably her.

He heard Julia whimper beside him, and his focus automatically shifted to her. She was crying, her head down, trying not to look toward the altar. Lotus also had tears running down her face, though her eyes were still on Cael. Falcon knew the torture had started, though Cael didn’t make a sound.

Falcon kept his eyes on Julia’s face, not wanting to see it. Think, he thought. There has to be a way. A movement caught his eye, and he glanced in the direction of the throne. Was someone behind it? he wondered. Or was he imagining that he saw a small figure there?

A moment passed and Kieran's cruel laughter echoed in the room, while Falcon stared intently at the throne. But there was no sign of anyone aside from Amiya, who watched the scene from her spot on the floor with an unreadable expression.

Lotus turned her face into Julia’s shoulder and cried harder. She held her hand for a moment before falling to her knees. Falcon’s heart twisted painfully at seeing her so broken.

Xavien nodded to Kieran. She turned and walked over to the bard, pleasure sparkling in her dark eyes. She jerked Lotus’ head up with a bloody hand under her chin.

Falcon looked at the source of the blood before he could stop himself. Cael, his eyes as hard as steel, watched Lotus. His torso was covered in so much blood that Falcon couldn’t see the wound, or wounds, that caused it.

“Please?” Kieran asked Lotus, as though she were talking to a child.

Lotus nodded.

“Please, can you share his pain? Perhaps you would you like to take his place?”

Lotus just continued to cry, though the Farlon Rope silenced her sobs.

Kieran slapped her, leaving the side of her face smeared with Cael’s blood. “No. I think you’d like a closer look,” she told her as she weaved her fingers through Lotus’ hair, and then started dragging her forward.

But she stopped, suddenly noticing Julia, who was trying to hide the orb in her fist. Cael must have given the orb to Lotus, Falcon realized, and that was why Lotus had held Julia’s hand―she was passing the orb to someone who could speak the word to use it.

Kieran threw Lotus to the ground and walked back to Julia. She reached out and chanted something in another language under her breath. Before Julia could do anything, a deep red glow bore down on her hands. She cried out in pain and dropped the orb. Kieran kicked it quickly, and it rolled out of the way. It hit the wall and then came to a stop a couple of feet from the throne.

“I want the head guard in here now,” Kieran told Xavien angrily.

He nodded and left the room.

She backhanded Julia hard enough to make her fall to the floor. Then, while she waited for the guard, she took Lotus and shoved her toward the altar. The bard had to put her hands out to catch herself.

The masculine woman who had been in charge of their capture was brought into the room. She stopped ten feet away. “Yes, High Priestess?”

“You didn’t have them searched,” Kieran told her. “You let them be brought to me with the Orb of Gahala Dune in their possession. Do you know what that could have done to me?”

“I’m—”

“Don’t waste you treacherous breath,” Kieran hissed. “However, you’re lucky. I already have playthings today, so you can just jump.” She nodded toward the glowing pit at the side of the room.

“No, please,” the woman begged, her hard face looking piteous.

Kieran’s eyes narrowed fiercely. “You want mercy? You, a sworn servant of Malluk, dare to beg for mercy in His temple? You are a disgrace. Your blood isn’t worthy of touching His floor, let alone His lava! Take her out of here,” she commanded the other guards. “Strip her of armor and clothes and take her to sea. Let the sharks have her. And make sure you stay to watch her die.”

“No!” the woman yelled.

“I hope they tear you apart slowly.”

Both of the large, burly guards at the door came forward, each grabbing one of the woman’s arms. She continued to fight until Xavien summoned four more guards from the adjoining room; they all took her while the first two resumed their post. After a couple of minutes, the woman’s yells could no longer be heard as she was escorted out of the temple. Kieran sighed and shivered as if she had just touched something nasty.

Xavien returned a moment later. “It’s nearly time,” he reported. “The sun is high.”

Kieran grinned excitedly. “How much time is left?”

“Maybe twenty minutes.”

She returned to the altar. “Hmm, not much more time for us right now,” she told Cael. “But don’t worry, I’ll still break you in personally after I become a goddess. And just think of the new ways I’ll be able to play with you.” She grasped his stomach then, digging her nails into him and chanting something under her breath. Her hand started glowing a deep red. Though Cael remained silent, his muscles tightened and his back arched as his body writhed in pain.

She laughed and turned back to the others. She went to Julia, and her bloody hand caught her by the throat. “We don’t want to leave you out of the fun, now do we?” she said, pressing her nails into Julia’s flesh and causing her to cry out.

Meanwhile, Cael said something to Lotus in a different language, and she nodded. She stood taller and raised her hands above her head. Then, suddenly, an arrow sped through the air, heading straight for her―