BROTHERS

I can’t say that I’ve ever really been on great terms with my brothers. But what happened the night I came of age destroyed any last thread of trust I had that we could ever truly be a family…

* * *

“Where exactly are we, Dari?” I question as I follow my brother through the cave system that’s been hewn into proper corridors with small adjoining chambers and alcoves. 

He winks at me over his shoulder. “You’ll see, little brother.”

A strange unease creeps across my skin. 

I know it’s my nameday, but…has Darius ever been this nice to me? I swear, for most of my childhood it felt like him and Desmond treated me more like a semi-sentient house plant than a brother. Just another thing to be occasionally dusted and watered. Maybe it’s because I’m of age now that he—?

“Stop! Please,” someone calls out as we pass a chamber.

I whip my head toward the desperate plea, squinting my eyes as I gaze into the darkness beyond. 

Then I realize it’s not a chamber, but a cell. 

I take a step closer. “Wait…I know you.” She…she’s in my classes.

Darius comes back to peer into the cell beside me. “Oh, you’ve excellent taste. Is this the one you want, Zal?”

“Want?!” I turn toward him in startled confusion. For what possible purpose?

“I’ll go tell them to use her. Now don’t wander too far. Alright?”

As Darius saunters off, I swivel my attention back to my imprisoned classmate, Navina.

She must have been snatched from the girls’ dorm in the middle of the night because she’s still wearing her nightclothes. I’ve no interest whatsoever in girls. However, even I can’t help but stare because Navina’s nightgown is so thin it leaves nothing to the imagination.

I suppose for the common mage, the magik locking the cell would pose a problem. But for an Astaroth, it’s little more than a minor inconvenience and easily disarmed with a few whispered words and a flick of the wand. 

While the intricate iron bars of the door slide back into the stone, I step beyond the threshold into the cell. As I sweep a cursory glance around the chamber, I take off my floor-length coat.

She couldn’t have been here long.

“Here.” I turn back, offering my coat to her.

Navina gazes warily at me for a moment before taking the offered clothing.

I shift my gaze back to the space. “Now I have no idea what’s going on. Or why they’ve put you in here. But I do know holding someone against their will is—”

My words cut off in a painful gasp as I take a heel straight to the stomach. “—wrong…” I hit the stone floor of the cell hard. 

What…was…that…?

I look up in confusion as I suck in wheezing, shallow breaths. But as I lift my head the enchanted iron door locks sealed before me.

Navina stands there beyond it, all dark, frightened eyes, and trembling lips. One ebony hand clutching my coat tightly closed around her, and the other wrapped around my ironwood wand. 

“Navina…? Wha—what are you doing? I—I freed you,” I question, my mind trying to make sense of what’s just happened. 

Her plump, full lips press into a hard line. “I had to choose, Zalan. Save you or save myself. And I chose myself.”

I don’t understand. “Navina, what are you say—?”

A gong sounds, and she flinches. “I am so terribly sorry, Zalan.” There’s tears spilling down her ebony cheeks as she turns away.

I lunge for her. “Wait, don’t—!” 

The intricate iron bars of the cell emit a powerful charge of lightning before I even get within a finger’s length.

I retract my hand so fast I land on my ass. “Fucking hells!”

As I shove my stinging fingers into my mouth, the gong sounds again. 

What is that blasted noise about?

And then, as if in answer, a magikally amplified voice announces, “Welcome all to the Vandere Auction House’s premier event! In just a moment, you’ll have a chance to bid on the opportunity to claim prime magikal components to do with as you wish.”

Dread washes down my spine. …Prime magikal components. …Do with as you wish. There is only one reason to hold a female mage captive for such a purpose.

I swallow hard as I slowly look behind me. They have a Maiden-Stalker drake out there.

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Chapter 17 – Brothers: Part One, ExSpelled © 2025 by Kat Vancill

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