Valley of Silence by Nora Roberts Read Free Book Online Page A

in Czech. The man jolted, his single working eye rolling up in surprise.
    But he didn’t speak.
    â€œYou understood that,” Cian continued in the same language. “I asked if there are others with you. I won’t ask again.”
    When he was met with silence, Cian struck out with enough force to have the prisoner slamming back against the wall, along with the chair he was chained to.
    â€œFor every thirty seconds of silence, I’ll give you pain.”
    â€œI’m not afraid of pain.”
    â€œOh, you will be.” Cian jerked the chair and the man upright, kept his face close. “Do you know what I am?”
    â€œI know what you are.” The man used his bloodied mouth to sneer. “Traitor.”
    â€œThat’s one viewpoint. But the important thing to remember is that I can give you pain beyond what even such as you can stand. I can keep you alive for days, weeks, come to that. And in constant agony.” He lowered his voice to a hiss. “I’d enjoy it. So let’s begin again.”
    He didn’t bother to ask the question, as he’d warned he wouldn’t repeat it.
    â€œCould use a spoon,” he said conversationally. “That left eye looks painful. If I had a spoon handy, I could scoop it right out of its socket for you. Of course, I could use my fingers,” he continued when that eye wheeled wildly. “But then I’d have a mess on my hands, wouldn’t I?”
    â€œDo your worst,” the man spat out—but he’d begun to tremble a little. “I’ll never betray my queen.”
    â€œBollocks.” The shudders and sweat told him this one would be easily and quickly broken. “You’ll not only betray her before I’m done with you, you’ll do it dancing the hornpipe if I tell you to. But let’s just be quick and direct as we’ve all better things to do.”
    The man’s head jerked back as Cian moved. But instead of going for the face as his quarry anticipated, Cian reached down, gripped the man’s cock. And squeezed until there was nothing but screams.
    â€œThere’s no one else! I’m alone, I’m alone!”
    â€œBe sure.” Cian only increased the pressure. “If you lie, I’ll find out. And then I’ll begin to cut this piece of you off, one inch at a time.”
    â€œShe sent only me.” He was weeping now, tears and snot running down his face. “Only me.”
    Cian eased the pressure a few fractions. “Why?”
    The only answer was raw, rough gasps, and Cian tightened the vise of his fingers again. “Why?”
    â€œOne could slip through easily, unnoticed. Un…unremarked.”
    â€œThe logic of that has spared you, at least for the moment, from becoming a eunuch.” Cian strolled over, got himself a chair. After placing it in front of the prisoner, he straddled it. And spoke in conversational tones even as the man whimpered. “Now, this is better, isn’t it? Civilized. When we’re done here, we’ll see to those injuries.”
    â€œI want water.”
    â€œI’m sure you do. We’ll get you some—after. So for now, let’s talk a bit about Lilith.”
    It took thirty minutes—and two more sessions of pain—before he was satisfied he knew all the man could tell him. Cian got to his feet again.
    The would-be assassin was weeping uncontrollably now. Perhaps from the pain, Cian thought. Perhaps from the belief it was ended.
    â€œWhat were you before she took you?”
    â€œA teacher.”
    â€œDid you have a wife, a family?”
    â€œThey were no use but food. I was poor and weak, but the queen saw more in me. She gave me strength and purpose. And when she slaughters you, and these…ants who crawl with you, I’ll be rewarded. I’ll have a fine house, and women of my choosing, wealth and power.”
    â€œPromised you all that, did she?”
    â€œThat and more.