Back in the village's prison cell below the administrative building.
Cold water splashed across Vaelen's face with a sharp SPLAT.
He lurched upright with a strangled gasp, eyes snapping open as droplets streamed down his hair and jaw.
He looked around wildly—stone walls, dim lanterns, faint runes glowing from carved roots overhead. The bed beneath him was solid wood, and the air was cool.
There were people in the room.
A lot of people.
A man with black hair and gold eyes leaned forward lazily, holding an empty bucket.
A beautiful vampiric woman with wings rested her chin in her hands, watching him as if this were an amusing show.
A calm, bird demihuman girl stood nearby.
A brown-haired human woman with a clipboard tucked under her arm raised a brow.
And one unknown man stood behind them, his reverent gaze fixed on the black-haired man.
Vaelen blinked rapidly.
"Wh—What… What is…?"
