Bonesplinter Ravine [M] ‘Cause Anything’s Better than the Way I Feel Right Now

Do to her?

Herod’s laughter rang out, low and chilling, reverberating off the cold stone walls like the echo of some ancient and terrible beast. As he laughed, his paw closed around the delicate flower, the fragile petals wilting under his grasp, bleeding scarlet into his palm.

Why do you always think the worst of me? Herod’s paw opened, the crushed petals falling from his grasp like blood-soaked confetti.

Is there something I should know, boy? he continued, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper, taunting, prodding at the fragile boundaries of Hasdrubal’s composure. Something about the little bird, perhaps? Or the messages she’s been sending? His golden eyes flashed dangerously, warningly, lingering on the boy before he waved the crimson smeared paw. But you wouldn’t know anything about that, would you, Hasdrubal? Of course not.