Although Luthur appeared calm on the outside, the tight line in his jaw and drastically narrowed eyes, one slightly twitching, gave away his fury. The same four soldiers who'd helped Luthur beat Declan fanned out from behind him, like some kind of sinister cloak.
"Come now, Anastasia. Take your scolding like a good girl."
The small hands around his neck fidgeted before they fell away and slipped back through the bars. Anastasia made a move to stand, to protect herself, but Declan wound his arms around hers through the bars and pulled, holding her as tight as he could. His tail snaked between the irons, coiling around her ankle. A growing sense of dread sank like a stone in his stomach, as two of the soldiers headed toward her. Anastasia turned to face him, her eyes wide. "Remember what I
