His Regret, The Crown's Claim
The fear vanished, swallowed entirely by the monstrous entity that had awakened at the bottom of the pit.
My eyes narrowed, mirroring his, my pupils hardening.
"I hate them," I whispered, the words carrying a dark weight. "I want to watch them burn."
The soldier stared at me for one heartbeat, before a slow, dark smile spread across his rugged face. He released his grip on my chin, stepping back a bit, his low, satisfied laughter echoing against the wooden walls.
"Perfect," he murmured, picking up his mortar and pestle once more. "That's all I need to know.”