Clara's POV
I turned to leave, but his next words froze me in place.
"Oh, and Xander? Get the healer down here immediately. Have him suture the tongue back on. I need this bastard to be able to speak clearly for tomorrow's call."
My blood went cold.
What?
I pressed myself closer to the small window, certain I had misheard. But Darius continued speaking in that same calm, casual tone that made my skin crawl.
"Make sure the healing is accelerated. Use whatever drugs necessary. I don't care if he's in pain, but he needs to be coherent enough to convince Jaden that Clara is dead."
Xander nodded without hesitation. "Should I prepare the surgical room upstairs?"
"No. Do it here. I want him conscious for most of it."
The casual cruelty of those words hit me like a physical blow. Darius
