44. Axel

Axel regains consciousness in a stone chamber in Arius House, bound by thorned vines and deprived of his ring. Eviana bleeds nearby to rouse his Fae-blood hunger. The Arius Lord arrives with advisors Julius and Mansel to interrogate Axel about the missing fire Fae he has been guarding.

Julius uses Reselda magic to prevent healing and magnify pain, while Mansel employs inventive torture with a wooden stake and a stone blade that drains Axel’s power. They press Axel for the fire Fae’s location, citing failures around Theon’s Source and their desire to inspect future Sources. Axel refuses, insisting he ensured he doesn’t know where she is.

The Arius Lord escalates, having Axel’s arm broken and his magic suppressed, then produces binding chains to block replenishment. He threatens to find the fire Fae and bleed her before Axel to force him to feed. Axel vows to kill himself before harming her, but his father counters that feeding will kill her.

Accepting he cannot break Axel’s will quickly, the Arius Lord decides to hide Axel where none can find him until the “spare heir” is no longer needed. With chains secured, the Arius Lord shadow-walks Axel, Julius, Mansel, and Eviana toward the Underground, leaving Axel tortured, bound, and still defiant.