“There he is!” a man shouted from the doorway.

Evan spun around in his seat to see none other than the captain of the guard from Merydd. His eyes widened with surprise, but before he could even begin to think quickly enough to escape, several men grabbed him and William and held them at bay as the captain sauntered up to them.

“Well, well,” the rotund captain sneered. “I never truly thought I’d see the day when Evan Reynallt was in chains.” Guards lashed chains around the twins, binding their arms to their sides. “Bring them to Merydd,” he ordered. “There they will answer for the kidnapping and murder of John Stockton.”

* * * *

In the dungeons below Merydd Castle, Evan hung from a whipping post. His wrists were slick with blood and sweat. His legs had given out on him several hours ago. He kept his eyes closed, not wanting to see the pained look on William’s face.

“Confess, you whoreson,” the captain snarled. He jerked Evan’s head back by a fistful of hair.

Evan remained silent as the grave. The captain growled and shoved Evan's head forward, causing it to connect painfully with the wooden post to which he was tethered. The captain drew his arm back and snapped the whip. The crack of leather on flesh was deafening. Evan sucked in a sharp breath, wincing from the sheer pain but refusing to give in.

“Hang him,” the lord pronounced. “Hang him like the thief and murderer he is.”

The captain unhooked Evan and dragged him to the wall across from William. Evan looked up then and met William’s gaze. Tears created trails through the dirt on William’s cheeks, and Evan felt his twin’s sadness like it was his own.

“Don’t fear for me,” he whispered hoarsely. “I have had my fun in this world. My love is gone from me.”

When the door opened once more, Evan knew his time had come. When he looked up, however, a rather unexpected sight greeted him. He wasn’t sure if it was a prayer answered or the beginning of something infinitely more dangerous than either one of them could possibly imagine. Loren shut the door quietly and walked over to him. He smoothed his hand over Evan’s cheek.

“Evan, I can get you out of here, but we must do it quickly.”

“My love is dead,” Evan replied. “What is left of me, I pledge to you.”

“Evan!” William gasped. “You can’t do this. What of your --”

Evan interrupted his twin. “I have made my decision.”

Loren nodded. Before Evan could say another word, Loren’s lips were upon his neck, teeth sinking into tender flesh. Evan drew in a sharp, pained breath. When Loren withdrew, he looked into Evan’s eyes.

“You are not dead, Evan,” he said. “But if you do not do as I say, you will be.” Evan nodded. Loren pushed up the sleeve of his shirt and sank his teeth into his wrist. Then he pressed the wound to Evan’s lips. “Drink,” he whispered. “Drink and be reborn.”

Evan knew not what possessed him to do it, but as soon as his lips touched Loren’s wrist, all reason left him. He hesitated for the slightest moment as he said a silent prayer.

::My Prince, forgive me.::

Then he began to drink.

Several moments later, Loren pulled his wrist free and stepped back, the wound closing. Evan's heart seized. He screamed in pain as his breath came in ragged bursts, failing to draw life-giving air into his lungs. The room spun wildly around him, setting everything askew. Then the world began to slow down and darken. The last sound he heard was his brother screaming.