The cocoon burst before Soren could lift his hand.
A black-red hand shot through the opening and closed around his throat.
Soren's feet left the platform. His eyes widened, and both hands grabbed the thick wrist holding him. He tried to speak, but the fingers tightened before any sound came out.
Thepes pulled himself through the torn cocoon.
Pieces of the dark red shell broke around his shoulders. He was taller than Soren, but his arms and legs were thin.
Red light moved beneath his pale skin with every beat of his new heart.
Soren struggled once.
Thepes stared at him coldly.
"You don't deserver to be sovereign," he said.
His voice carried several tones, but one voice had become stronger than the others.
"You sacrifice your own people. In my kingdom I don't need you.."
The blood inside his body began flowing into the hand around his throat.
His face sank inward first. The skin across his cheeks tightened against the bones.
