Page 105 of Forsaken Secrets

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Kaiya

Ipractically ran to the ruins. It felt good to be outside and away from the confusing emotions that letter had caused.

"Miss Maderoth!" The masculine voice made me pause, and I turned around to see several constables walking quickly behind me. What did they want?

"Hello, sirs. How can I help you?" I dipped into a curtsy and cursed my luck. Of course, today I was wearing my leathers and not a normal skirt! Why did they have to show up right now? I had no patience for their inquiries and thinly veiled insults.

They caught up, and my stomach took a nosedive as their faces came into view. These men were angry.

I looked around, praying that this was one of those times Lynk would jump in to save the day.

Nothing. Of course.

I held my hands high.

"Put your hands behind your back." The leader was taller than the other two, and he held some sort of weapon in his right hand. "We don't want to have to use force, but we will."

I did as he said.

"Gav. You check her," he said, motioning to a shorter man with black hair curling beneath his constable cap.

Gav walked up and ran his hands up my legs, lingering far too long on my ass and breasts.

Gods, I hated the constables.

"Shouldn't wear these kinds of clothes if you don't like it, bitch," he whispered in my ear, then pulled the dagger from my sleeve and whistled low and slow. "She's prepared, boss. Perhaps I should look a little closer?"

I seethed inside, but I kept my face blank. Responding made things worse. They were here for a reason, and if I gave them any excuse to escalate it, they would.

"I think she's been searched enough, sir," the last man — an older man with thinning white hair and a neatly trimmed grey beard — broke in, offering me a slight smile and taking Gav's place.

Gav sneered at him. But the leader let the new man stay with me.

I cleared my throat. "What am I being charged with, exactly?"

Had the Ellingsworths found out about my push against them? Or had they found out we'd broken the creatures free?

No. Neither was possible. We were the only ones who knew.

"You can ask the Captain, my lady." The leader's words were little more than a sneer.

Luckily, the grey-haired man holding me had more compassion. He leaned close enough so only I could hear. "Treason, miss. They have proof you spoke against the Magistrate."

I cringed inside, but nodded thanks at him.

"Olren," said the leader, "Come on. Bring her along."

So the nice one was Olren.

What in the seven hells was going on?

I slumped a bit and followed the men to the constable's office. They locked me in a holding cell, leaving Olren to remove all my personal items.

They laughed as they walked away, ribbing each other. The leader shouted over his shoulder, "Her skin will look so pretty all striped from the seven tails, won't it, Gav?"

I cringed. At least it was just a flogging. I could survive that.

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