Page 70 of Forsaken Secrets

"If I could ask one more thing of you?"she asked, leaning into the light and nudging something towards the metal bars … a small pile of pearls? They were disturbingly similar to the ones popular amongst the church attendees lately.

"What — why do you have those?"I asked, taking them. Unlike the ones I'd seen before, these had a slight tingly glow and they felt warm to the touch.

"They are my young; the last of them, I think. My body is too far gone now to produce more. I tried, but I fear that's why the young ones were caught and brought in. All that cutting … just to get more eggs."Fury tinged her words, and an answering emotion ached in my chest.

Her young were being butchered for a fashion statement? These were sentient, living beings!

Anger burned through me.

"I'm so sorry. I'll make sure they don't get these."I pulled the eggs towards me and tucked them safely into my bag. "But why don't you bring them yourself?"

She shifted in the cage, sending a rattling sound through the room as her tail twitched. "My future lies here, unfortunately." She shifted again, enough to show me the lacerations down her tail. It was a mangled mess. "I'll never swim again. The young ones will carry on for me, though. My oldest, Renhira, will be a good leader for them."

My heart ached, and I looked for Eli or Lynk, someone to speak some sense into her. Neither was close enough, though.

Chest tight, I turned back to her. "I'll find a way to get you out. You just have to fight it a bit longer!"

She shook her head slowly. "It's okay, Weaver. Really, it is."

My fists clenched. I'd force her to save herself, if I had to!

Footsteps echoed beyond the door Lynk had blocked. That damn mage had grabbed reinforcements and was coming back.

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