Page 44 of A Lick of Flame

“You said, ‘We have our orders.’ What did you mean by that?”

“I said what I had to keep you from being raped, Maya. Should I have just left him to—?”

“No!” I shake my head. “Of course not. You are a good friend, Olivia. Thank you for saving me.” I try a different tack. “You would’ve known exactly what to do, unlike me.”

Her face goes from a look of suspicion to smiling broadly. “No problem, Maya. He should never have put his hands on you. In the future, it’s better to play along. I mean, only if you have no option.”

“Play along? Why would I do that? Surely it would be better to fight?”

“Against the likes of him?” She shakes her head. “The man is an ox. You would stand no chance. No, you need to play along. Kiss him back. Make all the right noises. Men lose their minds when you touch them there…between their legs.”

“They do?”

“Yep…stroke them. Wait until their guard is down, and you can retaliate.”

My eyes go wide. “Stroke them?”

“Even better, suck on a man’s shaft, and he is like putty in your hands. You can pull a knife. Hell, take his sword from him and use it against him.”

“I don’t know about—” I start to say.

“Hey!” there is a rough snarl from where I left Orion.

I turn, seeing someone there. He’s holding a lit torch up, illuminating the general area. I can make out Orion’s form, but no details…not from over here.

“She was untying the fae.” The accusation is tossed at me.

“What are you talking about, Jack?’ Harrison says as he walks over there.

“You heard me,” Jack says, sounding angry.

I frown. Orion is untied? How can that be? I didn’t touch his binds.

“Look,” Jack says. “He’s halfway to being untied. Is this your filthy fae magic, or was it her?” he yells, waving the torch about as he gestures with his hands. He pulls a knife. “I was instructed to take three fingers,” he says.

“Did you untie him?” Olivia asks me.

I don’t say anything. I didn’t, but perhaps it isn’t in our best interests for them to know that. It must have been Orion using his magic. There is no other explanation.

Olivia takes my silence as admission. “What were you thinking?” she whispers. “Are you trying to get yourself killed? Or, even worse, are you trying to get him killed?” She gestures toward where the men have congregated around Orion.

Even worse. What does Olivia mean by that? Why would Orion’s death be worse than my own?

“I’m sorry.” I put a hand over my face. “It was me.” It would be better if they think so. “I was worried about him. I didn’t like the thought of him tied up and gagged.”

“Hush,” Olivia says under her breath. “Don’t let them hear you say that. You said that this fae is a means to an end, not that you care for him. If they hear you talking like that, Maya, I won’t be able to keep you safe. You said earlier that he is your friend; he’s not. They hate us. They are using us. All fae are evil…you know that. If you don’t know it, then you should. I mean, they killed your—”

“I know! I know only too well. More than most. I didn’t mean it like that, Olivia. I’m scared. If I don’t get to the beastfae kingdom in time, I could die from this curse. That’s all.”

“Do you really believe yourself to be cursed?”

“Yes.” I nod. “I do. If something happens to him, I’m dead.”

“And you thought letting him escape would help you?”

“Yes, we could have escaped together. Why don’t you just let us go?” I plead.

“Escaped together,” she mutters and clicks her tongue, shaking her head. “What nonsense is that, Maya? Here Ethan and I are trying to help you and you attempt an escape. That’s foolish. If you run, these bloodthirsty bastards will be on you in no time. Your fae friend will be killed, but it will be so much worse for you. What do you think they’ll do to you, Maya? They’ll take turns, is what. They’ll tear you in half. Men such as these are vile creatures when the bloodlust is upon them. I won’t be able to stop them. Not if I value my own life.”

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