Page 171 of Love & Heart Braking

“Not that I saw. They were out there for a long time though, so I didn’t stay the whole time.”

Dang.

Austin shoved his hands in his pockets. “I better go before Acribus comes looking. Take care of yourself, Cerys. I hope Devereaux gets you out, and that you get far away from this place.”

Tears stung my eyes, and I stepped forward to hug him tightly. “We’re getting out of here. Don’t give up, Austin. We need you to do your shit sales pitch to our clients.”

He snorted. “I have a great sales pitch.”

We both chuckled, then Austin untangled himself. “You better get dressed. The guests will arrive soon.”

With a forlorn set to his shoulders, the phoenix left, and I didn’t bother going for the unlocked door. Today, this was where I had to be.

I slid the dress off the hanger. They were going with fairy branding today. The purple and pink garment had an open back, a halter design, a plunging neckline, and a wispy skirt that stopped at midthigh. Did they realize Venus’s line was separate to Vesta’s line? Cupids weren’t fairies.

Thin white chains looped over the outfit that would drape over the skirt and my bare shoulders and connect into a metal collar. I rolled my eyes. Whatever.

Dragging the outfit behind the partition, I quickly shucked the robe and dressed, clicking the metal collar together. The thing was, wearing a collar would be hell for any of the twelve, maybe even Soleil. The loss of pride and face would be too much to bear. Me? I chose to see it as a feature necklace.

No problem.

The door burst open as I was trying to tug down the lining of the short skirt to cover my ass. I just couldn’t see why fairies would wear this when they had to fly over people’s heads. That was my opinion on the matter.

“Where is she?” someone said coolly.

I closed my eyes. Bortyss. Maybe I’d stay here. Soleil had said more than once that he relied too heavily on his security to do that job for him. Though, that might make things worse for me.

I stepped out from behind the partition, only just remembering not to speak.

He jumped, and I considered smirking at his surprise before spotting the flush of red grace his jaw.

“Why are you there?” he demanded.

I lifted the robe in my hand, then tossed it over a seat.

Soleil’s eldest sibling recovered his sneer. He held up a white chain that matched my outfit. “I get to take you out.”

My heart pounded, and panic burned through me. Because any siren on the estate could dive into my mind and extract everything I knew. Our plans.

“That’s right.” Bortyss jingled the chain. “You’ll be my little pet. Won’t my sister be furious?”

Maybe I should play this up. I stepped back, raising my hands, and Bortyss blurred before me, taking my jaw in a cruel hold. I winced but stayed the knee that had raised in reflex to smash his siren eggs.

“Your fear makes me want to fuck you,” he whispered against my ear. “Ugly little thing though you are.”

I resented that.

“Don’t play with the trash, siren,” a bored voice said.

Li Boquit had entered, but she wasn’t the one who just spoke. Behind her was the same woman from the other day at Single Plus One.

Bortyss turned to face her. “And do not dare to tell a Hucs what to do, Blum.”

The woman flushed but lowered her gaze.

He snapped the clasp of the leash to a loop on my collar, then jerked. The chain was thin, but strong. I staggered, dropping to a knee, and bit down on a pain-filled cry.

“Your grandmother has requested your presence outside,” Li Boquit said.

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