Page 64 of Faerie Hunted

We approached the edge of the camp and the tents were fewer here, the space between them greater, as though the occupants had opted for more freedom from the community. More isolation.

It suited Onyx but would Dorian have known about that? I highly doubted it. If anything?—

A hand wrapped around my elbow and jerked me back, my heart lurching into my throat.

“What the hell is this?” The man tightened his grip on me until his fingers bruised. My stomach sank down to the bottom of my feet. “You’re not going anywhere.”

17

Ireacted without thought, no time to even try my cognitive manipulation.

He yanked me forward and I reared back and loosed my fist at the guy, landing a hit on his chin.

Shit, had I cracked my own bones? I hissed, cradling my hand against my chest.

The element of surprise was on my side though because he hadn’t expected me to retaliate. Even if he’d noted I wasn't wearing a collar.

The fae male crumpled into a fetal position on the ground. Down for now, but how long would he stay out? He hadn’t sounded the alarm so I’d have to hurry.

Exhaustion rushed at me, too weak from the collar to be of any real good. “We have to find Onyxnow,” I whispered to Noren.

The two of us redoubled our efforts, moving fast and loud. My fingers twitched, the pain in my knuckles fading in comparison to the terror of being found out. We kept to the perimeter of the camp and I followed a few steps beyond Noren.

Finally he stopped and pointed with his snout, his eyes narrowing on a spot ahead.

Adrenaline pushed me forward with such force my stomach dropped. Puking wasn’t going to help. Neither would worry or anxiety. But they trailed me on the way to the tent and I lifted the flap to see a single figure with star-light hair sleeping on his side on the pallet.

Onyx.

A breath of relief ripped from my lungs. I hurried inside with Noren. An explosive snore told me he wasn’t alone and I turned to glance over my shoulder at two other pallets. Great, roommates.

Or more likely they were spies, sent to watch Onyx and gently persuade him to cooperate with Dorian. He hadn’t been put to work, yet.

My numb fingers didn’t want to move. They certainly didn’t want to get the device into place, and I fumbled too many times crouched beside his pallet. Luckily from the angle of his head, I had unobstructed access. I slid the notches into place and the collar released with a click.

Onyx’s eyes popped open at the sound and he sat straight up in bed. I hurried to press my palm to his mouth to keep him quiet.

His eyes went wide and angry until recognition dawned and he relaxed, his chest dropping.

“What are you doing here?” he muttered against my palm.

“Getting you out, clearly,” I whispered. “Why weren’t you in the bunks with the others?” He was sharing a space, but in the dimness it was impossible to tell if the other two men in the tent were slaves or not.

“I told him I needed to think about things. Guess it put me in a holding pattern. He slapped me with a collar but said he’d give me time.” Onyx shifted to his side and rubbed the area around his neck where the chain had rested. His features twisted. “How did you get it off?”

“Noren brought me the key.”

Onyx pursed his lips and let out a nearly silent whistle. “Then we’re out.”

He pushed the blankets away and crept to the other pallets to wake the men. They spoke in hushed voices and Onyx handed the device off to the first one. “Pass it on. Free as many people as possible, men and women.”

The fae male stared between us with wide eyes and nodded, pressing the device to the piece at his neck a heartbeat later.

Free as many slaves as possible. Yes, I liked that idea. These people didn’t deserve to be prisoners any more than the halflings in the Seelie court deserved their fates.

Onyx stood too quickly and lost his balance, gripping the side of the tent until the wave of dizziness passed. At last he opened his eyes and met mine. “I’m ready.”

I cast one last look back at the others before I followed Noren and Onyx out of the tent.

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