Page 130 of Caging Darling

Astor sighs. “He runs a ring of kidnappers. They take infants from the homes of impoverished families and auction them off to aristocrats struggling to conceive.”

I gasp, pain crawling through my belly. “How has he not been exposed?”

“He has a slew of midwives who are in on it. They sedate the mothers, claiming medical reasons, then later claim the infants were stillborn. They typically target mothers who have no one looking after them, women who are all alone, no one to witness or question what’s happened. And the mothers who do question…they’re usually found in a ditch eventually, having overdosed on whatever drug is popular in their region.”

My stomach turns. “And we think Tink is with them?” And Michael, I don’t add as the Nomad is still in the room, and I’ve intentionally left this information out.

“Franklin has a strict protocol he uses. Only infants, and only ones he deems as perfect,” says Astor.

Mingled relief and anger fill my gut. Relief that Michael won’t have been sold to the highest bidder. Anger that he wouldn’t have qualified by Franklin’s standards.

Tink will protect him, I tell myself. Even if she’s a servant in his house, she’s doing it to provide for Michael. I tell myself this over and over, yet I can’t seem to get my heart to believe it.

“Does this alleviate your concerns, Wendy Darling?” asks the Nomad. “Even the slightest bit? Knowing that I’m not ripping your friend from a life of peace and luxury?”

I don’t answer the question. “If this is the case,” I say, “how do we get Tink out?”

“That’s where you come in,” says the Nomad.

“I’m confused as to why it always has to be Wendy Darling,” says Peter.

“Do you possess a uterus that I’m unaware of?” asks the Nomad.

Peter sneers.

“Wendy will pose as an expectant mother,” says the Nomad. “Whittaker won’t be able to pass up on such an easy sale.”

“You want me to go to him asking for him to take my baby?” I ask.

“Not exactly,” says the Nomad. “As impressed as I am that Astor’s crew taught you swordplay, we need to infiltrate their manor with more power. I want you to be dragged in by your baby’s father.”

“I’ll go,” say Astor and Peter at the same time.

The Nomad looks back and forth between the two of them, blinking lazily. “I’m sorry, Astor,” he says, “but I’m afraid it’ll have to be the winged boy this time.”

Peter’s expression is nothing if not gloating.

Astor goes to argue, but the Nomad interrupts him. “I entrusted you with the last mission. Remember, the one where you were supposed to leave Vulcan with his heartbeat intact? And now, thanks to you, I have a bounty on my head.”

“It won’t happen again,” says Astor.

“Now, why don’t I believe you?” says the Nomad, glancing at me.

“And you will believe him?” asks Astor, gesturing to Peter. “The person in the room who is obsessed with keeping her as his prized possession?”

“You have a point,” the Nomad concedes. “What do you have to say to that, Peter?”

Peter takes a step forward. “My shadow powers will keep Wendy safe. I’m our best chance of getting both Wendy and Tink out alive. If we don’t do this, Wendy’s dead anyway,” says Peter. “I’d rather her die at the Whittakers’, knowing I did all I could to save her, than at the hands of the bargain.”

Than at the hands of another man’s bargain, he doesn’t have to say.

I wonder now if he’ll kill me anyway, if it comes down to the last few minutes. Just so that when it comes to my life, he can have the last say.

“I want Peter to be the one,” I say.

Astor jerks his head to the side, confused. At first, I can tell he thinks it’s my bargain, but I shake my head, hoping he won’t push further.

In truth, I know deep down that if it comes between keeping me alive and handing Tink over, both of my Mates would make the same choice.

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