Page 308 of Kingdoms of Night

“Who are you?” he asks.

I manage to find my voice. “Lena. I’m King Lotar’s daughter. He said…”

I can’t bring myself to repeat what my father said.

The man demands it, though. “Tell me.”

I bite my lip to stifle my sob. “He said demons helped Clerion. My father and the other kings lost, and the demons demanded firstborns in tribute.” The words rush out.

This seems to delight him. “Demons, is it?” He laughs like I’ve told him the best joke he’s heard in an age, his blue eyes shining. “That’s one way of putting it. I take it you’re a firstborn, then, Lena?”

I can only nod.

“Hm. Well, here’s what you need to know. The boys and girls your father is sending are going to be assessed and assigned certain duties. Anything from farming to entertainment. You, dear, most definitely fall into the entertaining section. I’m guessing you have no trade, no useful skill.”

I feel heat burn my face. “I can read, and play music, and…”

“And nothing useful. You’re fun, at most, and that’s what you’ll be used for.”

I feel more tears, though I’m silent.

“Why—”

He shrugs, guessing my question. Why did they take us? “We were low on mortals, and we saw an opportunity to replenish our stock.”

Just like that. He felt like it, so I, and countless others, am to be his kind’s toy.

“I’m going to offer you a deal. I will take you to the women’s tent to be sorted. You will be assigned to a castle, or a lord, or perhaps a regiment—no clue. They’ll tear you apart until there’s nothing left of who you were.”

“Please…”

“Or you can stay right here,” he says, surprising me.

I blink. “What?”

“Here.” He points to the floor. “With the rest of my pets. You’ll sleep when I tell you to, and talk when I tell you to, and eat when I tell you to, and yes, pee when I tell you to. I’ll play with you as I see fit—and trust me, that will be in ways you can’t even imagine. But you will bemypet, rather than servicing dozens of soldiers and as many lords.”

I stare in disbelief, mouth wide open.

“Don’t do that, unless you want me to put something in your gaping hole, pet.”

I’ve spent enough time with Margaux to know exactly what he means.

“You could be lying,” I hedge. “If I go back with the others…maybe it won’t be that bad.”

Entirely indifferent, the man shrugs. “I could be. What you believe is entirely your choice.”

My head is hurting. I’m beyond tears, too shocked and mentally spent.

I think of the soldier who dragged me away. His leer, his glee. I think of the first marked one, the one who let me go with him without a care, although he must have known I was walking to my ruin.

I think of the way the men outside this tent greeted this stranger, with complete deference.

He has power. The kind of power I need to stay safe.

But he isn’t safety; he said as much himself.

He’ll use me like his personal whore. He’ll defile me. He’ll break everything I am.

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