Page 25 of Claimed By the Fae Lord

"Did you bring everything, Vance?" Tabor asked.

"Yes. I double-checked everything myself. The heat in Antara is worse right now than normal so I went out and purchased afew more spells and charms. It should be more than enough to hike to Dusthaven and back."

So that was the plan. Take me into Antara and sell me to one of the wealthy malefactors that frequented the auction house in the shithole city of Dusthaven?

A memory from the last night floated to the surface, something about carrying out my parents wishes. If my heart wasn't already fractured into a million pieces, it would have broken.

Even from the grave they were able to punish me for not being the kind of daughter they'd wanted, one who could feed their ambition and serve at their feet.

"Take us to the border," Tabor ordered. "The sooner we're out of Falcondale, the better."

A rippling portal opened and the traitors dragged me through. Hot, arid wind lifted my hair. The savage, forbidding land of Antara stretched before us, all jagged mountains and treacherous shadows.

The magic of Antara wouldn't allow us to portal into it. We'd have to make our way on foot.

I would have trouble surviving the desert climate here, especially being cuffed and weakened as I was. I needed water vapors to help refuel my well-store. Swallowing, I realized I was already parched from my ordeal last night.

Wonderful.

Tabor lifted me to my feet, holding out a hand to Vance. I finally got a look at the third kidnapper.

Vance, who hadn't been one of the aggressors, appeared harmless. I was sure he wasn't, but the odd dark peach of his hair and purplish tone of his skin gave off a soft impression.

Thinner than Tabor, and looking like someone who hadn't had to fight a single day in his life, the lackey put a small vial into the waiting palm. My spine locked when beady-eyed Tabor uncorked the lid and held up the unknown liquid to me.

"It will speed up your healing so we can move faster," he explained in annoyance. "I'm doing you a favor."

Eying it like it might explode any second, I asked, "What else will it do?"

"I think it dulls the senses, but we won't know how well until you take it."

Tabor was fae, so he couldn't lie about the healing part. Yet, I didn't reach for the vial.

"Vance?" Tabor sighed.

The male came closer, throwing up his hands and releasing a wall of magic. It floated into me, freezing me in place.

Vance opened his mouth. I did the same, no longer in control of my movements.What the hell?

He flung back his head and suddenly I was staring at the blue and white sky above. Bitter-tasting liquid poured onto my tongue. Controlled by an unseen force, I was forced to swallow, then swallow again.

I'd never felt so helpless in my life. A mace to the chest would have been better than becoming someone's puppet.

All at once the spell let go and I panted, bending forward and glaring at Vance, then Tabor. A cold tingle prickled through my blood, dulling the ache of my wounds.

I was better, but nowhere near healed.

"I'll accept your apology now," Tabor eyed me.

Straightening, I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand. "I'm sorry."

His chest puffed, pleased like he'd really done something.

"I'm sorry you're such a shit fighter you had to hire the Vendeca to help you capture me."

If they thought I hadn't recognized the lawless faction's marks on the arrows protruding from Lorne's body then they didn't know much about what my parents put me through. What I, like a sad little creature desperate for a crumb of affection, had done to show them I was deserving.

I didn't dodge Llew's slap across my face, though I'd seen it coming a mile away. The taste of copper landed on my tongue.

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