Page 32 of Claimed By the Fae Lord

I could barely suppress the snort that bubbled up at that. Reputation? As if honor had any place among thieves and slavers.

The pain wrapped around me, a relentless serpent squeezing tighter. And with it came the cold reality of what I was enduring.

How could my parents have done this?

I knew I was wasting headspace on them. There was no acceptable answer to the question, nothing that would soothe my anguish.

I wanted to shout, to rage against them, but even in my thoughts, I found no solace. Their deception stung and I was a fool for being surprised by it.

Tabor moved to his bedroll, right up against me so I was sandwiched between him and the rock. Vance was on the other side of Tabor, then Llew.

I'd have to cross over all three to get away. And with how they'd secured my ankles to my wrists before putting me in this spot, I wouldn't be able to quietly steal a blade and slice their throats in their sleep.

"Get up, nymph," Tabor ordered, nudging my side with his boot.

My head jerked and the back of it hit the stone behind me.Ouch.

Blinking, I realized I'd been in a deep slumber. Of course I had. My body was expending all its energy trying to heal and fill my well-store while the iron cuffs slowly drained my reserves.

"I removed the extra chains. Now get to your feet."

Summoning what little strength remained, I pushed myself onto shaky legs, my vision swimming. The desert sun bore down, an unforgiving judge to my struggle.

Tabor handed over a canteen lid's worth of water. Like that would keep me from dying.

"Careful," I managed to rasp as the liquid dampened my dry throat. "Wouldn't want to ruin your investment."

Their laughter followed me as I stumbled forward. My stomach growled loudly.

"Here," Vance offered, handing me a piece of jerky.

"How much longer?" I asked in between bites.

"By nightfall."

My appetite vanished, though I continued chewing. I was nearly out of time.

I thought of Lorne for the hundredth time since he escaped. If he'd been strong enough to shadow away, he surely landed someplace safe. Someplace others would know where he'd been.

I couldn't count on it, but I was praying like hell for the big blonde, that he was safe and had told someone.

Aeryn would send help. I imagined she would tell Liam. Imagined his jaw tightening.

My mind wouldn't let me pretend it would have been from concern for me, but for the attack on Lorne. Me being taken was just adding insult to injury.

Vance's stare was heavy on the side of my face. "Whatever you're thinking," he said, "I suggest you let it go."

I ignored him, too invested in beating back the dread pushing down on me. What was I going to do?

Seven

Liam

I crept through the dark, scanning the dense forest for any sign of the Vendeca's homebase. I hadn't found the answers I sought in the pub, or anywhere else in the days following.

Going straight to the source was a good strategy. The problem was the brotherhood’s hideout was well-hidden and I was running out of time to find the fuckers. Too much time had already passed.

"Want some help?" a voice suddenly came out of nowhere, making me slice my sword through the air fast enough to produce a whistle.

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