Page 96 of Bought to Break
‘So be it.’ Vineri waved his hand. ‘Take them all.’ He turned his gaze on the rest of them. ‘Gods, you’re ridiculous. You don’t even have any proper weapons.’
Vineri’s soldiers advanced and Kane and Viktor didn’t hesitate. They attacked first, rushing the guards for the element of surprise. Sorin tensed, but he could only watch as he tried to free Lana from the collar. His Brothers landed a few blows, but these soldiers were much better trained than the average sell-swords. His Brothers needed weapons, more men. They were soon overpowered. The guards forced them both to their knees.
Vineri’s friends came back from their meal in the great hall, chatting and laughing, ready to continue theirentertainments. This was a party, after all. Sorin’s lip curled as he watched them. Gods, he wanted to tear them apart for what they’d done to him – both over the past days and years ago.
‘What’s this?’ the portly one asked. ‘A rescue attempt for our boy?’
Sorin snarled quietly at the pet name. It made his skin crawl.
‘That’s what it appears.’
‘Oh, no,’ his torturer grinned. ‘We aren’t nearly finished with him yet.’ His eyes roamed over Lana. ‘And who’s this lovely? Has she come to join our fun?’
‘This is … my newest acquisition. And, of course, you’re welcome to her, my friends. As long as our business arrangements stay intact, what’s mine is yours, as always.’
Sorin’s blood ran cold. What they’d done to his mother, it was going to happen again.
‘You know what she is. You can’t do anything to her,’ Kane growled before Sorin could say the same. ‘Not if you want her to be any use to you.’
‘We shall see.’ Vineri’s eye caught that of a priest who’d just arrived. ‘Dugal. You’re going to perform your ritual on her tomorrow, aren’t you?’
Dugal nodded and took a small stone disk from his robes. ‘Yes. I was planning to do it at sunrise, but I have the relic here. I can do it now.’
Lana stiffened. What were they planning to do to her?
‘Keep to sunrise. She won’t remember anything that doesn’t make her feel content afterwards anyway.’ He smiled coldly. ‘Kill the others.’
‘No! Please!’ Lana cried, but the swords raised and Sorin realized that nothing could save them.
No!
Vineri lifted a hand and his soldiers froze. ‘So this wasn’t happenstance. You do know them, girl. How?’
‘I was part of the Dark Army. This is my unit. Ask Uth if you don’t believe me. He knows the truth.’
Vineri looked stunned. ‘The Brothers not only had a witch in their midst, but they made you one of them?’ Without waiting for a reply, he began to guffaw loudly. ‘I have a better idea,’ he said between chortles. ‘Chain them up over there. They can watch what is done to their Brother and theirSisterbefore they die.’ He shook his head and smiled disbelievingly. ‘So, history repeats itself with another woman you care for, Sorin. Do you think she’ll beg and plead as much as your pitiful mother did?’
He turned with a flourish to his friends behind him. ‘Don’t kill her. And no cutting her, Hektor,’ he ordered the portly one. ‘I intend to breed her once she’s settled into her new life. Anything goes with our boy, though, as always.’
They all nodded, their gazes turning hungry as they looked at her; as they imagined all the things they were permitted to do.
Vineri directed his words to Lana. ‘Sometimes a lesson needs to be learned.’
Lana pressed herself into Sorin. ‘How will I learn the lesson if I don’t remember it?’ she asked insolently.
Vineri turned away. ‘The lesson is for everyone else who would cross me, girl.’
He sat in a comfortable chair across the room – to watch, Sorin presumed. From what he’d heard, the Collector’s tastes had changed in his older age and he wasn’t usually interested in girls anymore. He’d make sure his friends followed his instructions, but the only things he wanted Lana for were her power as a witch and her womb to create more.
Chapter 44
Lana
The Collector’s friends edged closer, but Sorin was still fiddling with the lock. She had a plan, but she needed this collar off and Sorin needed more time.
‘Are you going to let them do this, Dugal?’ She let a plaintive note into her voice. ‘I thought you cared for me.’
Dugal shrugged. ‘Now. Later. You aren’t going to remember it.’ He retreated to the wall and leant against it, watching the proceedings with a detached interest.
