Page 48 of The Silver Spider
Chapter Sixteen
Her demand tospeak to Dawnthorne was met sooner than she’d expected. Considering her status as a so-called guest, and their last encounter, she’d expected him to make her cool her heels. Tension gripped her while she waited, an ache in her jaw. She knew Amnan was alive because their bond, thin as it was, was growing and the flashes of anger and pain she’d sensed the previous night were gone, replaced by a calm hum. Almost as if he was waiting, just like her.
One moment she was standing in her room alone, staring out of the window, and the next her instincts roared to life and she turned. Dawnthorne stood near the door, eyes bright and hard as polished river stones. His hair flowed around his shoulders, the occasional strand moving in a nonexistent breeze. The kind of breeze caused by suppressing temper induced magic.
“You wished to speak to me,” he said, “and as you are a guest here, I have chosen to honor your request instead of killing you.”
His threat didn’t faze her. If he’d wanted her dead, there had been plenty of opportunities. “Where is Amnan?”
“The dragon is alive, and unmolested.”
She tensed, an automatic reaction she stifled. “What does unmolested mean?” She wanted to be very clear.
His hard eyes narrowed fractionally. “Your strength is impressive for a mere spawn, and I cannot fault you for attempting to defeat me. Once. If you try it again, I will give you the same lesson I have had, at one point, to give each of my scions.”
“And what lesson is that, Dawnthorne?”
He ignored the question. “You are here because it is the law, not because I desire your presence. I am obedient to my Lord, the way you must be obedient to me—who is now your Lord. We will test your strength to determine your status within my household, and to make your presence known amongst us. Whether you become meat or earn respect is entirely up to you.”
“Where is Amnan?”
He turned towards the door. ”If you behave civilly, I may return your dragon to you. For a moment or two. Serephone, if you try to leave, you will be stopped. And your punishment will be unpleasant. Until you prove you are untrustworthy, you are not a prisoner in this room. But do not try my hospitality.”
“Is it really hospitality if I’m supposed to live here forever?”
He paused before closing the door behind him, nodded to acknowledge her point, expression sardonic, and left.
* * *
Her sister cameto see her not long after. Serephone figured Anissa had been monitoring to make sure she didn’t try to escape, or kill anyone again.
“The Lord spoke with you?” Her sister asked after entering. “How did it go?”
Serephone shrugged, outlined the conversation.
Anissa let out a breath. “Well. You must have amused him more than you angered him. I was certain he would punish you.”
“Maybe he will, and is biding his time. Wants something from me.” Serephone was certain of it, the more she thought. The fae was being too careful, too polite. But she wouldn’t say anything more to Anissa. Sister or no, the woman wasn’t loyal to her. Serephone had to remember that. It was hard. Her natural suspicion of strangers was countered by her natural trust of her family—and family was all in her elder sister’s face.
Except she didn’t trust her father one iota. That was easy enough. At least he kept his distance, and didn’t seem inclined to press anything. “It’s been two days,” she said. “I need to know where Amnan is.” The edgy need to see him was increasing. They hadn’t returned her clothing to her, and thus her little darlings, nestled in the tiny pockets sewn into the sleeves and hems, so she couldn’t even send them to hunt.
“Be patient,” Anissa said. “Obedience is rewarded. Defiance is punished.”
“I’m a little tired of that word.”
“We live by that word, here. You have to understand—the fae have power, and with the influx of human blood centuries ago, our Lines increased. The Lords must rule with an iron fist, or we will become a danger not just to ourselves, but to others. The conflicts in our homeland began because there were too many of power, bored and ambitious, with no one they feared to keep them in control. And look what happened. Now we’re trapped here.”
Serephone looked at Anissa. “It’s not the fault of the fae the dimensions ripped and the gates closed.”
“It’s not?” Anissa rose. “Search for your Amnan. The Lord will not stop you. Just be prepared for opposition.”
Serephone stared at her, cool. “He won’t punish me?”
“Opposition will be punishment enough.” Anissa’s smile was brittle, and beautiful. “I doubt your dragon has been left unguarded—and those guards will have their orders. They may not kill you, though.”
That was enough of an encouragement to send Serephone on a hunt.
* * *
