Page 113 of Owned By the Fae
I step into the circle, sit on the floor, and close my eyes. It’s time I got rid of whatever magick Fiana has stained me with.
Chapter Thirteen
Lia
I’m afraid.
More afraid than I have been in a long time. Once I’d made it through my stint in Varrik’s dungeon, I knew that I’d survive the rest because I had done it before.
But things are different now. I touch my stomach. It’s still so new, so tiny, so vulnerable.
I now no longer care if I kill Varrik. I just want to get away from here, ensure the babe’s safety. The Harbinger agrees. It’s told me to leave as soon as I can and not to look back. It truly does care about me more than its revenge, more even than the fae it wants to protect.
‘Why are you still in the bed?’ Kallum whispers. ‘She’ll come soon.’
I glance in the direction the voice comes from and grimace. ‘I know. I have to stay in bed for an hour after Dane’s been here. She ordered it so the seed is more likely to take. Why do you think she waits almost an hour to come in?’
I hear Grey’s angry growl and Kals’ low curse.
‘Don’t make a sound when she’s in the room,’ I whisper. ‘No matter what you see or hear, she can’t know you’re here. Promise me.’
‘We promise,’ Grey snarls.
‘I’ll hold you to it,’ I whisper as I hear the door.
Fiana enters, giving me a dark smile. She’s alone for now and I’m thankful for that. At least they won’t be watching Skith put his hands on me.
‘How is my little piggy this morning?’ she sings. ‘Well seeded?’
I give her a curt nod, and her grin widens.
‘It won’t be long now, you know,’ she says, drawing closer and looking me over as one would a prize mare. ‘I will so enjoy having you serve me, Harbinger. I have such plans for you.’
She looms over me.
‘Would you like to hear them?’
I’d love to say something biting, but my first thought isn’t for me, and my pride isn’t important, so I nod.
But she just turns away with a titter, and I hear Kal’s voice snarl something I can’t make out in my head. I startle at it and her eyes narrow.
She waggles a finger at me. ‘Ah, ah, ah. Not time to get up, my little human. Not for a few more minutes yet. Don’t make me punish you.’
‘She’s unfocused. Vern isn’t in the fold. Start there.’
‘Has Vern been sent to get another of those boxes?’ I ask. ‘I thought I felt the Gate.’
Her eyes narrow. ‘How do you know about those?’
‘Perhaps Varrik told me.’ I shrug. ‘Or maybe it was Dane.’ I force a small laugh. ‘You know how he likes to chatafterward.’
Her face twists and for a second, I see the true Fiana, angry and viciousand jealous. How didn’t I notice it before? It’s so obvious now. She hates that Dane comes in here even though she thinks it’ll get her something she wants.
‘Skith told me he’s received that stopper I asked him to send for. You know, the one to shove up your cunt to keep the seed in as you’re too stupid to keep still, swine. I’ll bring it later, shall I?’
I suppress my shudder and don’t rise to her words. ‘So Vern has been sent to collect the final box? Soon, Varrik will know where to begin his little search.’
Fiana looks so disconcerted for a moment before her expression shutters that I almost laugh.
