Page 24 of Owned By the Fae
I’d hoped faelings would be too scarce for him to use like this nowadays, but he’s found one, and I know what comes next. My shoulders slump, and I look at the floor in front of me.
‘The cell was a punishment for your crimes against me and the rest of the fold,’ Varrik says, taking my chin and forcing me to look at him. ‘I hope it’s made you remember your place here too, but if it hasn’t …’
He glances back, following my gaze to the child. ‘Oh, you've noticed little Ryon. He was found not long ago at a camp beside a Gate not far from here. Unfortunately, all those who were traveling with him are dead, killed ... in an ambush.’ He shakes his head. ‘But those are the dangers of traveling the Dark Realms, as you well know.’
He likely had the entire camp killed on his orders to take the boy. That’s what he does. Like me and many of the other Skilled here, Varrik helped his parents to their deaths and spun a tale so that they don’t know their newfatherwas the cause. I seethe in silence and am surprised I have the strength.
‘Ryon,’ he calls.
The little fae boy trots over, looking up at Varrik adoringly … the way that I used to when I was a child, I'm sure. He ruffles the boy's floppy hair, and then he stares at me, flexing his fingers lightly over the boy's head meaningfully.
‘Well, Thalia? Do you remember your place here?’
I let my eyes close. ‘I'll do anything you want me to do,’ I whisper in defeat.
‘Excellent! You go back to your new toys now, Ryon. Good boy.’
I feel my knees weaken, and I sink to the floor at Varrik’s feet. I’ve pledged myself to the fae lord once more. Hopelessness courses through me. He gazes down at me dispassionately before motioning to the guard.
‘Take her to her room. Have the healer look at her.’
I’m picked up roughly and thrown over a burly shoulder again. At my pained cry, Varrik’s eyes snap to his guard.
‘I hear another sound out of her, and I’ll flay you alive!’
The guard nods with scared eyes and rushes to change the way he’s holding me, opting to cradle me like a babe. He takes me to my room and puts me on the bed. He’s taken Varrik’s words to heart because he lowers me down gently and even covers me with the blanket, though it does little to protect me from the chill of the room. He takes the cloak from me, though. I suppose he’s been ordered to.
When I find myself alone a moment later, I give the room a cursory glance. It’s dustier than it was however many days ago. Colder too, and the bed feels a bit damp. But it's a thousand times better than the cell.
I drift into a fitful sleep punctuated by dark visions that startle me awake and make me remember the past few days of misery and suffering.
When I wake properly sometime later, I find Jak beside me. I watch him, not moving, as he uncovers me carefully, and then his mouth drops open in surprise.
‘You’re healed! Who …’
I let out a soft snort. ‘You’ll need to speak to Rikoth.’
His puzzled eyes find mine, and realization dawns. ‘I’m just a lower healer. I’m not permitted.’
‘It’s probably for the best.’
Jak’s eyes narrow. ‘Find Rikoth and tell him I need to see the Harbinger’s true condition,’ he orders the guard over his shoulder.
‘I'm to stay here,’ the guard mutters.
‘What do you think is going to happen?’ Jak spits. ‘This human is barely alive. What danger could I possibly be in? If she dies, I’m going to make sure Varrik knows it’s because of you.’
The guard smirks, not even looking at me. ‘She looks fine to me.’
Jak just fixes him with a hard stare, and the guard finally gives him a long-suffering look that promises a beating if he ever catches the young healer alone outside the keep.
‘Fine,’ he grinds out, ‘but be it on your head if she harms you,healer.’
He opens the door and leaves. Jak doesn’t say anything; he just settles on the bed next to me to wait.
A few minutes later, his gasp startles me. I look down, wincing at how I truly look in the light. I hadn’t thought it was so bad, but I have to avert my eyes as my stomach begins to protest. Jak’s mouth opens and closes a few times. His eyes now avoid mine. I can see that he's more than a little disturbed by the condition that I'm in.
‘Never healed anyone who’s come out of the dungeon before?’ I try to joke.
