Page 51 of Owned By the Fae
I turn away, imagining how he’ll mock me if he learns I want him, the names he’ll call me, what he’ll say to the others.
I close my eyes, trying to shut him out. Why do I care if he and the others mean nothing to me?
But I do care, and I realize that’s worse than anything Varrik has inflicted on me. I should hate them for their betrayal, but I don’t. I really do just miss them.
Gods, I’m pathetic.
I sit on the bed with my knees drawn up to my chest, staring out the window. When I hear the door open and the splashing as they begin to fill the small circular tub with water, I get ready for another freezing bath.
‘What is that, Dreg?’ I hear Dane snarl, and I flinch at the words, the words of one of Varrik’s elites to a lesser Skilled.
I can almost hear Fiana and the others coming to corner me to play their cruel games until they got bored. He sounds just like them.
‘Water, my lord,’ comes the hesitant voice of one of the servants.
I turn my head toward them slightly so I can just see them from the corner of my eye and find out what the problem is.
‘It’s freezing cold!’
The servant, one of the ones I recognize from years ago, sniffs at Dane. ‘It’s for the Harbinger.’
Dane just cants his head, and a look passes between the two servants. The older one gives Dane a small, condescending smile she probably reserves for the younger fae. ‘The Harbinger gets what she’s given, my lord.’
‘She’s to be given hot water, the same as any other of Varrik’s elites. Do you understand?’
The younger one coughs. ‘My lord, perhaps you should speak to one of the others who have been here for longer. She deserves?—’
‘Has Varrik ordered this?’
‘No, my lord, but?—’
‘Are you Dregs questioning Varrik’s authority?Myauthority?’ Dane’s eyes narrow on them both.
His calm tone is at odds with the danger they’re both in with such an allegation being made.
Two sets of eyes widen, three if I count myself.
‘No!’ the older one rushes, giving her younger friend a pointed look to keep her mouth shut. ‘It’s just that we remember what the Harbinger did to his poor lordship and the keep and?—’
‘And you took it upon yourselves to punish her for it?’ Dane finishes. ‘Do you think our lord Varrik needs lowly servants to fight his battles for him? Do you have such little faith in him?’
‘No!’
‘No, of course not, my lord. We will bring hot water … and food from the hall.’
‘And I want a fire built in the grate. The room is chilled and damp.’
The two fae females look at each other and one grimaces. ‘My lord Rikoth ordered that she not be left alone with an open flame because of what she did to the keep before.’
Dane rolls his eyes. ‘The winter draws in, and you would have Varrik’s prize Skilled human freezing in this room? How will she help our lord if she’s dead?’
‘Not us! Rikoth?—’
‘Build a fire in the grate,’ Dane interrupts sharply. ‘If Rikoth has anything to say, direct him to me. I will ensure the Harbinger doesn’t cause mischief.’
The older one nods to the younger one, and they disappear.
‘You shouldn’t have done that,’ I murmur.
