Page 89 of Owned By the Fae
She’s jealous, and I’m not sure whether to be spitefully pleased or anxious because an envious Fiana will be even more vicious than usual.
‘Everything we do is together.’
I don’t voice my retort, that they haven’t beentogethersince he left all those years ago.
‘Dane will be permitted to breed you, but only because I wish it. Try to use your human tricks on him, and the many torments I’ve visited on you over the years will seem like the diversions of a child. I’ll make you suffer more than you ever have before. Do you understand?’
I nod to placate her, and she sneers at me.
‘Gods, you're just as pathetic as I remember.’
She taps on my cheek with a small laugh. It’s not quite a smack, but she still makes my skin smart.
‘Perhaps I'll watch the next time he ruts you,’ she murmurs, a smile on her face that chills me, ‘ensure you’re taking my beloved properly so that he fulfills his obligations.’
A hand goes to my throat, holding me in place while her fingers dip into my dress and find a nipple. She pinches it hard enough to bring involuntary tears to my eyes.
‘Healer Skith was right. Very sensitive. He’s sure you’ll be able to easily nurse whatever babes you bare.’
My eyes narrow, but I say nothing.
‘In case your weak human mind hasn’t realized it yet, many of the fae looking after you here are loyal to me. Healer Skith included. I’ve made sure he knows that you will benefit from a heavy hand.’ Her hand squeezes my throat a little tighter. ‘We have to make sure you’re well, don’t we?’
She tilts her head at me. ‘But you know that if you try to tell Daneor anyoneabout these little visits of mine, no one will believe you.’
I give a tiny nod, hating that it’s true.
‘I know things seem so unfair at the moment,’ she gives a mock pout, ‘but once you’re with child, I think you’ll find that I’m going to be your only ally here against Varrik.’ Her fingers skitter along my jaw. ‘You might want to consider keeping me happy, my little human.’
‘Poor little piggy,’ she coos.
Now,’ she draws closer, ‘I suggest you be a very obedient girl when Dane comes. When he seeds you, you’re to lay on the bed for at least an hour afterward so that it’s more likely to take root. Someone will be checking.’
‘Why?’ I whisper. ‘Why doyouwant this?’
Fiana looks at me as If I’m the biggest fool she’s ever seen. ‘The get of the Harbingeranda Skilled as powerful as Dane now is?’ She scoffs. ‘Why do you think?’
‘But Varrik ...’
Realization begins to dawn. Fiana has her own plans and they don’t include the fae lord.
She puts a finger to my lips and smiles. ‘You could warn him, I suppose, but he won’t believe you, darling. I know it’s hard, but do try to use that small mind of yours. I’d hate to have to punish you for making trouble for your betters.’
She titters and then looks expectantly at me. ‘What do we say?’
‘Yes, Fiana.’
I feel the Harbinger rising up again, trying desperately to break through the binding. It wants her dead so badly, but it’s not strong enough.
Fiana’s fingers flex around my throat, and she squeezes hard. I can’t breathe, but I don’t fight because I know that if I do, she’ll think of something worse to make her point, and just before my eyes roll back, she lets me go and steps away. I slide to the floor, and she wipes her hands down her dress as if they're dirty now that she's touched me.
‘Just a little reminder of who holds the rope, little piggy.’
With that, she swans out of my room, closing the door with a slam that has me wincing.
I get to my feet slowly. My heart is beating fast as I consider all she’s just revealed to me.
Her weakness has always been that she thinks herself so much cleverer than I. Her hubris is unmatched, possibly even by Varrik, and, like him, she underestimates me.
