Page 120 of Owned By the Fae
I nod, pretending to be cowed by the fae lord’s threat, even as I see Dane tense slightly behind him.
‘Why?’ I ask him, just in case Kallum is lingering and can hear his thoughts. ‘What do you want with it?’
Varrik straightens. ‘I told you. You’re too intractable. But not the babe. I’ll ensure it’s so loyal that I will never question its dedication to me or its fae brethren. The perfect weapon, unlike you.’
His words make me shiver. He seems so sure that it will have the Harbinger’s power that I wonder if he’s experimented with his other Skilled before me. But I’ve never seen any fae babes here.
I hear someone else enter the room, their steps light, and I inwardly cringe. I already know who it is before I hear her tinkling voice.
‘My lord,’ she murmurs from behind me.
‘Fiana, my dove. Your mate is yours once more. His task is complete. The Harbinger is bred.’
Fiana is smiling as she goes to Dane and he puts an arm around her. ‘I’m happy to hear it.’
Varrik turns away from me, finished with me for now. He casts a look at Dane. ‘Take her back to her room. Your task is finished. You need have no more to do with her. Fiana, I would speak with you, if you will indulge me.’
They both bow their heads in perfect deference to their master.
‘Of course.’ Fiana’s almost covetous eyes don’t leave me. ‘I’ll see you a bit later, my love.’
Dane kisses her hand and motions for me to go ahead of him.
We leave the hall and walk the halls back to my room in silence.
I wait until there’s a lull in the guard patrols before I speak.
‘He’s wearing the necklace we need to get to the Light Realm,’ I whisper.
He doesn’t get a chance to reply as a guard turns the corner and walks toward us. He leaves me at the door as per Varrik’s edict, his manner not betraying that he’s no longer the loyal servant they think he is, nor that he heard me. I hope he did.
I go inside, and my door closes. I let out the breath I’ve been holding. If Fiana didn’t know before, she does now.
The Harbinger rises up inside me.‘The Dark Realms comes. It’s found him. We have until nightfall at the most before it destroys the fold.’
‘Then we’re out of time,’ I whisper to the Harbinger as I go to the drawer and open it.
Inside, it’s almost full of the yellow flowers. Kallum has been bringing every single one he can find from all over the fold.
I get an idea, and I tip them out, spreading them over the bed. If I can’t drink them, then surely this is the next best thing. Ilie on top of them and touch as many as I can, hoping to give the Harbinger enough extra power to break through.
I lay in the bed and wait, hoping this will help the Harbinger and that Dane has told the others where the necklace is. If they can find a way to get it, we can leave.
I close my eyes and indulge in my dream of us living in a cottage, of safety in the Light Realm. Of being happy and not surrounded by enemies after we’ve saved the fae of the fold.
‘What funny little creatures humans are,’ I hear a familiar male voice say with a laugh.
Vern.
I bolt off the bed, the flowers falling around me.
All three of the elites are in my room. I never heard the door.
‘What was she doing?’ Rikoth chuckles.
‘Gods only know,’ Fiana giggles with a condescending smirk.
‘Come here, little piggy,’ she orders me, her expression turning malicious.
