Page 140 of Owned By the Fae
I nod as he digs the knife into my skin, willing the others to wake, but they don’t stir as Varrik throws my chemise at me. I put it on, feeling minutely better when my nakedness is shielded from his eyes, though they’ve barely strayed to me.
He opens the door quietly and brings me out into the hall, where a few candles have been left alight to cast a dim glow along the corridor. He takes me slowly away from the others, urging me in front of him, the dagger cutting into my neck.
‘Delay him,’the harbinger whispers in my head.
‘How did you get here?’ I ask him quietly, hoping the ego he pretends he doesn’t have will compel him to answer. ‘They’re watching the gate. How did you sneak through?’
He lets out an amused hum. ‘I didn't.’
I close my eyes. ‘You came in with the Skilled.’
Why were we not watching for such a trick?
‘You’re not as simpleminded as I used to assume,’ he remarks.
‘Is Fiana with you as well?’ I ask.
He laughs low. ‘No. I stuck her with a knife, and I kicked her through into the Light Realm. With any luck, the little would-be usurper is dead or well on her way.’
He snorts. ‘That she thought her coup would be a surprise ... it was only a matter of time before she and those two fools tried to rid herself of my yoke.’
‘You knew she would?’ I ask, trying to keep him talking as the Harbinger asked.
‘I thought I'd have a bit more time,’ he admits, ‘but all's well that ends well. I still got what I wanted. My whole army of Skilled is here, thanks to you. As well as my Harbinger and the babe as well.’ His hand sinks down to my abdomen, and I resist the urge to break his fingers.
‘What do you intend to do?’
‘I intend to take the Underhill. That was always my intention. There's only one way that the fae are going to survive, and that's with me at the helm when the Council won't do what needs to be done. They're foolish cowards.’
He stretches his neck as he pushes me along. ‘The magick here is filling my veins. It's like nothing I've ever felt; so different now than it was in that fucking fold I was forced into.’
‘Why are you telling me all this?’ I ask as he goes silent.
‘Why?’ He leads me into the main hall. ‘Because you’re going to help me, my little human. This was always your ultimate purpose.’
My lip curls at his arrogance. He has no idea what the Harbinger was meant for.
The guards at the door stand to attention as we enter the hall, but they ignore me. It seems as if they aren’t really seeing what’s really happening around them.
‘So you're going to kill the Council five,’ I say.
‘No, my dear. You are,’ he murmurs.
I laugh at him. ‘No. I will not.’ I shake my head.
‘You will,’ he insists. ‘You'll do everything I say. It's been a while since I’ve had the power to use my skills properly on you. But when I do, you'll be my willing little weapon once more.’
He turns me to face him, gripping my chin hard and staring into my eyes with an intensity that makes me angry. His eyes narrow.
‘Interesting,’ he mutters. ‘The Harbinger shouldn't be able to protect you from me.’ He looks thoughtful. ‘I thought Rikoth just wasn’t trying hard enough when he told me he couldn't make you do what he wanted most times he tried. But I suppose you always were strong for a human. Perhaps that was why the Harbinger was able to take hold in you. It must be difficult, being a human these days. Slavery, abuse, chains.’
The Harbinger is very quiet, and I wonder what it’s up to when I recognize its stillness. It's doing something else. Gods, I hope it's got a plan to get us out of this.
Varrik steps back, seeming to take stock, his eyes gleaming in the low light.
‘I could help you,’ he says.
I barely contain my scoff.
