Page 47 of Owned By the Fae
He looks angry, and I try to ignore him. I pick her up carefully, muttering a conjure to keep her asleep and the pain at bay.
I take her slowly through the house, down the stairs, and out the door. I skirt the main areas of the village, avoiding everyone, but, luckily, most are still at the arena. I can see how she was able to get all the way to our house without being stopped. The streets are practically deserted.
When I get to the keep, the wards allow me entry. A foolish guard tries to stop me, and I conjure him out of the way, slamming him into a wall.
‘I'm going to see Varrik,’ I state for all within earshot to hear. ‘Anyone who gets in my way will suffer the same treatment.’
I take her up to the Gate room, and I find Varrik there pacing.
‘You found her!’ he looks relieved.
His assessing gaze moves over her, and I note that although he eyes her injuries with distaste, he’s not surprised by the state she’s in.
A part of me still hoped that Kal was wrong, that Varrik wasn’t the villain of the story, but it’s becoming clearer and clearer that the Harbinger’s fear and hatred of him may have been justified.
I want to turn around and leave. Either that or kill him. But I push the thoughts away. I need to see this through if I’m going to have a chance at keeping her safe until the others can take her away from here. That will be Kallum’s plan. Grey's as well, perhaps.
And I’m going to help them.
I glance at Rikoth who also looks more than a little relieved, his eyes flitting to Varrik nervously. He was being blamed for her escape, I realize, and I only just keep the smirk off my face. I definitely don’t let my abhorrence for the fae who's meant to be one of my brethren show, but the furious look he gives the small, hurt human I’m holding is enough to make my arms tighten around her protectively as he steps forward.
‘Give her to me.’
I don't release her.
Rikoth snarls as if he’s the most powerful elite in the room, and I snort.
‘Give her to me,’ he hisses. ‘I'm to breed her. I might as well do it now while she sleeps.’ He glances at Varrik, who nods, though when Rikoth looks back at Lia again, it’s with thinly veiled revulsion.
I swallow hard, seeing the path laid out ahead of me with clarity. This is how I can keep Lia safe and help the others get her out of here while staying on Varrik’s good side until Fiana returns, and my love and I can leave here together.
‘The honor of breeding the Harbinger should go to one who can actually keep her contained,’ I say with another snort, looking at Varrik, who raises an intrigued brow at me.
‘I’m one of the elites now,’ I state. ‘I found her. I brought her back. It should be my right to be the one who seeds her.’
‘You?’ Rikoth growls with derision. ‘You’re not fit to?—’
‘Enough,’ Varrik says, his sharp tone carrying through the room and brooking no further arguments.
His eyes bore into me, and I meet them without hesitation, already knowing this is a foregone conclusion because Varrik is a leader who respects strength, not excuses.
‘Granted.’
Rikoth starts to protest but falls silent at a quelling look from his master.
He glares down at Lia and gives a forced chuckle. ‘Good riddance. Ugly little thing. Good luck getting your cock hard enough to rut her.’
Varrik waves us away. ‘Take her back to her room.’
‘I want her healed fully,’ I say, taking a chance. ‘If you want the human bred, she needs to be in good condition. She's half dead. I'm not going to be punished when she doesn't get with child because her body has been so abused.’
Varrik’s eyes narrow a fraction as he takes me in, but then he nods. ‘Go and grab a healer then,’ he says with a bite to his voice that tells me his patience is at an end, and he’s no longer feeling altruistic.
I bow my thanks, and he lets out a breath.
‘Just get it done.’
Chapter Seven
