Page 95 of Owned By the Fae
‘Dane brings me a tea,’ I murmur. ‘Thank you. And we are friends,’ I whisper, blinking back foolish tears. ‘But there’s nothing I need.’
It’s a lie that rolls smoothly off my tongue because although thereissomething he might be able to help me with, I’m afraid he won’t understand. Jak might be my friend, but I don’t know how he really feels about Varrik or how he’ll react if I tell him about the fae lord’s threats against the faeling.
Still, perhaps he’ll be able to answer my questions about Ryon, at least, considering what Skith told me about the boy spending time with the healers.
‘Do you know a faeling that was brought here recently?’ I ask. ‘He’s not very old, with blond hair.’
‘Ryon?’ Jak’s eyes unfocus and he gives a fond grin. ‘Aye, he’s a good little fellow, always trying to help.’ He sobers as he speaks. ‘Misses his family though, poor lad. What of him?’
I stutter, trying to think of something to say that won’t give anything away. He won’t believe me if I say that the boy is being used as leverage over me. Why would he ever countenance such an accusation?
‘I just ... noticed him ... in the keep, and I wanted to make sure he was well,’ I say vaguely.
Jak stares into my face for a moment too long, seeing too much. I look away first.
‘He’s well,’ he murmurs, ‘and ... I’ll make sure he stays that way.’
My eyes snap back to his face, wondering if he does know something, but he doesn’t say anything more about Ryon.
‘I have to go,’ he says. ‘I’ll try to come back again when I can, but Skith has been keeping a closer eye on me than usual. If I don’t see you as soon as I’d like, it’s not because I don’t want to come, you understand.’
‘Thank you,’ I whisper.
He gives me a playful wink and leaves the room quickly, closing the door with an almost inaudible click behind him.
I stare after him, hoping that he meant what I think he did, that he’ll really ensure no one hurts Ryon. My shoulders relax a little, and I realize how thoughts of the faeling being hurt because of me have been weighing on me.
A moment later, almost without thinking about it, I have the drawer open, and I’m touching the flowers again. The fascination seems to be growing, but even the Harbinger doesn’t have an explanation for my interest.
Maybe my mind is finally breaking after so long in this room.
I'm still staring at them when I hear my door open again. This time, it's Dane. I've been hearing the sounds of the banquet all evening. He doesn’t say anything; he just regards me. He puts a bowl and the wooden cup of tea he’s carrying on the table.
‘I brought you some fruit,’ he says.
‘Thank you.’
His eyes glitter at my monotone reply.
‘They’ve brought you clothes?’ he asks.
I nod, wondering why he’s trying to make conversation when he’s hardly spoken two words to me since Fiana returned. ‘Servants brought a few.’
Along with enough wood to last the night and into tomorrow, as well as a decent meal for once. But he already knows that. He must have spoken to Varrik.
‘And how were they, the servants? Did they say anything to you? Were they rude or disrespectful?’
‘No, they didn’t say anything.’Only stared at me in anger that they were being forced to attend me at all.
He stares at me for a moment, and I almost wonder if he's thinking anything other than what he has to do now. Does he think ofherwhen he takes me? I shy away from the thought, not liking that at all, yet hating that I care. I have no claim on him.
‘Where?’ I ask.
‘On the bed,’ he says.
‘Dress on or off.’
His jaw tightens. Whether it’s my words or my lack of emotion, I don’t know.
