Page 28 of Given to the Fae
She stands slowly and goes to the bed, standing beside it.
‘Well?’ I ask impatiently. ‘Get in.’
‘What about the...releasing.’
I snort. ‘I don’t believe in it. Tell Bere I’m not following orders if you want it done. He’ll just tell someone else to do it.’
She shakes her head, looking much calmer as she draws back the coverlet and sits down. She bounces on the bed a bit and then carefully lies back, drawing the blanket over herself and closing her eyes.
I sit in the chair by the fire and stare into the flames, keeping her in my periphery in case she tries something stupid. But she doesn’t. She does actually appear to be asleep. I wonder who will be sent to relieve me tonight, if they can be trusted with her.
If it’s anyone other than Locke or Jak, I’ll tell them I’ll stay with her, I decide. It’s not as if I have anywhere pressing to be. Taverns hold little diversion. They’re full of cunts trying to pick a fight because I’m large for a fae, and I’m not interested in a brothel this evening no matter how much I’m meant to be keeping up appearances for the sake of the mission.
I glance at the female in the bed and let out a small sigh, lamenting my choices, her fate, the Dark Realms. In a few days she’ll be sold to the arenas as a reward for the winners.
Poor girl.
CHAPTER 4
BRYN
Iwake for the umpteenth time, turning with a soft grunt as I try to get comfortable. I don’t know if it’s late or early, but the spelled window is showing stars and a high moon which would suggest that it’s still the middle of the night. Does it conjure the time of day, or just dark and light, I wonder?
I can’t sleep.
The mattress beneath me gives with every movement I make. It’s so soft and squishy that I feel as if it’s sucking me down into it. I sit up quickly and cast my eyes around the room. The fire has burned down to faintly glowing embers that are just enough to see the chamber by. The fae male is dozing in the chair by the hearth.
When he told me to lay in the bed, I’d thought he was reneging on his promise that he didn’t fuck slaves, and I was terrified. Whether my fear was that he might harm me, or that I might like what he planned to do, I’m not sure.
I survey him while he sleeps, taking in the blond hair that he keeps tied back in a low bun, the strong jaw and his smooth brow. I never understood why slaves like Bell professed to findfucking masters pleasurable, but with a bed partner who looks like Morgan, I think I’m beginning to grasp it now.
I look away from him and lay back again. My mind goes in predictable circles and I can’t escape the next subject of my thoughts.
Fate.
Although the innkeeper received his punishment for throwing me to the ground, there have now been four instances since the day I left The Barrack where nothing happened when I was hurt. Once with Jak when he chucked me into the cage, twice with Locke when he touched me and slapped my hand, and when Morgan put those shoes on me too tightly. Before, all of those things would have had a comeuppance, but there were no punishments for any of them that I saw.
I don’t understand. What if it gets worse?
I look at the huge fae again. What’s different about him and the others? They look like normal fae slavers to me, as much as I know about their kind. They seem typical, at any rate. Though this one did say I didn’t have to obey him. That is odd behavior. I watch as his chest moves slowly up and down.
I suppose that means I don’t have to stay in the bed, though. I get up and pad quietly across the floor to the hearth. I don’t bother with the blanket because the room is too warm for me without it, and the stones by the fire will be enough.
I lay before the hard hearth, and let out a long sigh, shutting my eyes with the final thought that I’ll keep a close eye on these fae and see if I can try to understand what’s happening.
I stretch on the floor,wondering why I haven’t heard one of Ogdan’s men ringing the morning bell to get us up to begin chores. I vaguely realize I can’t feel anyone moving next tome, can’t hear the breathing of the other females. Where is everyone?
I’m not at The Barrack anymore.
I open my eyes to find a beamed ceiling just as I see the large fae jerk awake. His eyes fly to the bed and, seeing I’m no longer there, dart around the room almost in a panic.
Then he catches sight of me and visibly relaxes.
I stand up and stretch, throwing a piece of wood on the fire. I grab the kettle and fill it with water, hang it from the iron hook, and use the poker to swing it over the fire to heat.
The large fae appears uncomfortable and I give him a questioning look.
‘I...tend to do things for myself,’ he mutters.
