Page 34 of Given to the Fae
‘Morgan, see to the female,’ Bere orders, sounding as weary as I feel.
I see Morgan’s eyes narrow in on the girl in Kings’ grasp. He puts on a good show of nonchalance, but I see the way his fist tightens as he walks across the barn and takes her from him, cradling her gently.
He’s protective of her, I realize. I’ve never seen him like this before. He grew up on the fringes of the Dark Realms. He’s gruff and harsh, even with women though he barely speaks to them at all. He literally only fucks them in brothels. That’s all.
I frown at what I’m seeing.
‘Did you do this?’ Morgan asks Kings.
No one else hears the cold, calculating edge. I only do because we’ve worked together for so long. Knowing my large friend, Kings’ next words will determine if he lives or meets with a likely fatal accident soon.
I didn’t think I’d need to warn Morgan to keep his distance from the slaves, I thought it would be Jak, considering he used to be a healer. This might be a problem.
Kings shakes his head. ‘Stupid female got in the way, that’s all.’
I consider Kings’ words. He makes it sound as if she, like a small child, wandered unknowingly into danger. But from what I saw, that’s not quite true. I saw the silent exchange between Bryn and Bell. Bryn put herself in front of the smaller girl on purpose. She meant to take that hit. Bell practically told her to. And then the bull came raging in and Bere is the only one who seems to have been hurt. My eyes narrow, the wheels in my head turning as I watch Kings stub his toe on the edge of one of the flagstones and half trip, letting out a grunt of pain as he staggers away. Didn’t that Healer hurt her fingers in Bryn’s presence as well...
I shake myself out of my ridiculous thoughts. Coincidences, that’s all. Gods, I’ve been in the Dark Realms too long. I’m becoming as superstitious as they are.
I glance at Bell when her attention is elsewhere, and I can’t help but think that she seems pleased with herself. But why did Bryn do what Bell wanted? Bell lords it over the smaller one, not Bryn, or so it seems.
Bere is speaking with Silve, who I’ve noticed has returned with bloody knuckles so he must have found the culprit who let the bull loose.
Ila is sitting in the straw, nursing her face where Bere had already slapped her before the bull came in. Bell is alone.
I approach her slowly, grabbing my pack that’s close by. I plonk it down on the hay bale closest to her, opening it and pretending I’m looking for something.
I grit my teeth. I shouldn’t be doing this. I don’t care about the intricacies of slave hierarchies. It’s not my business. And yet, I find myself eyeing her inconspicuously while I search my bag for nothing.
‘Why did Bryn do what you wanted?’
She jumps at my sudden words.
‘Milord?’ she asks innocently.
I don’t look at her. ‘I saw your exchange with her. Why did she do what you wanted? Why did she take that hit?’
Bell’s eyes are wide and guileless. ‘I’m sure I don’t know, my lord. Perhaps she simply wanted to help poor Ila. She’s suffered, you see? We both have.’
Her words sink in and confuse me even more as I remember the many scars over her body. ‘Not Bryn? She hasn’t suffered?’ I ask.
‘Not like us, milord.’
‘Tell me the truth, or I’ll whisper in Bere’s ear that he’d do better to cut our losses and get rid of you both to some low brothel as he can’t seem to sell you to anyone respectable.’
She pales. ‘No. Please, my lord. We’d die in one of those places.’
‘Then tell me.’
‘Bryn...owed me. From The Barrack. I saved food for her when she was starving.’
I snort. ‘Even if that’s true, which I doubt as I know your kind have little loyalty to each other, why bother calling in your favor to save Ila?’
Bell shrugs. ‘It is true, milord. Bryn and I were in The Barrack for a while together. As for Ila, perhaps I feel sorry for her. She’s small, younger, and hasn’t experienced so much of theDark Realms.’ She glances up at me, a tiny smirk alighting her face. ‘Or, perhaps I just thought Bryn could use a bit of practice taking strikes to the face before she’s sold to the arenas.’
The malice and spite are in her eyes for just a moment before they’re replaced with a more pleasant expression, the false one to hide the truth of what she is. These creatures prove me right again and again. There’s no love nor loyalty lost between any of them.
‘Go in the pen,’ I order.
