Page 50 of Given to the Fae
She gives me a nod and I say no more about it.
We finish our task in silence and I make a small list of what I’ll need to buy at the markets tomorrow as we’ll be in the wilds for several days after Dead City, and we’ll need to ensure we have enough of everything.
It doesn’t take long for Locke to return, and when he does, he gives me a nod.
‘Where’s Morgan?’
I shrug. ‘I didn’t see him leave.’ I glance at Bryn. ‘I need to speak with Locke. You begin repacking the piles, and I’ll be back in a moment.’
She nods and I follow Locke out onto the cold balcony.
‘She can’t be left alone with him, not even for a moment,’ I hiss.
He looks taken aback. ‘Morgan?’
‘Warrior!’
‘What did he do? When?’
‘He told her to unpack his belongings. He went into the room with her, closed the door. I listened and he was talking to her.’
Locke stares at me as if he has no idea why I’m bothering him with this.
‘It’s what he was saying to her, Locke. Awful things, words to make a person feel worthless, worse than that even.’
‘Was she all right when she came out?’
‘Bodily, she seemed all right, but...’
Locke rolls his eyes. ‘Why are you both so fucking...’
He whirls around and walks to the edge of the balcony, looking out over the city and breathing deeply. ‘We cannot get personally involved with a slave. Gods, I can’t believe I’m being forced to have this conversation with you as well. We are here fora reason. She will be sold in just over a sennight. She will likely be dead by the week after that. There is nothing we can do, Jak!’
‘We could take her with us.’
‘Where?’ he scoffs.
I regard him stonily. ‘You know where!’
‘Impossible! We don’t even know where her loyalties lie – likely with herself, the same as all the rest of the unfortunate cunts out here. We cannot risk everything that’s been built because you feel sorry for one little human. Fuck! Where is Morgan? You two need a reminder of what’s at stake.’
He rubs his eyes wearily. ‘Go and get your cock wet later. Put the female out of your mind. She is no one. She’s nothing. She’s not important. There are thousands of her out here, slaves who’s bloodlines and kin have been in the Dark Realms for generations. This is to help the ones whohaven’tbeen bred here, in case you’ve forgotten. The ones like Nanna and–’, he turns away with a harsh intake of breath.
I step forward with an apology on my lips, but he gets his emotions in check before I can say anything and he turns back angrily, pinning me with a hard stare.
‘Remember the reason we’re out here in the first place,’ he snarls. ‘We don’t know where the new ones are being stolen from and until we do, they’ll continue to be taken. They’ll keep ending up here. How many have been pinched so far? Hundreds? Thousands of people who’ll never see their families again, who’ll die in the Dark Realms? Enough of this. I don’t want to hear about the girl again unless she’s ill or hurt in body. I don’t care what Warrior says to her, so long as she’s in one piece by the time we get to the First Circle and she’s in good enough health to sell, as we promised Bere she would be. No more of this. Not from you, and not from Morgan. The girl is a slave and has been all her life. She is the same as the others. Deceitful. Selfish.Scheming. Stop looking for more than that when there’s nothing to find! That’s an order, Jak.’
I take a step back at the forcefulness of his tone. It’s been a long time since Locke was truly a soldier, but his commands don’t allow for dissension.
‘Fine,’ I snarl, not even bothering to pretend I agree, ‘but perhaps you shouldn’t release her anymore either.’
‘What the fuck does that mean?’ he snarls.
‘Have we been out here for so many months that you actually believe Morgan and I to be simple slavers?’ I goad. ‘We have seen you with her and all your mighty words to us about staying detached mean nothing if you can’t do that yourself.’
‘She is a slave!’ he hisses. ‘I would never touch her except as a necessity, and whatever she’s led you to believe about feelings or inclinations she has toward you, they’re false! She’ll do and say anything to survive. She’ll fuck you and make you think it means more. She’ll steal and cheat. She’ll stick you with a knife while your back is turned and not feel a moment of remorse.’
I heave a sigh and look inside to where she’s still sorting the bags, oblivious to our conversation. Is Locke right? I don’t want him to be but how would I know, really? I barely know this girl and even this conversation could put us all in jeopardy. How far am I willing to go before our mission fails because I can’t keep my head straight?
