Page 52 of Given to the Fae
I watch the sneer begin to twist his lip before he remembers himself and his expression shutters, but I saw the truth if only for a second. He hates that we have to treat the girl this way just for appearance’s sake.
‘Leave her there, put her on the floor. So long as she’s hearty and healthy by the time we reach the First Circle, I don’t give a fuck!’
‘What about her release?’
‘What release?’
‘Didn’t the healer say she needed at least two every day to settle her disposition? She’s only had one,’ I say, the picture of innocence. ‘What would Warrior say to Bere if he didn’t think you weretaking careof her properly?’
Locke snarls. ‘Those rules and laws are nonsense. They’re not based in fact and you know that better than Morgan and I do!’
I shrug. ‘That’s as may be,’ I say, ‘but Warrior really wants to try, and if he doesn’t think you’re doing it, make no mistake. He will. You may want to keep thingscold, but surely even you wouldn’t condone any creature’s needless suffering at the hands of that cunt.’
‘Fine.’ Locke rolls his eyes. ‘I’ll make sure that, even if I don’t actually do it, he thinks it’s been done.’
I sit back. ‘Not good enough. You said it yourself. Her kind are conniving. What if she tells tales to Bere as soon as we meet up with him? What then?’
‘Point taken,’ he mutters. ‘I’ll make sure I do it. Twice a fucking day!’
I stand up and yawn. ‘Good. I’m going to turn in. It’s been a long few hours.’
I turn away before he sees my amusement. We’ll see how long he can pretend he’s not interested in the girl. I have justover two weeks to convince him to bring her with us, and that’s exactly what I’m going to do. I won’t have a human death on my conscience. Not another.
CHAPTER 6
BRYN
Something’s woken me. I lay still, listening for a noise, and I feel a gentle nudge.
My eyes open, expecting it’s a fae come to tell me it’s time to wake.
It is, but it’s the one I least want to see.
Warrior’s expression is dark and smiling. I shiver as I sit up, my heart beating faster when I see we’re alone again.
‘Stand up.’
I do as he says, hoping that one of the others appears sooner rather than later. Since we arrived here, Warrior’s been worse with me.
He sits on the daybed I was just sleeping on, which I’m confused about because the last I remember I was repacking the bags. The sun was still up. I glance out the balcony doors. It’s rising now. I must have been asleep here all night.
‘Take it off.’
My eyes snap to him. ‘My lord?’
‘The dress. Take it off. I want to see you.’
I grit my teeth, and do as I’m told, remembering his threats to make me suffer by making someone else hurt me, so that they’ll suffer too.
The blue wool dress falls around my feet.
‘Turn so I can see you.’
I close my eyes and turn in place, feeling his eyes on me, making my flesh pucker.
‘Gods, you’re ugly.’
‘Yes, my lord.’
