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“Yes, fixed,” Gem took a drink of water. “A sound decision for a single man his age.”

“How old is Salas?”

“He’s over thirty already, way past the age to hope for a wife.”

“Did you speak to him? What did he say?”

She shook her head. “I talked to his owner and sent a healing witch to treat his back and to assess his overall health. The owner agreed to give him time off work, just like you wanted, in exchange for compensation for the time lost, of course.”

“Are we going to pay her?”

“Well, she owns his time and has to be compensated for it being spent elsewhere. She thinks I’m getting him for my own use, by the way.”

“But does Salas know he’s going to be with me? Did he agree?”

With her elbows on the armrests of her chair, Gem spread her hands aside. “It’s safe to assume he’d rather be with you than hauling those bricks out there.”

“So, you didn’t actually talk to him?”

“It’s unnecessary,” she dismissed, then gave me a long, penetrating look. “Ari, like I said, it’s normal to feel nervous. But I made sure you’ll be safe. I’ve talked to his owner. He’s been with her for three years now. She vouched for his character. Thefight this week was the only one he’s ever been involved in, and according to the reports, he was provoked, as you know. Men are primitive creatures.” She shook her head with a roll of her eyes. “They always compete for dominance, even in the groups where they are on the same level of hierarchy. They bully each other, even when they should feel camaraderie while being in the same situation.”

I paced the room. Moving often helped me think. Right now, it helped my nerves to settle somewhat too.

“What did Salas do three years ago, before he became a slave?” I asked.

“He had a different contract with someone else.”

I adjusted my glasses. “So, he’s been a slave for more than three years?”

“Yes. At least twice as long.”

“How long does he still have on his contract before he’s free?”

“Three more years, but the generous compensation offered by your mother for his services would reduce that to two.”

That added up to at least nine years of all his contracts combined. Salas had given up his freedom for over nine years—almost a decade or even more of not belonging to oneself. It must be terrible.

What compelled him to do something like that?

“If I go through with it, he’d be free a year sooner,” I reiterated.

“Yes. A win-win situation for everyone.” Gem lifted both hands with a smile.

I poured a glass of water for myself and guzzled it at once. My hand trembled either from nerves or anticipation, most likely from some crazy explosive mix of both.

Gem noticed it but misunderstood the reasons.

“Ari,” she said softly, “the guards will spend the night by your bedroom door. If he so much as raises his voice, let alone raises a finger to you, he’ll die. I’ll make sure he knows it—”

“No.” I slammed my empty glass down on the stand by the fireplace. “Promise me no matter what happens tonight, Salas won’t be punished.”

“Are you insane?” She stared at me in shock. “If he dares defy you—”

“Even if he does,” I insisted.

“Ari. Any assault on the princess is a crime punishable by death. That’s the law of our land.”

“Not in this case, Gem. Salas won’t be coming here by choice. He’ll be brought to my rooms because I ordered it.”