Page 135

Takeshi scanned her face, his muscles clenching as the light gave him a better view of the deep cut on her lip and what was no doubt a bruise forming on her cheekbone. His hair was tousledand unkempt, as if he’d been running his hands through it all night.

“Are you okay?” she asked, the memories of the guards brutally shocking him still replaying.

“You’re the one who was brutally attacked, and you’re asking ifI’mokay?” Takeshi’s voice deepened, staring up at her in brutal shock and awe.

“My face and head hurt,” she admitted. “But I’ll be fine.”

She felt his gentle hands imperceptibly tighten around her, his expression contorting like he wanted to say everything but didn’t know how.

“You need to get up,” an urgent voice called from her right. “I heard the Dealers are on the warpath today.”

Khalani turned to see Elise standing outside their cell. Her eyes swept over Khalani’s face, sucking in a harsh breath at the evidence of her assault. “How are you feeling?”

“I’m okay.” Khalani stifled a groan as she stood, vertigo nearly sending her sprawling back to the ground.

A strong grip immediately steadied her waist.

“Maybe you should lie back down.”

But she shook her head. “I can handle it.”

Takeshi paused, a muscle in his jaw jumping like he was seconds away from locking her in the cell and leaving her there the rest of the day—just like he used to do every single night in Braderhelm.

But he bore witness to the determination in her eyes. The conviction to not show weakness or be a burden.

So, without a word, he released her, letting Khalani stand on her own.

Elise’s frown deepened as Khalani marched past, clearly not the only one thinking that the last thing she should be doing was leaving her cell and working in the mines.

But Khalani was used to ignoring pain and abuse, shoving it deep into her mind and pretending the trauma didn’t exist.

Not healthy, surely. But effective.

Prisoners lined up for inspection. Some winced at the sight of her bruises, while others shot her hard, accusatory glares. No doubt believing she was responsible for another prisoner’s death.

If only they knew the truth.

In line, Khalani noticed Takeshi’s stare become oddly fixated on something in the crowd.

His breath stilled.

His fists clenched by his sides.

She tried following his gaze…

“Stand up straight for inspection!”

Khalani’s head snapped forward as the Dealers walked through the line of prisoners. Several glared daggers in Takeshi’s direction, clutching their pads with white-knuckled grips.

The guards made them stand in line for much longer than usual.

Khalani continuously shifted her weight side to side, her legs turning numb as she blinked to stay awake. After an hour, she teetered, her legs nearly giving out, and Takeshi cursed next to her.

But one of the Dealers shouted, “Get on the ground for Dr. Strauss!”

It was the one time she felt grateful to sink to her knees.

When Dr. Strauss entered the area, his eyes were colder than normal. He scanned the lines of prisoners with a scowl, tapping his pen against the clipboard, the only sound piercing the quiet.