Page 54 of A Curse So Vile

“The town, yes, but not your traveling companions.”

“You’ll not touch them,” Brenna said with an edge to her voice.

“Don’t worry. Your little protégé,” he glanced over at Fiona, who stood frightened behind the bar, “can come with us, but the brute and the Gryndari are marked for death.”

“Theywillcome to no harm.”

“So I’m supposed to believe that if we leave them, they won’t go running to the Den for aid?”

“And if they did, what of it? Are you so scared of my people?”

Julian scoffed. “Scared? What is there to be scared of? Your people are half of what they once were.”

“With your hatred of my kind, you should surely see this as an opportunity. If the Den decides to take their revenge, you can thin the pack, so to speak.”

“That is not my mission, and,” his grin widened, “I’m rather sure they will come for you regardless of whether your friends make it to the Den or not. I just detest Heartlanders and haven’t ever had the pleasure of ever sampling a Gryndari.”

“I don’t believe you for a moment. You’re craven.”

Julian snarled, his fist slamming down on the table. “I’ll have you know that if I had it my way, we’d have snuffed out that Den of yours long ago.”

“But things aren’t your way, because you have to answer to someone.”

Silence was his reply.

“I’ll tell you what. If you let my traveling companions go and agree not to harm the town, I’ll leave with you willingly and you can bring me to Ossory and serve me up on a silver platter to your master.”

Julian scowled, like the thought of leaving a job half done irked him. She also knew that her desire to save her companions must confuse him, and perhaps offering a sound reason would quell the Ossorian’s mind.

“Please, Julian. It’s not often that a good bed slave comes out of the Heartlands. Those from Maritimas are far too delicate for my tastes, but the Heartlander giant suits me fine and I won’t see him end like this.”

His lips curled into a sickening smile. “You won’t have to worry about finding a good bed mate once you come to Ossory.”

She roved her eyes down the sharp recesses of his body. “And yet, I protect what’s mine with my life’s blood. You make a move on my companions, and it’s an act of war. No more compliance. No more friendly travels.”

He snickered. “You’ve no hope of winning against us.”

“You’re right, but I’m prepared to fight to the death. How would your master like that?”

The Ossorian’s jaw shifted. Clearly, his boss wanted her alive.

“Wait for me at the northern edge of town. I’ll meet you there in an hour, and if I fail to show, you shouldn’t have a problem catching us. I am, after all, traveling with an aged toggler suffering the effects of the blight.”

Julian sucked in a breath, his monstrous nostrils flaring outward. “Fine. I’ll give you an hour, but if you’re not back, I’ll feel your bed mate’s entrails to you.”

16

COLE

Cole could hardly keep still, he was so anxious. Dorthea sat, stoic as she’s ever been. He was amazed by her ability to stay calm, but he supposed her patience came with age.

Though the Toggler had very little of that when it came to Brenna.

The logical part of him reasoned he should hate the Dusklander, especially after what she’d done to Fiona. But Brenna touched something inside of him that went beyond the physical world. It was as if their souls were melding into one.

Perhaps he was kidding himself. She had, after all, told him to treat her like a whore, then threw him out of the room when she was done with him.

She was exactly like the other women he’d kept. The Heartlander nobles that pined for his cock and tongue, then hid him away straight after.