Page 17 of Given to the Fae (The Dark Realms #3)

‘Tell me the truth, or I’ll whisper in Bere’s ear that he’d do better to cut our losses and get rid of you both to some low brothel as he can’t seem to sell you to anyone respectable.’

She pales. ‘No. Please, my lord. We’d die in one of those places.’

‘Then tell me.’

‘Bryn...owed me. From The Barrack. I saved food for her when she was starving.’

I snort. ‘Even if that’s true, which I doubt as I know your kind have little loyalty to each other, why bother calling in your favor to save Ila?’

Bell shrugs. ‘It is true, milord. Bryn and I were in The Barrack for a while together. As for Ila, perhaps I feel sorry for her. She’s small, younger, and hasn’t experienced so much of the Dark Realms.’ She glances up at me, a tiny smirk alighting her face.

‘Or, perhaps I just thought Bryn could use a bit of practice taking strikes to the face before she’s sold to the arenas. ’

The malice and spite are in her eyes for just a moment before they’re replaced with a more pleasant expression, the false one to hide the truth of what she is. These creatures prove me right again and again. There’s no love nor loyalty lost between any of them.

‘Go in the pen,’ I order.

‘My lord,’ Bell purrs. ‘Wasn’t Bryn meant to be released a few times a day? I haven’t seen it done even once.’

My eyes narrow at her back as she sidles past me. What’s she playing at now?

‘Aye, that’s true,’ I hear Bere say.

I give the conniving human woman a scathing look that she doesn’t see, as I turn to Bere.

‘Why haven’t I seen her released yet?’ he asks me.

‘You’ve given Morgan charge of her,’ I say. ‘He likely did it last night and this morning.’

‘Still, the healer said it should be done often. Morgan.’

My large friend looks up from where he’s still holding an unconscious Bryn.

‘When she wakes, release her. Do it in the block if she gives you trouble.’

Bere points at the wooden structure at the edge of the room by the doors that the females’ necks and wrists are locked into when they give the slavers trouble . I’ve not been forced to watch one of them being used yet. I ensure my disgust doesn’t show on my face before I turn back to Bere.

‘Are you sure that’s wise? The Breach made her ill again and your fist has made her insensible.’

Bere lets out a small noise of discontent.

‘All the more reason. Release is good for them. Everyone knows that. Morgan, give her a healing vial as well.’ He glances at the other two and rolls his eyes.

Them, too, Silve. You and Warrior take them to the local bath house and get them cleaned up.

Brush their manes sleek. I want them looking healthy and fair for tomorrow. ’

‘Tomorrow?’ I ask. ‘So soon?’

‘Aye,’ Bere grates out. ‘What of it?’

‘The Breach. The next journey is over three Circles.’ I look at Bryn. ‘Even one had her morning meal reappearing and her in a faint.’

Bere takes a cheroot from the pouch at his waist and lights it on the nearby brazier.

‘What do you propose?’ he lowers his voice, so the others can’t hear. ‘We need the coin for the females soon, or we won’t be able to purchase prime flesh in the First Circle. We can’t miss the annual auctions in Merediea.’

My ears perk up at the mention of the auctions. He hasn’t let me in on this particular facet of the business before. He hasn’t trusted me with it. Perhaps that animal attack was fortuitous. I might have saved his life, and he knows it.

I don’t show any special interest as I shrug and ask a very logical next question. ‘When are they?’

‘A sennight.’

I do some quick calculations. ‘If we travel that quickly to sell them all separately, the one you want for the pit fights will be too weak to be of use to them by the time we get there.’

Bere counts on his fingers and scowls. ‘There would be more than enough time if the pathetic creatures could travel the Breach properly as we can.’

‘But they can’t,’ I hiss. ‘So, what if we separate?’

His often suspicious eyes narrow, but for once I can see he’s more curious than distrustful. Helping Bere has made more of a difference than I’d realized.

‘If you clean up the healthy ones, put them in some finer clothes, I think they’re fair enough for the Estate.’

He glances at them. ‘You think so?’

‘Aye, I spent time there long ago,’ I lie. ‘These ones are just the types they would buy, and,’ I lean closer, ‘if you can sell them there, we’ll get more than enough to buy at the auctions without having to rush to the Third Circle to get rid of the one destined for the pits.’

Bere strokes his small, pointed goatee. ‘So you propose I take those two to the Estate, and you take the other directly to Merediea?’

‘Aye, but slowly, so she gains her strength. Or I could take her directly to the pits and sell her myself.’

‘No.’

I almost grin at his predictable resistance to me making a bargain without him.

‘They know me. They won’t deal with you, nor any of the others.’

‘Fine,’ I say, putting my hands up. ‘Then I’ll take her, a couple of the men, and we’ll meet you in Merediea in two weeks.’

Bere considers, his eyes surveying the females, watching as they’re given their healing potions.

When Silve approaches Morgan, however, the giant snarls at him and snatches the vial, not letting him near the unconscious slave in his arms. The possessive display, unheard of for my friend, has me very glad that we’ll be spending two weeks away from Bere.

I’ll be able to use the time to get Morgan back in the right frame of mind, and his head back on the mission.

‘Very well,’ he says finally. ‘Who will you take?’

I say nothing, simply making a show of eyeing each of the men. ‘Morgan, as he’s such a good nursemaid.’

I chuckle at the guffaws I hear that tell me just how many of the men are eavesdropping. ‘And...’ I look around again, pretending I haven’t already decided. ‘Jak. He’s new. I’d like to get to know him better.’

‘Fine, but take Warrior, too.’

I glance at the black-haired fae with the thin face, sitting in the corner polishing his small, jeweled knives. He’s tall and lean and quick to pull one of said knifes. He scratches his stubbled jaw with the tip of one of the blades absently, pretending he isn’t listening, but he is.

I consider him the cruelest of the group by far and I have no doubt he’d be worse if money didn’t hang in the balance. That’s the only reason none of the slaves have died by his hand while I’ve been part of Bere’s men.

‘Why not Kings?’ I mutter.

‘I need Kings. He’s best at releasing the females and his manner keeps them in line.’

I shrug. ‘Fine. Jak, Morgan and Warrior, then. We’ll leave tomorrow and travel one Circle at a time, taking extra rest days if the female needs them.’

Bere nods. ‘She’s awake. Release her now and then feed them.’

Morgan’s eyes find mine and, before I can rethink, I saunter to him where he still holds her. His grip on her tightens.

‘If it must be done, I will do it,’ he hisses.

I resist the urge to strike him, but he must see my fury. He draws too much attention.

‘No,’ I say calmly in a tone that brooks no opposition, and I hope tells him how precarious his place is because of this female he seems to dote on. ‘ I will do it.’