Page 42 of Lana Pecherczyk

This was exactly why Manfri told Nikan, “This pretty ruby will get us top-tier access. We can have a courtesan bathe us, feed us, and then suck our cocks. We can live like kings for a week.”

Cielo had skirted his question earlier regarding whether his secret female was human. He’d soon reveal his truth if he refused a courtesan. Just thinking about it sent a surge of wickedness scouring through Manfri’s blood. He gave hisfriend a dark, challenging look, waiting for him to protest his plan. But Cielo revealed nothing.

Nikan’s eyes filled with longing. “I shouldn’t.”

Cielo smiled tightly. “Of course, it’s up to you.”

Manfri shrugged and pretended not to care. “We can leave you chained like this, no problems. Or you can come and have a night you’ll never forget.”

Nikan studied his manacle thoughtfully. “Maybe if I leave her a note…”

Manfri’s simmering feelings for Cielo’s growing distance melted. He felt foolish for even taking the conversation in that direction. This was more than having fun and forcing Cielo to reveal more secrets about his affair with a human. Nikan needed them.

“We don’t have to see the courtesans.” Manfri tossed the ruby back onto the treasure. “We don’t have to take anything. But you should see what life is like out there, Nikan. There’s a whole land full of excitement. You don’t have to live like this.”

Nikan’s dirty feet shuffled toward where Manfri had tossed the ruby, and he picked it up. His eyes turned hard as he looked at the jewel. “I don’t want to live like this anymore.”

Before Nikan could change his mind, Cielo had the manacles unpicked and unlatched. He was a genius with that sort of stuff. Manfri hadn’t met a lock Cielo couldn’t pick. On the other hand, Manfri was better with a paintbrush. Not much use for that here, though.

The instant the manacle fell from Nikan’s ankle, a loud squawk reverberated through the treasure tunnels.

“Oh no.” Nikan’s eyes widened to saucers. “She’s awake. Fly!”

“Not without you.” Cielo stood firm, his dagger pointed as he searched for the source of the squawk.

“Yeah,” Manfri added, puffing out his chest and standing between Nikan and the tunnel. “Crows before hoes.”

“She’s a crow, too, Mannie,” Cielo growled.

“Whatever. You know what I mean.”

Nikan’s eyes filled with emotion. “You should leave. You don’t even know me.”

“You saved our lives. You didn’t know us either.”

Chapter

Thirteen

This was fucked six ways from Sunsday.

River found himself cornered, outnumbered, and forced to look like a complete floater just to keep this woman safe and a hundred miles away from the Great Murder. She had the prettiest face this side of the Well, a body that made his mouth water, and hair that shimmered with colors no human should possess. And she had no fucking clue how to survive in Elphyne. Tossing her into a nest of crows would be like dropping a juicy worm into a flock of starving fledglings. They’d tear her apart just to see what made her shine.

The worst part? His body betrayed him every time she entered a room. When he’d first sensed her hovering near Ada’s examination curtain, his heart had hammered against his ribs like a caged animal desperate for escape.

Hunt. Collect. Take. Keep.

Ancient instincts clawed at his insides, demanding he claim what the Well had marked as his. He’d feigned ignorance, terrified she’d glimpse past his practiced indifference into the hunger that gnawed beneath.

And then Ada had called her over.

When Blake’s fingers had grazed his wings, his cock hardened instantly, painfully, demandingly. Other lovers had touched his wings before, producing pleasant shivers, a hint of arousal. But Blake’s touch? It had stopped his fucking heart. It was like flying too high, too fast, beyond the reach of the Well’s connection.

Even now, his body thrummed with phantom sensations while she stared at his exposed torso. Her fascination and low-grade desire cascaded through their bond, despite his attempts to block it. But it seemed he could only stop the flow of emotions one way.

She’d seen his scars and pathetic, damaged wings. And somehow, impossibly, still looked at him without disgust. A longing he’d buried deep enough to forget stirred beneath his breastbone.

Then there was the way she’d stood up to him.