Total pages in book: 164
Estimated words: 152666 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 763(@200wpm)___ 611(@250wpm)___ 509(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 152666 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 763(@200wpm)___ 611(@250wpm)___ 509(@300wpm)
“None.” I lied smoothly, and then couldn’t help a little dig as retaliation for my aching balls. “Especially since removing you means the people of this village can go free. Their cage has been pried open. I’m a hero.”
“You’re delusional, is what you are.” Her fists balled. “A hero doesn’t murder villagers.”
“We left all the innocents alive, darling. We only killed or captured the poison in this place.”
Her eyes narrowed. “This village is anything but a cage. Is that how you sleep at night? By inventing your own reality? The people here stayed because they have food and shelter and a good life for their children. If not for Granny, they’d still live in poverty, their children uneducated. Now they’re obviously going to have to leave because you killed their provider and are abducting the one person who could still find a way to keep them in their lifestyle.”
I stared at her incredulously. “Do you seriously believe that? Granny’s people wouldn’t let anyone leave without an escort.”
“I know. A couple months ago I was punished because they thought I’d tried to leave—it was a misunderstanding. We’re in a dangerous line of work. We need protection when we venture out, me most of all. We can’t risk anyone knowing our location because they’d invade and do exactly what you did—kill Granny, take me, and steal the product. Congratulations, you proved her right and validated the rules we live by.”
I held up a hand, the surge of rage taking me unexpectedly. “You were punished? You were?”
Her chin tilted up a fraction. “Yes. I live by the same rules as everyone else. I’m not special.”
“They punished you even though it was a misunderstanding?”
“Yes. I did something stupid, and to keep the peace, I accepted the punishment.”
“To keep the peace . . .” I huffed out a sardonic laugh and turned away for a moment, the rage still pumping strongly. I couldn’t seem to make my way around it. “Who did it?” I asked softly. I turned back to her. “Who hurt you?”
Her eyes widened a little and a flush crept into her cheeks. “It doesn’t matter.”
I stepped toward her, each word clipped. “Who. Hurt. You?”
Her breath came faster. She wet her lips and I realized she was aroused. She was responding to my primal need to kill anyone who laid a finger on her.
“Alexander,” she whispered, desire filling those beautiful eyes.
“Did he hurt you as badly as he did Mr. Poet?”
“Who?”
“The man who worked with you.”
“Raz. I don’t know, but probably not. Granny always supervised my punishments so I could heal within a couple days. I heard that Alexander hadn’t been supervised for Raz’s latest punishment.”
Her words died away, still watching me, no doubt seeing my struggle for control.
“He’ll die for what he did,” I ground out. “I’ll ensure it. And someday you can explain to me how you think it is okay to punish people for wanting free will. How you turned a blind eye to villagers not being allowed to leave because of a dangerous profession they were forced to take part in. How you’re so fucking naive that you think it’s okay for Granny to cage a village of people under the threat of pain using rules they were tricked into agreeing to. But that can wait. Right now, you need to get your fucking ass up and get dressed. We need to get underway.”
“First of all—” she started, her eyes dipping to the clothes that currently lay on her lap. “Wait, these are mine.”
“Well now, it seems you do have powers of observation. I guess you just didn’t care what you and Granny were doing to your village. The dragons won’t spare you long.”
Her glare was now accusatory, holding up the garments. “Stop saying that. You’re twisting things.” She shook the clothes. “I mean that these were pulled from my cottage.”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “They’ll fit you. You’re welcome.”
“You looked through my things?”
“Yes. I look forward to reading your journals.”
Her face paled. “You wouldn’t dare.”
“Why? Afraid I’ll have proof of your lies?”
“I’m not lying,” she ground out, getting off the bed. The sheet pulled away and I refused to let my gaze wander from her eyes. “I have personal stuff in those journals. Private stuff.”
“You also have work stuff. Recipes. Procedures. I can only assume you’ll have organizational notes, people visiting the village you’ve talked to, things Granny said—”
“I’ll tell you whatever you want to know.”
“I don’t believe you. Get dressed. I’m leaving for a moment. If you run, you will be caught immediately. You’ll ride with Hadriel today. I don’t need you well, I need you barely alive. You’d be wise to remember that. I can make Alexander look like a puppy.”
She stood mute and rigid, a kindling of fear in her eyes. My gut pinched and I turned away. I hated even bluffing about hurting her. I hated the situation she continued to put me in. I hated her for making this all so fucking miserable. For making me so fucking miserable.