Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 131875 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 659(@200wpm)___ 528(@250wpm)___ 440(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 131875 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 659(@200wpm)___ 528(@250wpm)___ 440(@300wpm)
“Shush, girl,” Flavia growled. “Stop telling lies.”
“She seems sincere,” the man said with a smirk.
“Constantine,” she admonished.
His smirk just widened. “Is this it? This little thing for the sum you mentioned?”
“You’re too late,” Flavia said, raising her chin. “Tarcus has already staked a claim.”
“Tarcus?” he snarled in apparent anger. “You’re doing business with the likes of him? After what he did …” Constantine trailed off, looking furious.
“He is a senator,” she said dismissively.
Kerrigan glanced at Flavia in confusion. “Tarcus never showed up?”
Flavia just glared at her and looked half-ready to pop her across the mouth for her insolence. “We are still waiting for him to come claim you.”
Kerrigan’s eyes widened in surprise. Maybe she had another night to figure out how to escape this hellhole. This time, she wouldn’t be stupid enough to do anything but save her own skin. That was what this world had taught her. Twice over.
“So, he hasn’t paid,” Constantine said with a laugh. “How like him.”
Flavia’s expression shifted at that, as if she’d caught a new means to an end. “Until I hear from him, she’s available. I wasn’t sure you could afford her. You haven’t been doing as well in the tournament circuit as you have in the past.”
Constantine’s eyes went flat. “We’re heading to Carithian soon enough for the next tournament. Our new champion is going to take the whole thing. It won’t matter how much she’s worth.”
“If you say so. The last one fizzled out, didn’t he?”
Kerrigan, however, lit up at the mention of the capital. He was heading that direction? That … could be helpful. He seemed to hate Tarcus, and he was getting out of town. Both were a benefit that she couldn’t ignore.
“This one won’t,” Constantine said. “But I don’t know if I want to get into this business.”
“It’s a steadier stream of income,” Flavia said. “You’ve known that for a long time.”
Constantine’s eyes swept over her, as if deliberating with himself. “Otherwise, she goes with Tarcus.”
Kerrigan shuddered at the name, and Constantine noticed her displeasure. It only made him frown deeper.
“Yes. You or Tarcus. Whoever can meet my price first.”
Constantine snarled something under his breath. Then, he stomped out of the room.
Flavia snatched Kerrigan’s arm up. “You stupid girl,” she cried. “You almost ruined everything. Running away, getting caught by Quintus.” She shook her head in disgust. Her nails dug into Kerrigan’s arm. “I had to pay for a healer to tend to your hands and feet, all while you were unconscious. I had no idea when you’d wake up. What were you thinking?”
Kerrigan wrenched her arm away. “I was thinking that I didn’t want to be sold to anyone. Let alone to someone like Tarcus!”
“Well, it’s your lucky day. I sent a messenger to Tarcus’s estate, and he came back empty-handed. He said that Tarcus was out and wouldn’t be back for three days! Three days! Can you imagine? No one else would touch you after his declaration, and now, he’s forgotten you. I did what I had to do to make the sale. And now, you get someone like Constantine instead.”
Kerrigan wanted to ask exactly what kind of man Constantine was, but already, he was in the entranceway of her room once more.
Felix bowed slightly at the waist at his appearance. Kerrigan hadn’t noticed that the first time. But now, she heard the word he said under his breath, “Kurios.”
Constantine shot Felix a look and then passed by him, not acknowledging the strange word. He slapped down a bag heavy with gold onto the nightstand. “There. Count it if you must.”
“That won’t be necessary,” Flavia said hungrily. Her fingers itched for the bag of gold. “I know where you live if you’re short.”
“I’m not.” His eyes slipped back to Kerrigan. “Anything else I need to know about her?”
“She’s resourceful. We’ve had a guard on her room day and night. She also has some … magic resistance.”
Constantine swore under his breath. “Is she actually a fucking Doma?” he demanded, rushing into Flavia’s space and towering over her body. “Tell me. Did you steal her from them? Are you selling her to me to get me caught? Because I will not get the same leniency that some bastard like Tarcus would get. You know they would seize all my property and possessions, enslave my daughter, and kill me.”
Flavia’s eyes widened in horror. “No, no, she isn’t a Doma. She has no magic of her own. She would have already used it. She just has the appearance. She’ll be perfect for you.”
“If I go down, Flavia, you will be going down with me. Do you understand? I didn’t fight in the Ando-Domaran War to get to where I am today, only to have you ruin it for me.”
“I’m certain,” Flavia said, lifting her chin. “I wouldn’t be selling her if I hadn’t checked it out.”