By the god. She didn’t want to remember what he’d done. It hurt far too much. She teared up as she thought about how she’d made her entire situation worse in every way. Guilt racked her. Taris Elian had been a heartless, horrible man, but she was to blame for everything that happened to her brother and parents.
Malena frowned at her. “All right? You went pale there.”
Xandra sucked in a deep breath and wrestled with her emotions. Tears threatened. She dared a glance at Malena and saw gentle sympathy. As hard as this woman talked, she did understand.
Xandra shoved her plate toward a lady across the table who ate as if she hadn’t tasted food in days. “Here. I’m not hungry anymore.”
The woman smiled and dug into the bread and fruits.
“One step at a time.” Malena patted her on the back.
“How do you do this?” Xandra didn’t know how to ask this. “How do you stay down here day after day without going insane?”
Malena gestured to a young woman huddled against a wall who Xandra had noted earlier. The thin, black-haired girl had skin as white as a cloud and with cavernous blue eyes that seemed hollow and unseeing.
“She was fine when they first put her down here. Day later, she was a nutter.” Malena sighed, the sound almost disgusted. “We practically have to force her to eat.”
Xandra surveyed the rest of the women. Most were medium-sized, not too thin or fat. “Rayder is sending down quite a bit of food.”
“Amazing, isn’t it?” Malena smirked. “Nicest damn slaver. Doesn’t make any sense. Unless he’s got some conscience. Hard to believe though.”
“Perhaps he’s got a sister or mother somewhere,” the woman across the table said, her blue eyes lively even as she ate with her mouth full. “And he thinks about them being stuck in these conditions. His guilt, you know.”
Xandra wondered, but she didn’t speak about it. “Who’s been down here the longest of your group?”
Malena sniffed then took a drink from her goblet. “Two women over there. Two months I think.”
Xandra couldn’t comprehend. Well, she could. She didn’t want to. Her imagination worked well enough. “You haven’t been out of this place for five weeks?”
Malena’s face visibly paled, her eyes haunted as something new and shadowy entered her expression. She hastily untied her tunic and loosened it enough to show the top of her chest and her right shoulder. A pattern of bruises from dark blue to light green fanned out across a large expanse.
Xandra’s inward gasp caught in her throat. She took a sip of water. “By the god. What happened?”
“Five days ago the admiral came down here and picked me.” Malena’s voice went raw with hate.
“Picked you?” Xandra didn’t know if she wanted the answer.
Malena didn’t lower her voice, but it also didn’t carry over the din. “He came in here one night, rousted me out of bed, dragged me outside. He took me to an empty cabin. I fought him, but he threatened to kill me with his dagger.”
Malena didn’t have to explain. Xandra shuddered. “He…raped you.”
“Yes.”
The woman across from them sent a blank look at them both and left the table.
Xandra reached for Malena’s right forearm and pressed gently. “I’m so sorry. That’s horrible. Unspeakable. Does he come in here and pick women from time to time?”
“Not often. Probably gets enough out of Yoanda and Phili to satisfy him most of the time.” Malena’s jaded expression returned, replacing her vulnerability from a moment before. “I don’t know why he picked me.”
Xandra surveyed the room then looked at the steps leading out of this dungeon. “I wonder how long I’ll be stuck down here?”
“Good question. I wonder that every day—how much longer I’ll be here.”
A clanging above the stairs signaled that someone unlocked the door.
Xandra started to rise, but Malena grabbed her forearm. “Not so fast.”
“It might be Rayder.” Xandra wanted out despite the hospitality the woman had shown her.
Heavy footsteps, definitely a man’s, thumped down the stairs.
Legs came into view, but the boots are beeches were all wrong. It wasn’t Rayder.
Admiral Karman Aramus stood at the bottom of the stairs, pure arrogance and self-assurance on his face. “Good day, ladies.” He gestured toward Xandra. “Xandra Shorenus needs to come with me.”
Chapter Eleven
Xandra’s heartbeat hammered as she stood up and faced the admiral.
She kept her face neutral. Her stomach roiled as she thought about what Malena had been through because of this man. She wanted to take the admiral’s manly bits and twist them until he screamed for mercy. Anger replaced fear and gave her a strength she didn’t know she possessed.
“My husband asked me to stay down here until he returns.” Xandra took a chance and caught the gazes of several women around the room. All of them narrowed their eyes and glared at the man.
Malena cleared her throat. “Whatever you’ve got planned, you can take me in her place. She’s married.”
The admiral’s smiling face turned ice-cold as he marched down the rest of the stairs and walked toward them. The other women scattered, moving back quickly. Xandra’s muscles tensed.
“It doesn’t matter.” The admiral’s gaze narrowed on Xandra. “She is coming with me.”
“Why?” Xandra wouldn’t agree to his request without a fight.
Leering, the admiral stopped in front of the table. All conversations ceased as the other women moved closer. What did they think they could do? Did they want to help her?
Aramus gestured with one hand. “You will cease this nonsense and come with me. There’s been an accident and your husband needs you.”
Xandra felt something constrict in her throat. “An accident? What happened?”
“He was injured on the way back from Drakus Fina’s camp.”
Gasps went up around the room. If there was one thing apparent, the slave women liked and respected Rayder.
Worry twisted inside her and she stepped away from the table.
“No.” Malena reached for Xandra’s forearm. “Girls, gather round. He’s lying.”
Xandra glanced at the woman holding her tight. “What if—”
“He’s lying.” Malena’s grip tightened.
Torn, Xandra glanced between Malena and the admiral.
The admiral’s gaze held pure contempt for Malena. His eyes suddenly blazed red. “You are a stupid wench.” He glanced at Xandra. “Your husband is dying upstairs and you’re allowing these bitches to tell you what to do?”
Xandra pulled out of Malena’s painful grip. Xandra didn’t know whom to believe, but the thought of Rayder dying pierced her to the heart. She trembled, shaky and stunned by her own reaction.
“Don’t listen to him, miss,” another woman said across the room. “He’s lured others upstairs with threats or promises. This ain’t no different.”
The admiral snorted. “You have all earned punishment for this. Half rations from now on until I sell you. There’s a slave auction two days hence. We’ll see how cocky you are then.”
“No.” Xandra took a deep breath. “I’ll go with you if you don’t cut their rations or sell them.”
“Let him sell us, honey.” Malena crossed her arms. “It can’t be any worse than this particular version of the hells. Who knows, we might run into a decent man or two who’ll treat us right.”
Several women mumbled positive statements under their breaths.
Confusion piled on—she’d never been this swayed one way or the other when she set her mind to things. Somehow these women and the admiral had changed that.
Or perhaps her feelings for Rayder influenced her. She hated that most of all. She couldn’t afford to have feelings for him when she would have to leave him. Besides that, he wasn’t the kind of man she could see herself with for life. She needed a gentle, kind and loving man without
violent tendencies, a man who would never hurt her. No, he wasn’t the man for her, regardless of his statements that she was his mate.
Xandra shifted on her feet, weariness tearing into her strength. “I’ll stay.”
The admiral stepped forward, and she stood her ground, daring to look straight into his eyes. Daring him to try anything with so many witnesses. His slimy gaze trailed up and down her body, and when he licked his lips she almost hauled off and slapped him.
“So be it. I came here as a humanitarian gesture. I’ll tell your husband you don’t care. I could have told him no whore from Magonia would care whether he lived or died.”
He turned and stomped up the stairs, and Xandra didn’t know whether to sigh in relief or beg forgiveness and run up the stairs after him.
After all, if she didn’t leave now, would she ever leave? If she went upstairs, would she find Rayder broken and dying? Would she find it a ruse designed by the admiral to lure her into a dangerous situation? At the same time, why would Rayder ask for her?
When the door closed and locked again, the choice was taken from her.
* * * * *
“Fuck her!” Drakus threw one hand up in a gesture of anger.
“I won’t.” Rayder’s anger boiled at the surface, and he was ready to do whatever was needed. He released the woman. “If it comes down to it, I don’t need supplies badly enough to rape. And I never will.” He reached into his breeches pocket and pulled out coins. “My lady. For your troubles.”
He held out the money, and the woman’s gaze darted from him to Drakus. She snatched the money from his hand but didn’t move.
Drakus looked dumbfounded. “You dare defy me in this?”
Rayder placed his hands on his hips, not touching the weapons he’d obtained before leaving the ship. “I’ll always defy you when it comes to rape. No exceptions.”
Drakus stalked to the tent flap and threw it open. “Leave us!” He pushed the girl out of the tent. “Guards, take her back to the other slaves. Bring me a new one.” Drakus waved for two other men to come inside as other men hauled the girl away. “Tie this man up just outside the perimeter. A dragon might find him tasty. Send his men away with assurances Rayder intends to stay longer.”
Rayder tensed as the men came toward him. He had no intention of becoming dragon dinner. He could fight the guards and win, but it wouldn’t be worth the effort. He couldn’t fight his way through an entire camp of Drakus’ men. No, he’d bide his time and wait until the two guards took him into the woods.
Rayder held up his hands to give a submissive impression.
Drakus threw Rayder a dismissive look. “Enjoy your death, Rayder. It’s unfortunate. You could have helped me win this battle by impregnating that woman.”
Rayder laughed as the guards divested him of his sword and placed it on a table by the tent flap. “This so-called battle isn’t about saving the people of Dragonia and you know it. It’s about your abuse of power and arrogance.”
Half-expecting one of the guards to cuff him, he braced for impact. Drakus glared but didn’t respond to the barb. “War is soon upon us, Rayder. You could have been a part of the solution. Get him out of my sight.”
Rayder regretted that he couldn’t save any of the slaves in the camp. But if he died, he wouldn’t be able to finish his main goal.
Xandra. He couldn’t leave Xandra to languish on that slave ship under Aramus’ fist.
As the guards marched him through camp, many of the rogue Daryk Ones stopped whatever they were doing outside their tents to watch him go by. A few spit at his feet, but others acknowledged him with respectful bows of the head. None of them lifted a finger to help Rayder.
No matter. He could do this without help.
Night had fallen and nocturnal creatures emerged to prey on the weaker. Unlike Drakus, who seemed afraid of the dark, Rayder thrived in it. Something about the night always intrigued him.
Seeing well at night had never been an issue for a Daryk One. The guards were Daryk Ones, but as they left the area a couple of ordinary men left camp and joined the group. They’d probably joined Drakus’ fight believing the bollocks Drakus told them about repopulating Dragonia and taking over Magonia. One held a torch. They took him farther into the jungle than he expected—far east, as a matter of fact. Soon they were out of sight and hearing range of the camp. None of them spoke, and Rayder liked that. It gave him an idea for a plan. Element of surprise always worked. They found a rocky outcropping that jutted straight into the sky, utterly devoid of plant life, a rarity in the jungle.
“The execution rock,” one of the Daryk Ones said. “Tie him down.”
The two other men helped, staking Rayder’s arms to the rocks by drawing his arms upward. His feet were free, but it didn’t matter. They figured he would be safely pinned. Rayder smiled.
“What you smiling at?” the short man with the torch asked Rayder.
Rayder shrugged even though his wrists were secured. “Wondering how long you’ll last out here with the poisonous insects and lizards and other creatures.”
“Why would you care?” Torchman asked.
The Daryk Ones glared at Rayder but stayed silent.
“Maybe,” Rayder said, “the Daryk Ones have an agenda you don’t understand.”
The regular men exchanged cautious glances with one another and drew their swords as if they suspected danger were afoot.
The Daryk Ones nodded at Rayder, their eyes suddenly glowing red.
Rayder wanted to laugh but he didn’t wish to tip off the men who’d just drawn their swords. With cries of battle, the Daryk Ones launched at the other men. Rayder yanked at the ties on his wrists. Bonds snapped under his strength.
With sharp cries of pain, the men fell under the Daryk Ones’ swords, dying before they could take more than a few breaths. The Daryk Ones stood over the men then threw glances at Rayder.
“Thank you, my friends,” Rayder said. “Why did you help me?”
One of the Daryk Ones answered, “We’re working from the inside out. Spying, you might say.”
Rayder grabbed one of the fallen men’s sword and dagger. “It’s my good fortune. How will you explain my escape?”
The Daryk Ones shrugged. One said, “We’ll say the mighty and powerful slave trader overpowered us.”
“Right.” Rayder knew his voice sounded sarcastic. “Not a believable story, but I’m grateful.”
He didn’t waste more time asking how the men would cover their butts. He ran, because once Drakus realized Rayder had escaped, he might send additional men after him.
A fine fuckin’ situation it is.
It would take him a better part of the night to reach the Beast. Despite his strong constitution, he needed more food and drink to keep up his strength. Living off the land wasn’t a problem, but he also wanted intelligence and figured he could find it with a former Daryk One named Minilos Willburi who had retired from service to run a tavern. The tavern was outside of Grimnald Castle. He could grab some food and drink and head back into the night and locate the Beast. He didn’t like the fact Xandra was on the ship without his protection for this long.
Rayder ran faster.
* * * * *
“You win.” Malena smiled as she tossed her cards onto the pile in the middle of the table.
Xandra returned her grin as she scooped the cards toward her and gathered them into a pile. “You won the last time.”
“Guess we’re even then.”
Several of the women watched them play in the early morning hours while the rest continued to slumber. Xandra was tired too. Malena had insisted she take her bunk, but Xandra had barely slept. She couldn’t keep Rayder’s whereabouts out of her mind. What if he needed her and had asked for her? Conflicting emotions bombarded her. She couldn’t recall the last time she’d felt this conflicted. Why would Rayder ask for her even if he were dying? Because he thought she was his mate?
A clanking noise at the top of the stairs startled them,
and they jerked toward the sound.
Xandra had had enough of the admiral and stood, ready to do something…anything in her own defense, up to and including using Rayder’s dagger on the admiral.
Perhaps, if all were well, Rayder would be the one at the top of the stairs. By the god, she hoped. Heavy footsteps clanged down the stairs, but when Phili appeared, the room went silent. Surprise kept Xandra mum at first too. Phili was the last person she expected to see.
Phili walked toward Xandra, her face impassive. “Time to leave.”
Not wanting to miss the opportunity to escape the ship’s dungeon, Xandra decided she’d ask questions later. She turned to Malena. “Thank you for the hospitality.” She waved to other women in the room. “Thank you very much, ladies.”
A chorus of genuine goodbyes followed Xandra upstairs.
“You take care now,” Malena said as Xandra reached the top of the stairs and freedom. “Don’t forget us.”
Xandra’s gut clenched with guilt at the thought of leaving the other women, but what choice did she have? She had to take this escape while she had a chance.
When Phili locked the door and turned to Xandra, Xandra wondered what the woman had up her sleeve. “Why did you let me out? Is Rayder injured?”
Phili glanced around the bustling ship. Men moved with purpose and quickly. “I let you out because the ship is leaving soon, and I need you to convince the admiral that he can’t leave without Rayder.”
“What? But I thought—”
“You thought Rayder was hurt. The admiral lied. He only wanted to take you to his cabin and have his way with you.”
Xandra shuddered. “I thought perhaps that was the case, but I was so worried about Rayder.”
Phili’s smile was thin, her eyes filled with sardonic amusement. “You are truly mated with him, aren’t you?”
Xandra didn’t want to think this Dragonian mating phenomenon was possible. “I don’t see how. If I am, then why doesn’t the same thing happen on Magonia?”
“Mating?” Phili shrugged, her voice sarcastic. “I don’t know. Hundreds of years of cultural sexual repression?”
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