Her stony gaze held mine. “You are the Sidhe King’s little pet?” She stepped forward, into my space, beautiful and intimidating as she leaned towards me. “Better run back to the King’s lap, little lamb. This is no place for a girl like you.”
“And this is a good place for a Lysian princess?” I didn’t need her admitting who she was to know I guessed correctly.
Her eyes narrowed. “There are no princesses here.” Her attention flicked to the door as she nodded towards it. “Get out of here.”
“What if I could offer you freedom?” I challenged her, certain she would choose to accept.
She tilted her head back and laughed. The motion caused her shoulders to shake. “Look around, little lamb. This ismyestablishment. I chose this, and I would choose it again. I have all the freedom I could ever need.”
My eyes widened in bewilderment. “This is a whorehouse.”
A smirk curled at her lips. She brought a hand up in the space between us. Fire moved over her fingertips and she viewed me. “You should run along now.” The entire act was intended as a threat.
Pity for her, I knew tricks too. It would take more than fire dancing in her hand to startle me.
I snorted, moving my hand out in front of me, sending mist to circle the flames, snuffing them out till all that was left was smoke. “We have been looking for you, trying to find you and bring you back home.”
Her gaze narrowed. “Who iswe?”
“Your brothers, amongst others.” Did she really not think her family wanted to bring her home since the moment Clause took her from them?
She tilted her head, assessing eyes raking down the length of me. “My brothers have befriended the Bavadrin Leader Superior?”
“They thought we had something to do with your disappearance.” I always believed they were wrong, however with the revelation regarding Edda, the Lysians were right to view us as a threat. The thought made my stomach clench.
She stepped back, folding her arms across her chest. The movement like a barrier. She wanted to place distance between us, retreating. “Listen. I can see this has caused you some trouble finding me, but that isn’t my problem. I didn’t ask for you to come here. And I am in no need of your services. I am where I want to be.”
Soft moans drifted into the room, coming from somewhere beyond the walls that separated me from the rest of the whorehouse. My insides curdled with disgust. Iona glanced at the space behind her, beyond the beaded partition. When she turned back, a smirk lifted her lips.
“You truly want to live like this?” I asked.
She snorted. “And what doyouget for opening your legs,Great Leader Superior?” Her gaze narrowed. “My guess is not much of anything.”
My mouth dried. Did she really believe what she insinuated? “I get a choice.”
Her eyebrows shot up. “So do I. So do the ladies working under me.” Her lips flattened into a thin line. “It was not always this way. In thisestablishment. I took over and offered protection for the ladies here. I do not hurt them. They have the power to turn down offers if they wish. What you hear right now are moans of pleasure, not screams of pain or fear. They are safe.”
There was something in her eye that darkened when she said they were safe. A hidden lie.
“You are saying everyone here is by their choice?” I asked.
She viewed me, jaw ticking. “Mostly.”
So, it was not all roses and pleasure. Iona tried to overlay an ugly image with something more beautiful. Yet, the original bled through underneath. She couldn’t completely paint over it. “Who isn’t?”
“Listen, little lamb, run back to wherever you came from.” She pointed her chin towards the exit. “You do not want the King as an enemy.”
The King? “Does he…” I stumbled over my words in shock. “Does he come here?”Disgust slithered over my skin.
A smile split her face, sharp teeth peeking through. “Would you be jealous if he did?”
More like appalled.
She continued without waiting for me to respond. “Clause does not need to come to such places. Now, his right-hand men do enjoy a visit from time to time. One of them providesoversight.” She paused, eyeing me. “So, it would not be wise to stick your foot into this.”
“Who is kept here against their will?” I pressed anyway.
She scoffed, unfolding her arms and dropping them at her sides. “I tried to be nice and give you advice. If you do not wish to take it, that decision is yours. I certainly will not be laying a finger on Clause’s favorite pet. But, you should know that your choice here will have consequences, despite who you are to him.”
