Daisy bent her wrists to grab the chains of her shackles. She’d tested them last night. They’d be long enough to yank forward and wrap around this thing’s neck.
Her logic trickled back in slowly. These things wouldn’t be the ones indulging. They were trying to recruit her for their king, andintact femalesurely meant virginal. She didn’t fit the criteria, thank fuck. They wouldn’t be taking her. If she killed one right now, it would very likely result in a worse situation than ignoring them checking her out. It wasn’t pretty, but neither were gynecology appointments.
She gritted her teeth as her pants were tugged down. Her brain filled with murderous rage. She yanked against the shackles as the creature prodded. It took everything in her power not to reach forward and wrap the metal around the thing’s neck. Instead, she waited, surviving the violation so she would live to fight another day. Someday soon.
It muttered, “Filthy humans.”
Like it could fucking talk.How about a bath, bub? Maybe a comb and laundry service.
The creature backed away, leaving her clothing as it was.
“No,” it grunted, turning for the cell door. “It’s busted.”
She nearly blurted out a laugh at that.
“There might be some fresh ones—” Its voice was drowned out by the clang of her cell door.
Daisy refused to let shivers of disgust envelop her. She’d dodged a bullet. If anyone ever tried to slut-shame her, she’d recall this instance right here. Sexual awakening for the win.
The vigor of Mr. Screamer below had renewed. Or maybe that was someone else. Regardless, she pushed her hunger away and let her head loll, closing her eyes again. She used this time to go over, in minute detail, all Tarian had relayed to her about this place. Everything she knew about the fae and the wylds. Everything she knew about fae, period. She might not be great at shielding her mind, but she was excellent at distracting herself with a whirlwind of thoughts.
Because of that, it seemed like no time had passed when she heard her cell door open again. More light trickled in through the window, but she couldn’t judge what time of day that might mean. Lennox was the first to walk through, his hair cascading down the shaved sides of his head in a glorious, loose wave. His beard was tied with a fresh toggle, this one showing a sun design. He’d had time for a shower. And probably food. And water. Fuck, she was thirsty.
He halted, his gaze on her pants. Well, that was embarrassing. Her stripteases were usually voluntary.
He was shoved forward but hardly budged. Kayla came out from behind him, and her eyes lit with fire. Her step didn’t hitch, though. If anything, she got slinkier as she walked, like a predator sighting its prey.
7
Daisy
Are you okay?she asked Daisy, stopping right in front of her. Her eyes jogged back and forth between Daisy’s. She must’ve been reading the memory of what had happened and known the relief mixed with blind rage Daisy was feeling. Daisy had escaped, but some other poor female probably had not. She waited, though, for Daisy to answer. She was allowing Daisy to have a voice about the situation.
Warmth filled Daisy’s middle at the care and attention. She was not treating Daisy like a prisoner, but as an equal female. It was…endearing. It thawed Daisy’s built-in mistrust of strangers a little.
Yeah,she said, nodding to accentuate her answer.They weren’t looking for me.
Kayla nodded as well before lifting her hands to the manacles.Lennox has turned around. Go ahead and fix your clothes, and then we’ll go.
The manacles popped open without a lock, Kayla’s magic releasing them. Daisy pushed forward to stand on her ownbefore adjusting everything. When she was done, Kayla split the flat black, robe-like cloth she wore to reveal crisscrossing straps and weapons across a slick black leotard. She pulled out Daisy’s knife and handed it over.
Hide it,she said.Quickly.
Daisy didn’t waste any time, and Kayla stepped away before grabbing Daisy’s upper arm. She yanked Daisy toward Lennox, who glanced over and reached out to take the other.
Just one arm,Daisy said, pulling away from Lennox.It’ll make me look like less of a threat.
Kayla glanced at Lennox, who paused before stepping away.
Sorry about…you know,Lennox said as they started walking.Staring, I mean. I wasn’t…looking. I was dumbfounded by the level of rage that hit me. I froze. It was a shitty reaction. I’m sorry about that.
Kayla shook her head and spat to the side.This court is diseased from the top down. We’re running out of time to make a difference. At this rate, we’ll have to kill the entire court to keep the twisted magic from bringing down Faerie.
Daisy kept from looking around, her gaze directed straight or a little elevated. She didn’t want to put a face to Mr. Screamer or know what else went on in that dungeon. She didn’t want to know what she’d possibly face.
They didn’t go back the way they’d come, nor did she see any dungeon personnel. The tunnels opened up, and the smell receded. The dim blue lighting turned into orbs of various colors, contained in beautiful sconces bolted to the walls or dropping from arching ceilings. Bright sunlight streamed through rows of windows.
Farther still and the ceiling continued to rise. Stone was now painted or wallpapered, adorned with weaving black designs or shiny obsidian. Fae dressed in a similar garb as Kayla and Lennox hurried on their way, heads down and hands oftenfull with chamber pots or water pitchers or something else indicating they were at work.
