Ashterion’s brows lifted in faint amusement. “Is that any way to speak to your male, little fireling?”
Her smile was sharp. “Better than listening to the two of you posture like fucking animals.”
Ashterion barked a laugh, genuine this time. He couldn’t help it.
This female, this reckless, furioushuman burned with enough fury to scorch the air between them.
She didn’t look afraid.
She looked ready tobite.
“Such spirit,” he repeated, stepping closer again—close enough to crowd her space, to remind everyone watching that she was supposedly his prize. “I wonder if you’ll be so mouthy when we’re alone.”
Isara’s head tilted, considering him with the sort of clinical detachment one might reserve for examining a particularly uninteresting insect. “Probably. I’m consistently disappointing that way.”
Varyth made a sound—half laugh, half growl—and Ashterion felt a twist in his gut that had nothing to do with rage.
He wanted to laugh. Wanted to applaud. Wanted to grab her by the shoulders and shake her until she understood what kind of monsters she was taunting.
Instead, he let his shadows twist closer, let them taste the air around her.
“We shall see.”
60
The cell doorhad just slammed behind us when?—
“You have no idea what you agreed to.”Varyth’sroar was deafening, shaking the damp walls, drowning out even the laboured breathing from Darian and Fenric.
“He’ll tear you apart. Do you think he’ll stop at one night?”
The others—at least, the ones whocould—Linc, Brynelle, Shaelith, and Cindrissian were on their feet in an instant. Their eyes darted wildly between us,demanding answers.
“What the hell happened?”Linc stepped forward first.
Varyth let out adeadly snarl.
I ignored him. “A healer will be here soon. They’ll help Darian and Fenric.”
Silence. Painful, endless silence.
Then,Shaelith, “What the fuck did you do, Isara?”
Varyth’sentire body shook. “Sheagreed to a night a week in Ashterion’s chambers in exchange for a healer.”
The cell erupted.
“Isara, what the fuck!”Linc’sfists slammed against the stone wall hard enough thatdust cracked loose.
“Have you lost your mind?” Brynelle’s voicerose next, her whole body shaking.
Shaelith wascolder, deadlier, her expression one ofpure murder.
I forced agrim smirk. “If Ashterion kills me, at least you all can stop being so dramatic.”
“That’s not funny.” Fenric’s ragged snarlhit the air.
I whipped my head around, finding himglaring up at me, half-drenched in blood.
