Inara’s expression shut down. “I’m aware of my debt. That doesn’t mean I’m willing to sacrifice Aileen to pay it.”
You may not have a choice. You are caught. As I am caught. He owns your will now. The only escape is through your magic breaker.
“He doesn’t know what she is,” Inara argued.
Even to my ears she sounded unconvincing. More desperate than rational.
He will soon.
Inara bowed her head, preventing me from seeing her expression at that announcement. In the end, I didn’t need to with the way her curled fists trembled.
Come,the eldritch ordered.They will be here shortly.You don’t want to be punished again.
There was the crack and rustle of underbrush as the eldritch moved away.
When he was out of sight, Inara lifted her head, looking me dead in the eye. “Foolish vampire, why couldn’t you have left well enough alone?”
She didn’t seem surprised to find me awake. I guess my whimper hadn’t gone so unnoticed after all.
“Next time use words instead of a ‘forget me’ spell,” I mumbled with a wince.
Speaking hurt more than I thought it would. It seemed in addition to my cheekbone and eye socket, my jaw may have been broken at some point tonight too.
“Maybe then I’ll actually have an idea of what you’re trying to do.”
If it was possible, Inara got heavier as I tried to sit up. With a grunt, I gave up and laid back down to stare into the canopy of the tree. “Did you really think I wouldn’t care if you and Lowen just upped and vanished?”
Our relationship may have been a little fractious, but I’d always thought of us as friends.
There was a watery laugh from Inara. “I counted on it even when I hoped you wouldn’t.”
That brought my gaze back to her. “How did you end up here?”
I was pretty sure I knew Lowen’s story, but the last I’d seen of Inara she’d been with Baran. Since he was now in Noctessa, it made me wonder how she’d got to this point.
“Arrogance—and trusting someone I shouldn’t have.”
The bitter ruefulness on her face brought one name to mind. “Nyx.”
“She was a trusted member of my former court. I thought she would help me. I was wrong. She handed me over to them instead. Apparently, she’s been working with them since before my court fell.”
Inara touched her throat self-consciously, right over where the collar would have rested if it had been visible to the mundane eye. A bitter smile twisted her lips. “I’m sure you can guess the rest.”
Yes. Enslavement. Enthrallment. The whole shebang.
“What about Baran? Was he with you when this happened?”
Inara shook her head. “I knew there was danger and that there was a chance something could go wrong. I left him behind as a precaution.”
“And Arlan? Is he part of this?”
Inara’s gaze strayed to her left, a flash of sympathy appearing. “He’s cooperating for the same reason I am.”
I followed her glance. Even anticipating what was waiting for me, I still wasn’t prepared.
A mass of roots protruded from the ground of the meadow. They intertwined to create a cage of wood, dirt, decaying leaves and moss.
This time I had a better vantage point to see what was caught within them.
