“And you’re saying he just gave it to you for no other reason than covering an hourly wage?” She crowded me against the huge torch, her breasts touching mine. “You expect us to believe he’s that generous to you?”
My heart flurried. “Like I said...it was to shut me up.”
“With something this precious?” She strangled the vial. “Why?” She looked me up and down, her upper lip curling as if I’d crawled from the gutter. “What is it about you that he finds so tolerable? Why would he even care that you were whinging? You’re trapped in here at his mercy—he can make you do whatever he wants.”
“No idea.” I swallowed hard as nausea built. “If that’s all, I’ll just—”
“Shut up.” Holding the vial to the darkening sky, she studied it as if she didn’t believe me. The red thickness flowed in the glass as she turned it. The longer she studied it, the more her suspicion blended with greed. “Could you get more?”
My head pounded. “I don’t know. Probably not.”
Evelyn grinned and cupped my cheek. “Wrong answer.” She tapped me hard enough to be a slap.
I clenched my teeth as more pain drenched my system.
I fought against it and didn’t make a sound. I definitely didn’t retaliate.
But I needed to go—soon, if I didn’t want to collapse at their feet.
Lydia laughed and slipped the jewelled knife back between her breasts. “Get us another vial and we won’t kill you.”
Hugging myself, I shrugged as innocently as I could. “Why do you even want it? It’s not like it’s any use to you in here.”
“Does it look like we care what you think?” Evelyn snipped.
“Nope.”
“Glad you’re finally showing some intelligence after all this time.” Evelyn slipped the vial into her black leggings pocket. Backing up, she pointed down the path. “Run along then. Straight to bed, so you’re energised to clean like a good little slave tomorrow.”
Stepping past her, my ears rang as another wash of nausea squeezed my throat.
Damn stress.
Damn ridiculous nervous system.
“Don’t forget what you owe us.” Lydia waggled her fingers in goodbye. “Stay alive now, you hear? Work hard for him like a good girl.”
I didn’t bother replying as I ran.
I hadn’t wanted his blood.
I would never have drunk it.
But having it taken off me?
I shivered.
If Lucien found out, how much trouble would I be in?
If he knew the very girls trying to kill and seduce him had stolen the very reason he was trapped in this cage, how angry would he be?
And what would he do to me in retribution?
Chapter Thirty-One
LUCIEN HAD BEEN QUIET, WHICH WAS his usual mood after blood drawing.
He sipped a drink while resting in his window seat, his eyes closed as if he was sleeping but his hands bunched as if he suffered rising claustrophobia from being trapped.
