“Help me how?” Balor’s gaze flicked to her mouth, and he licked his lips.
“I’m a witch. I can heal you. Surely you and your men have injuries that need tending. Let me help in exchange for letting us go.”
The dark chuckle Balor let out made her skin crawl. “That’s good information to know. Never met a witch ‘fore. I’d bring you along so you could heal us in the future, but now that I know you feel his pain, you’ll have to die too. Pity.”
Orelia trembled, her mouth unable to find any words that might change his mind.
Vade mumbled something, and Balor looked over his shoulder. “Does that make ya angry?”
Sweat and blood coated Vade’s face, and she knew if not for the shadowy restraints, the scene would be playing out much differently. He spoke again, but the words were indistinguishable.
“Well, she ain’t exactly your woman now, is she? You ain’t claimed her.” Balor turned his seax over in his hands, the dark wood of the handle permanently stained in blood.
When he came closer, Orelia whispered for Santh to protect her.
“Shh, no need to fret, lass. I ain’t gonna cut ya.” He lifted a thick strand of her hair with his blade and let his eyes roam over her face. “Quite a beauty,” he said, making her sick to her stomach.
The tip of the knife traveled gently down her cheek, her neck, and stopped in between her breasts. Orelia tried to steady her heaving chest so as not to get pricked.
“I just wanna see what’s under these clothes.” Balor grabbed her tunic and cut it down the middle.
Orelia screamed for him to stop.
He tore the fabric away in rough movements, then tossed it aside.
A hand wrapped around her mouth from behind, muffling her screams.
Balor put his face right in hers. “Them green eyes sure do look pretty with tears in ‘em.”
Orelia prepared for what was sure to come next, her whole body shaking.
“Lay her on the ground,” Balor ordered.
As the rest of the fae approached, Orelia kicked and screamed, trying to get a visual on the weapons on her belt so she could call on one, but a firm hand held her head still. Two of the men grabbed her arms and legs and carried her.
“Right here,” Balor said, pointing to the ground.
She kicked and flailed the best she could as they laid her in front of Vade like she was on display for him.
Vade’s fists were clenched so tight that blood dripped from his palms. His eyes met hers, and she’d never seen them so full of violence. Not against her, but against the men doing this.
“I want him to watch,” Balor said through his teeth.
“Please, stop!” Orelia pleaded.
The man holding her arms smiled down at her. “I get second,” he said.
Balor huffed. “I don’t care what order ya go in, but I got her first.”
Orelia could barely see anything through her tears. “I’ll give you whatever you want! Just please don’t do this!”
Balor backhanded her across the face, and she winced through the sting. Blood dripped from somewhere—her nose, her mouth,she wasn’t sure. Orelia sobbed, looking to Vade for help. “Use your shadows!”
The men chuckled.
“Can’t use ‘em withbothhands caught in another’s power. Seems all that time away made him forget that small piece of information,” Balor seethed.
Shadows had wrapped around his entire body as Vade fought and snarled like a wild animal.
