“Fucking slavers!” Captain Rawlings hissed, and tossed his blade onto a nearby table.
Marco cleared his throat. “Overheard Jasper saying he hired bounty hunters to catch her. Must have caused a lot of trouble.” Moving from my line of sight, the soldier prodded the open wound with a delicate touch that made me hiss, but that was it. All the energy I could spare, for General Tilcot was drawing near.
I felt his approach before I could see him, such was his power.
“Would you like my Sasha to heal our little wildcat?” the general asked after a moment of silent inspection. “There’s no sense in training an injured slave.”
“Sasha’s services would be greatly appreciated, General, my thanks,” Captain Rawlings replied.
If there were any hint of color left in my dirty face, it drained at the mention of Sasha. I wasright. Tilcot was bound to a priestess. TheHighPriestess, who’d been in charge of the temple before Tritan fell.
Our most powerful healer and the one to test prospective young priestess, Sasha was the one woman my father had worked so hard to hide me from. A woman who’d be able to feel my modest power the instant she laid eyes on me—who was bound to a Caledonian general.
Helpless but to brace for whatever came next, I let go a held breath, sagging into my restraints.
“Come to the bathhouse, Sasha,” General Tilcot ordered, speaking into a wide wrist cuff. Masculine, despite the gold and precious gems.
A few minutes later, a side door opened, revealing the very last face I wanted to see.
Sasha was the embodiment of pure Tritan elegance. Her nearly white hair hung to her slim waist, and her skin was so pale it might be mistaken for translucent. Unblemished and glowing with health. She wore a simple blue wrap that hung off her slender frame, enhancing her slight curves. Golden cuffs circled her wrists and throat—a match to the one on the general’s wrist.
When crystalline blue eyes met mine, the older woman blanched a sickly shade of green.
She knew.
“She’s thin for a pleasure slave,” Marco said from behind me. “I like it when there’s something to hold on to, you know? A woman is supposed to have curves. A man has muscles.” He grabbed my hips, testing his grip. Fingers kneading.
Lip curled, Captain Rawlings rolled his eyes. “Don’t you have something to do, soldier?”
“Not a thing more interesting than this,” Marco replied.
“Sasha, don’t just stand there staring, you foolish girl! Get your ass over here,” General Tilcot growled.
It was enough to make her jump, to see her rush to his side like the obedient little slave she was.
I hung my head, waiting for her to give me away.
“What’s her story, my lord?” Sasha asked, and my eyes filled with tears at the sound of her voice—it had been years since I’d heard a Tritan accent.
“Not sure. She doesn’t say much. She’s Captain Rawlings’ newest purchase, and it seems the slavers have treated her badly,” the general said, stroking Sasha’s hair affectionately.
As I watched the display, my stomach flipped, revolted by the affection so obvious between slave and master.
“See what you can do for her, pet. I’m sure the captain would like to get to her training.”
With that, Sasha approached. Slow, palms up, she offered a smile when all I could do was glare. And when cold hands touched the bruised skin on my ribs, I cringed, chains tinkling above my head.
“It’s okay,” she murmured. “I’m not going to hurt you. I’m going to take away the pain.”
I felt it then—the pure energy of a healer flowing into my body. The rush of my gift as it flooded to the surface, drawn into her power. Instinctively trying to lend her strength.
Fingers dug into my skin—a warning. “Try to relax,” she said, voice tight.
I understood what wasn’t said. That this needed to be a routine healing, unremarkable in every way, or I risked discovery. Not bold enough to question her loyalty, I forced my power back through sheer force of will.
By the time she had finished, sweat was pouring down my face. The pain was all but gone, and I took a deep breath, luxuriating in my ability to do so.
“What’s wrong with her?” the captain asked, peering into my eyes.
