I thought of his kiss. How…conqueringit had felt. And I thought that yes, this was a male who enjoyed a good hunt. So I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.
Though my cheeks flushed at the memory of the kiss, I dragged the food tray towards me, my mouth watering at the sight.
More food than I’d seen since my village. Perhaps more food than I’d seen at once in my entire life sat on that tray, each food type neatly organized in separate dishes. Juicy, fragrant,freshmeat, a dried preserve that was purple in color, and a small amount of bone broth remained in the bowl, the taste of which I knew was rich and creamy. There was even a heavy golden goblet of what I thought waswine, which I’d never tasted in my entire life. We’d only ever heard stories of it.
“I’ll eat instead. I need my strength to escape you,” I informed him, feeling determination flare to life inside me, welcome and contrasted brightly against my anger. “I can be patient. I’ll eat your food and drink your wine. I’ll listen to you when you speak to me. I’ll be your servant, if that’s what you wish, and I won’t complain. But one day, Iwillleave. And when that day comes, I will never letanyoneuse me again.”
Rowin stared at me, his brow furrowed. He watched as I tipped the rest of the broth up to my lips, swallowing the delicious, decadent liquid. Then I plucked meat from the dish and it practically melted on my tongue. I’d never tasted anything better in my entire life. I could havecriedat how good it tasted.
Finally, his voice came, dark and husky. I narrowly avoided shivering as it caressed its way down my spine, like a touch.
“I’m beginning to think I do not know you at all,sarkia.”
“Good,” I said, turning my face away from him, ignoring the way that voice made me feel, ignoring how pleasing I found it. “Let’s keep it that way.”
Only one goal was on my mind.
To getstronger.
And once I felt strong, body and mind, thenIwould decide the path for the rest of my life.
No one else.
Chapter Twenty-Five
In the light of day, much of my bravado from the night before faded.
I woke with a pounding headache because of the…of thewine, I remembered.
Drinking it had made me feel pleasantly light and dizzy. I could almost forget about the Dead Mountain, about the fog, about the witches, abouthim. For those brief moments, I could understand why stories of the Dakkari wine had circulated around the planet. For those brief moments, the wine had made me feel better.
And then it made me feel worse.
I gasped when a lightning-like streak sizzled behind my eye and I groaned. Then I remembered the horde king.
He’d warned me about drinking too much of the wine, hadn’t he? He’d tried to take the goblet from me when I began to sway, ordering me to rest instead. Only I hadn’t listened. I’d drained the whole goblet as he watched in muted displeasure.
“Very well,” he’d said in that gruff, rumbly voice. “You will learn when morning comes,kalles.”
Damn him, I thought, pressing my cheek to the cushion that had been brought in for me. It was cool against me, as were the furs I was lying on. I was a prisoner and yet, to me, this was luxury. A full meal and a comfortable, quiet, warm place to sleep.
Though that meal was not settling well. I’d gone too long on too little. And last night, I’d stuffed myself with rich, decadent food I’d never eaten before. The cramping in my belly made my nausea all the worse.
But I wouldnotthrow it up. I needed the nutrients. I needed to nourish my body, make it stronger.
As I sat up, ignoring the wave of dizziness, I heard the clinking ofchains. And then I remembered.
Looking down at my left leg, I saw a blackened steel cuff around my ankle, heavy but smooth. A chain connected it, leading to the pole, where it was linked around and wrapped tight.
The chain had a very long leash, though I would get nowhere near the entrance flap. Not even to the assortment of swords and daggers that lined the far wall. But I could reach the basin of water that sat on a circular, black wood table, and so I set my sights on that.
I supposed I should be thankful he hadn’t kept my hands tied around the pole. Still…he obviously didn’t trust me to not leave in the middle of the night if he left me unchained.
For good reason, I knew. I’d told him myself last night that I would escape eventually. Which, in hindsight, I probably shouldn’t have done.
I sighed, pushing myself up on shaking legs, feeling my belly churn with the wine.
I need to make him trust me, I thought. And I hated myself for the thought because I could empathize now with what he’d done tome. He’d lied to me, yes. He’d manipulated me.
