“Riann has made his choice,” Wellion said brusquely, turning away. “And I daresay he did it for you. You should get out of here, before his sacrifice is wasted. If my father finds out what you did, he won’t show you anyleniency.”
“But you would.” Tariel grabbed his arm and spun him back around. The anger on her face had been replaced by desperation, a silent plea in her gaze that tugged at Wellion’s heart despite himself. “You are clearly not the depraved man your father is, or you would have already killed me yourself. Please, Wellion. Helpus.”
Wellion stared at her for a long moment, feeling incredibly conflicted. His loyalty was to his father, to this keep…and yet, what had it ever gotten him? His father was about to abandon him, to run off and join high society while Wellion continued to risk hislife.
“Stay here,” he ordered. “I need to check on my father, make sure you did not damage him toobadly.”
He locked the door behind him and crossed the hall to his father’s chambers. He half-expected to find him bleeding or dead, but to his surprise, he was merely asleep on his bed next to the female hostage. Wellion noted the way her skirts were pushed up to her hips, glimpsed the ugly bruises on her thighs, and put two and two together. Tariel had not been able to stomach the thought of watching his father rape the woman, so she had done something aboutit.
Wellion stepped back into the corridor and ran straight into Riann. “What are you doing up here?” he demanded. “This area is offlimits.”
“I’m here for Tariel,” Riann growled, his eyes blazing with anger. “I know you have her, Wellion. I could feel her terror. What have you done withher!”
“I haven’t—” Wellion began, but he had to duck as Riann swung at him. The knight was fast, though, and his knuckles clipped Wellion’s jaw, sending him stumbling back. “What are youdoing!”
“I should have known better than to think you were capable of decency,” Riann snarled. The former knight came at him with a barrage of punches, and Wellion was forced to defend himself. He blocked most of Riann’s blows but took two hard punches to the gut before he managed to get in a strike of hisown.
“I haven’t done anything to her!” Wellion shouted as he twisted away from yet another strike. He kicked Riann hard in the side, sending the blond giant crashing into the wall. “I’ll take you to her now, if you want to seeher.”
Riann glanced toward Wellion’s door. Wellion surmised there must be some magic at work that allowed him to sense Tariel. “How do I know this isn’t atrap?”
Wellion rolled his eyes. “What kind of—” he began, but there was a loud clunk, and Riann slumped to the ground, unconscious. He blinked at the sight of Sallara standing there, a heavy candlestick holder clutched in herhand.
“Poor man,” she crooned, sinking to her knees next to Riann. She pulled his head into her lap to prod at the bleeding wound. “There had better be a good reason you forced me to damage my prize, Wellion.” Her eyes flashed with annoyance. “What were the two of you fightingabout?”
“Let me out of here!” Tariel cried. Wellion winced as she pounded at the door, the sound echoing through the hall. “What have you done toRiann?”
“And who is this?” Sallara’s eyes widened as she rose. “Some whore you picked up from one of the villages? How does she knowRiann?”
“She is his lover,” Wellion said. “She came here to rescuehim.”
Sallara’s features tightened with anger. She yanked Wellion’s door open, using her magic to unlock it, and Tariel came tumbling out. The dark-haired woman cried out as Sallara caught her by the throat and slammed her against thewall.
“I don’t know who you think you are,” she hissed, shoving her face into Tariel’s, “but Riann belongs to me. The moment my father wakesup—”
“Stop.” Wellion yanked Sallara off Tariel. “I don’t want to killher.”
“That is not your decision to make!” Sallara spun to face him, her mouth bared in a snarl. “This is obviously the witch that Father has been looking for—she was that dog from earlier, wasn’t she? I can feel it in my bones. Father will reward us handsomely for turning herin.”
“And so what?” Wellion argued, not even bothering to keep his voice down. “Father throws us a gold coin or two, and in the meantime, he steps on our backs and pushes us deeper into the mud so he can ascend to greatness. In the meantime, we risk our lives so he can finance his new high-societylife.”
Sallara huffed. “I will deal with Father when the time comes.” She tossed a skein of hair over her shoulder. “But in the meantime, we cannot suffer this witch to live. She and her ilk have killed too many of ourmen.”
“And we have done our fair share of killing as well,” Wellion countered. A sick feeling raged inside him, and suddenly he was tired, so very tired, of all this. “Do what you will, Sallara, but I am done with all this. I am going to leave with Tariel and Riann, and for insurance, I will take Lord Raffis and the otherhostages.”
Tariel’s eyes briefly widened in surprise, but to her credit, she did not contradict Wellion. “Hopefully the authorities will show some leniency toward you once we turn them in,” shesaid.
Sallara was flabbergasted. “How…how can yousaythis?” she sputtered, the color draining from her face. “After all we have been through together, you are going to turn your back on me, on what we have built, and run off with this…thishussy?”
“You are one to talk,” Tariel snapped. “I am no more of a hussy than you.” Her eyes lowered meaningfully to Sallara’s exposedbosom.
“Enough,” Wellion said before the two of them could begin to claw each other’s eyes out. He took Sallara’s hand and pressed his lips against her knuckles. “I have no intention of turning my back on you, sister. I want you to joinus.”
Sallara’s harsh laugh echoed off the walls. “You might be willing to run away from your responsibilities, but I am not.” She yanked her hand out of Wellion’s, and he buried the hurt that twisted in his chest at her rejection. “I am done with you,brother.”
“Wait!” Wellion cried as Sallara stalked around the corner, her chestnut hair trailing behind her, but Riann moaned in pain as Wellion was about to step overhim.
“Riann!” Tariel dropped to her knees beside him, blocking Wellion’s path. He sighed, taking a step back to give them room. “Are you all right?” she asked, cradling hisface.
