“You don’t trust your men?” I asked.
He shook his head. “The only man who is truly mine is Guldan, but even then, he is loyal to the king first. I do not trust that he will protect you rather than hand you over on the king’s orders.”
Anxiety shot through me. I hadn’t realized how much Bokkan had done to keep me safe. How much I needed him in this strange world where I was considered nothing more than an indentured servant or property.
I swallowed hard. “I will stay in the bedchamber unless I have no other choice.”
He nodded, understanding that it was possible I would have to escape at some point.
“If you have to leave,” he said. “Ask Masu for directions to the witch in the Shadow Forest. She is human like you, but more powerful than any daemon mage in our realm. They will not cross her for fear that she will consume their magic and their soul.”
“Uh—”
“She will not harm you. She will take in any human in danger, regardless of whatever bargain they have made. The fact that you are here without a bargain will ensure that she helps you and keeps you safe.”
I nodded, wondering why this was the first time he mentioned this particular witch. She might be able to help me get home. He knew that was what I wanted. Then again, if she wasn’t trustworthy, he might consider her a last resort. Or perhaps she hated daemons and wouldn’t want to help him. I was dying to ask, but there was no time.
As though he sensed my unease, he said, “She would care for you, but she would extract a favor from me. And that favor might be the kind that gets me killed.”
Shit. As desperate as I was to leave, I didn’t want him to put himself in danger to make it happen.
“I don’t know how long I will be gone, but it will be at least a day. Probably more.”
I nodded again, still anxious and confused. There were loud male voices coming from the first floor, and they were drawing closer.
His black eyes studied mine for a long moment. Then, he released my face and straightened.
Bokkan walked to the door and lifted the bar. “I will return as soon as I can,” he said, looking over his shoulder at me. “Bar this door as soon as I am out.”
He lifted the bar and walked out the door, shutting it behind him. I didn’t hesitate to hurry over and drop the bar. Not just because I worried what would happen if I didn’t, but because I knew he wouldn’t walk away until I did.
It was only after the thick wooden slat dropped into place that I heard his heavy footsteps head down the hallway.
I pressed my ear to the door as the male voices below rose to the point of yelling before dying away to low rumbles. I couldn’t understand exactly what they were saying, but it was clear none of the males below were happy.
A few minutes later, I heard the front door slam, and the entire house fell silent.
It hit me then how completely alone I was now. I had no help other than Masu and no protection other than my own.
My anxiety swelled, but I pushed it aside. There were knives and other weapons in different spots throughout Bokkan’s bedchamber. I would locate them all and find a knife that I could conceal better than the dagger.
Then, I could deal with my fear.
And plan what I would do if Bokkan didn’t return to the manor.
Chapter
Nineteen
Bokkan
With my hands clasped behind my back, I stood in front of the magistrate . My shoulders were back and my spine straight, but I couldn’t stop the impatient lashing of my tail.
As soon as the mating rage faded, I knew what I would be facing. Just like I knew what Guldan would encourage me to do. I also knew my answer to his solution would be no.
I refused to pressure Leda.
She was alone in this realm and wanted to return to her own. I laid no blame on her. She had no bargain in Penumbra. No reason to remain here.
