Page 5

Then build farms and fields, I want to say, but I refrain. Our farms allow us to provide for most of our food, but I know fully well that the Raiders don't work that way. I was right. They don’t want peace. Of course they don’t. It’s disappointing, but not surprising. And it turns out, I don’t think I want peace either. Not with what I’m seeing. This isn’t about survival for them. It’s about power and cruelty. What they’re doing to Reno…

“That’s an interesting offer,” Clea says, “but thirty and twenty-five percent seems a bit high. We have people to feed too. Maybe ten percent…”

As if he’s not just pulling numbers out of his hat. Cirail leans forward, resting his chin on his hands. “I see. The attacks must not be a major problem for you, then. It would be a shame if they grew more frequent, though, wouldn’t it? With only twenty percent, I won’t be able to do much to stop them. Oh well, I understand it’s not a decision you can make easily. Why don’t we all relax? Enjoy your evening, revel in the food and entertainment. Then, you can all discuss it together and give us an answer to bring back to your little council in the morning.”

With that, Cirail relaxes back in his chair, the discussion obviously closed. He grabs a dripping grilled chicken leg and stuffs it into his mouth. So much for struggling to feed his people.

Two bites in, he closes his eyes, head falling back against his hair with a low groan. “Ah, that feels good. Come on then, show your little friends just how much you love being here. Maybe that’ll help them make their choices.”

Reno climbs out from under the table, cum splattered around his face. He licks his lips clean with a grin, then gathers the rests on his fingers and starts sucking and moaning.

Once he’s done, he takes a theatrical bow. “As you can see, my dear Master makes sure I never lack protein here. Can you believe how lucky I am?”

There’s a slight tremor in his voice that he’s fighting hard to hide, and he’s staring at the wall behind us, refusing to meet anyone’s eyes. I clench my fist under the table. Dornao laughs again.

“His holes are free game for everyone here.” Cirail opens his arms wide. “Maybe one of you would like to give him a try? The things he does with his tongue… and sure, he’s getting pretty loose, but he sure knows how to move his ass.”

I feel nauseous. Cirail is clearly trying to flaunt his power, to show that he’s not afraid to disrespect us. Yet, Dornao answers. “I’ll take a turn. Come here, bitch.”

Our eyes meet. Dornao must see the disgust in mine, but he just shrugs. “It would be rude to refuse such a generous offer from our host, wouldn’t it? We wouldn’t want to cause a diplomatic incident on a diplomatic mission.”

That’s a shitty excuse, but there’s nothing I can do about it. Cirail’s people have their weapons at the ready, and they all seem eager for any pretext to use them.

Dornao grabs Reno by the hair and slams his face against the table between the chicken and what looks like a beef stew.

“Wow, impatient much?” Reno laughs. “I’m flattered.”

“Shut up, bitch.” Dornao lowers his pants and shoves his hard cock inside Reno in one cruel thrust. “Fuck, Cirail’s right, you’re fucking loose. Swallowed me right up like the hungry whore you are.”

“Harder, Daddy,” Reno answers, his voice strained. He sounds like he’s about to cry.

I force myself to take deep breathes, clenching and unclenching my fists. Stopping this now won’t help Reno. It’ll just put us all in danger. I need to be smart about this.

Dornao fucks into Reno with reckless abandon, the sound of flesh slapping against flesh filling my ears. Cirail’s people and most of Dornao’s guards are cheering and hooting, clapping every time Reno can’t hold back a pained gasp. Clea is entirely focused on the apple she’s eating, as if refusing to look at the scene could stop it from being real. I fill my glass with red wine and take a long gulp, letting the acidic taste fill my mouth.

Dornao grunts and shoves Reno aside, pulling his pants back up.

“You sure know how to make a man feel special.” Reno smirks as he struggles back up, silent tears running down his face.

“See?” Dornao turns to me, looking unbearably smug. “The bitch loved it.”

I don’t bother answering. All I want to do is reach out to Reno, but I have a feeling this wouldn’t be taken well by Cirail and his gang. They might even force me to rape him too.

“Ladies and gentlemen!” Cirail stands up. “It’s time for tonight's show!”

A chained man is dragged into the room, his muscular body straining against his restraints. His mouth is twisted in a hateful sneer, and he’s glaring at everyone.

“Most of you know him already,” Cirail continues, “but let me introduce him to our esteemed guests. This, my friends, is Valiar. Valiar thought he could ignore direct orders without consequences and went to drink when he was supposed to be cleaning weapons. That might not seem like a grave offense, but allowing something like that to go unpunished would only encourage others to follow his example. That is why I’m going to make an example of him instead.”

More cheers echo into the room. Cirail sits back down and lights what seems to be a joint. Apparently, seeing one of their own get tortured was the Raiders’ idea of a fun night.

The men holding Valiar shove him to his knees. A group of Raiders sitting on crates in a corner of the room gesture for Reno to come closer. As he approaches, they unzip their flies.

“Oh, am I going to be passed around like a blunt while dear Valiar gets tortured to death?” Reno adjusts his fool’s hat and caresses his hands from his chest to his hips. “Kinky.”

The men laugh approvingly, throwing jeers and insults at Reno as he bends over for them. I take another long gulp of wine, hoping it’ll settle my stomach.

I don’t want to be here anymore. I don’t want to see any of this. Maybe coming here was a mistake. As soon as I come back home, I’ll tell Anne what happened. I don’t know if she’ll agree to do anything for Reno, but I have to try. At the very least, maybe she’ll strip Dornao of his title. Not that it’d do Reno any good. Shit, I hate this.