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“Take it up with her previous caretaker. He claimed the girl was sickly and had to pay for her medication. He claimed those expenses against his taxes.” Arlo curses and signs the contract. “Now get out of here before I change my mind.”

“Wait, you can’t, please,” I beg, clutching the warden’s arm.

Sable’s eyes are glossy as the men pull Angie from the cage. When the metal door clinks shut again, Sable watches Angie run into her brother’s arms with silent tears and a weak smile.

“Please, I’ll trade places with her. I’ll do anything. Just let her go with them. I’m strong. I can work—”

The man scoffs, looking me up and down. “They don’t want ’em strong. The men buying debt contracts for women aren’t looking for farm hands. They want ’em young, soft, quiet.” He smiles again. “You, girl, are none of those things.”

I look at Sable, horrified, and she collapses against the cage bars.

“I’ll do whatever you want, anything,” I plead, knowing what I’m offering.

“Alessia!” Arlo grinds out, jerking my sleeve, but I shake him off.

The warden laughs. “Nice try, girlie, but I don’t swing that way. Now if your friend wants to make the same offer, I could be persuaded to lose her debt record if he is looking for a caretaker with benefits.” He turns his gaze to Arlo, who jerks Angie against him.

“Arlo?”

He looks stunned for a moment before his expression darkens.

“Tell you what.” The warden shifts closer to Arlo until they are face-to-face. “I’ll take your eight coins if you’re willing to get on your knees for me.”

Arlo’s lip curls in disgust under the man’s attention.

“Arlo?” I plead again. “I would do it for Angie, for you.”

His head snaps in my direction, and he’s looking at me as if I’m a stranger. When he shakes his head no, my stomach sinks.

“Then be on your way.” The warden turns to move on, and one of his goons shoves me back.

“What was that?” I cry, rounding on Arlo. “I would have done anything to get Angie back. Do you know what they’ll do with Sable?”

“We’ll find a way to get her back that doesn’t involve that.” His rage is barely masked, and I can’t tell if he’s angry with me or the warden. “I just need to get Angie home. I will speak with the other servants. I’ll get the money.”

“Wait, you’re leaving?” I ask.

“I’ll be back,” Arlo tells me, nudging Angie toward the exit.

The flesh traders try to herd me away from Sable’s cage, but I struggle to get out of their hold.

“I’ll . . . I’ll be okay. I’ll find a way back to you,” Sable promises, extending one hand out of the cage. I thrash in their grip to reach her hand.

“No!” I choke as they yank me back.

“I’ll be fine. Please don’t be mad at Arlo. Angie’s only nine. You know she wouldn’t survive this.” Her voice quivers as she tries to put on a brave face.

She knows it won’t be fine.

“I’ll get the money. I’ll figure out how,” I scream back at her as they drag me away.

The tallest goon tosses me over his shoulder and storms toward the gate. Sable’s eyes shine with tears as she watches me go, my fists pounding the man’s back with every step.

I land hard on the ground outside the gate, and the two goons block the entrance like a wall. I struggle to my hands and knees as the biggest of the men shakes his head. “You’re wasting time. If you intend to buy her before the auction, you better get going.”

“Please, I need fifteen coins.”

The man sighs heavily. “I know the Vampire King is in town, so the blood bank is offering five silver coins per pint.”