Chapter 9
Chapter Nine
Lia
G rey leaves me feeling frustrated and wondering why he didn't … I shiver as I remember him feeding me with his cock inside me. I thought he was going to fuck me at the table, but he didn't. He seemed content to simply hold himself in me.
Perhaps it's a shifter thing.
I was afraid that the healer would come while he was here, but it's not until the early evening that he appears. I don’t recognize him. He’s fae and the elder ones I recall from the healer tent from years ago were all goblins. Like the servants in the keep, they’ve been replaced by fae. I've never seen this one before and I wish it was Jak, who I at least trust.
The healer surveys me from the doorway, clearly trying and failing to hide his disgust that he’s been ordered to come here. His robes are blue, of course. He’s older, likely a master, whereas Jak is a mid-level at most. Fae older than forty years are a rarity here as Varrik only saves the young ones when he finds fae, so I wonder at this one’s circumstances. Does Varrik employ him? I don’t think he’s one of the Skilled. Did Varrik find him in the Dark Realms and make an exception because he's a healer?
He steps forward, putting his long, thinning hair into a low ponytail at his nape and securing it with a leather thong.
'So you're the Harbinger,' he murmurs, not bothering to introduce himself.
His ice-blue eyes look me up and down again, and then he turns and calls over his shoulder.
'I want at least two of you in here with me.’
My eyes widen slightly as a couple of the guards from outside come into the room.
'Get on the bed,' he says with a flick of a finger in my direction. 'No need to remove the dress. I need only check your quim.’
I shudder but I do as he says with a rolling stomach, wanting to get this over with. I lay on the bed and look at the ceiling, trying not to react as my dress is bunched up and his cold hands widen my knees. His touch is impersonal at least and for that I'm thankful.
I try to ignore the guards who are standing behind him. They can see everything the healer is doing while at the ready so they can protect him if the subdued Harbinger attacks. I roll my eyes at the thought. As if their presence would save the healer if the Harbinger broke through the binding and wanted him dead. I ignore the fact that their eyes are fixed between my legs.
I can feel the Harbinger’s anger as two fingers slide into me, and I wince as a hand settles on my lower abdomen, though it’s relatively gentle. I glance at the healer’s face only to see him looking at the wall in consternation. At least he doesn’t seem to be enjoying this either.
He finally drags his fingers out of me and looks at them closely before he waves a hand and mutters a conjure.
‘Very good,' he says after a moment. 'I'll let my lord know that you are fertile and being bred. A babe shouldn't be too far off.'
He turns around and leaves the room without another word, and the guards smirk at me as I push my dress back over my legs, trying to hide my discomfort. I don't know why I care. I'm pretty sure most of the keep has seen my body at one time or another.
Finally, they leave, and the door closes. I shiver. The fire's gone out and I lament its loss already as I look through the window. The wind is picking up outside. It's howling through the turrets, and I’m sure I can smell snow on the breeze.
I get off the bed and snuggle under my new, thick blanket, not even bothering to take off the dress. I need all the extra protection from the elements I can get. Dane’s already been twice today, so dinner doesn’t come just as I knew it wouldn't and I send my silent thanks to Grey for bringing me food. For taking care of me. My abdomen tightens pleasurably. For feeding me from his fingers while his cock twitched inside me. I close my eyes, and my fingers drift down to my pussy as I think about it.
I find myself at the Black Lake and I look around quickly, surveying it excitedly. I see the Harbinger by the edge, and I run to it, urging it towards me and hugging the other me tightly.
'Are you all right?' I ask, drawing back to look into its black eyes.
It nods, seeming surprised by my actions. 'You’ve missed me.'
'Yes,' I say. 'I've missed you.’
‘What's going on? Something's different,' it says, peering at me the way that I’m peering at it.
'What's different?' I ask.
It looks at me blankly. 'I don't know. But something is. I feel stronger. More like I did when we first came here. Though the binding is still on me, I’m finding it much easier to bring you here, to rise up out of the darkness. I can speak to you again so long as you are well rested.'
It sits on the shore, drawing me down with it.
'Have you come up with a plan?' it asks.
I shake my head.
‘Have you?’
Its shoulders slump. ‘I can remember nothing that will help us,’ it says angrily. ‘The only option is to make it to the Gate, and perhaps I could get us through as I did before, but the binding will need to be gone.’
‘And there’s no point in trying with the binding still on?’
‘None.’ It throws a rock in the opposite direction of the lake, and it skitters across the ground.
I sigh.
'Dane has been ordered to breed me,’ I say after a few moments, not sure if it’s been able to see or hear what’s been going on over the past few days.
It sneers. ‘Why?’
'Varrik wants to create more powerful Skilled like me.’ I frown. ‘Is that even possible?’
It considers. ‘I am me. Will a babe growing in your belly also become me? I have no idea, my friend. Yet more I don’t recall.’
It lets out a long breath. ‘But I do know that the darkness draws closer. It knows he’s hiding and it searches for him. I can feel its fury and its anticipation. When it finds the fold, and it will , it’ll force its way in and kill everyone. We can’t let all those fae die.’
‘Grey and Kallum are working toward a solution to get everyone to leave the fold with us before it comes.’
The Harbinger looks away.
‘There's something you're not telling me,' I say.
It huffs. ‘You’re getting better at reading me.’ It sounds almost proud. 'Varrik is no fool. He must know what’s happening, and no doubt he has a plan for when it finds him. We can’t let him leave and find another place to hide. We will need to kill him if it look as if he’s going to escape.’
I nod. ‘Do you think we can?’
‘We have to, even if we must sacrifice ourselves.’
I lay back on the ground and look up at the dark sky above me, resigned. 'If that's the price for stopping Varrik, then I will gladly pay it.'
It lays next to me, staring up at the darkness as well, and we stay like that for a long time in silence, our hands clasped.
When I wake up, it's dark and I'm shivering in the bed. My stomach lurches as I feel someone next to me and I realize it's Grey.
‘What are you doing here?' I ask as I drift closer to his warmth.
‘I made Kal bring me back. I wanted to be with you tonight,' he says, his arms wrapping around me. ‘Close your eyes and go to sleep,’ he murmurs contentedly, giving me a kiss on the back of my neck.
I let myself relax and do what he says and when I awake hours later, I find him sitting up in the bed next to me, watching me.
‘Do they not bring you wood? Food?’ he inquires.
I shrug. ‘Someone will come soon. Probably Dane.’
I grimace, hoping he already knows about all this because I don’t want to have to tell him. I scrutinize him closely.
‘Did Kal tell you?’ I ask carefully.
‘Yes.’ His tone is cold, and he practically growls the response.
His arms wrap around me, and he hauls me closer.
‘Did you learn anything else yesterday?' I ask, changing the subject as I see his eyes begin to glow.
‘No. If Varrik isn't here today, we're going to try again.’ He sighs. ‘Kallum told me that you want to save everyone.’
‘Yes,' I say quietly. ‘The Harbinger asked it of me.’
He raises a brow.
'The Harbinger? What does it care for the fae?’
I snuggle into him. ‘I don’t know. I don’t think it does, either. It can’t remember things from ... before it came to me.
He frowns. ‘A before?’
‘Yes.’ I snuggle into him, glancing at the cold grate and hoping Dane comes soon ... even though he’ll do his duty to Varrik while he’s here.
‘I think ... Varrik took it from somewhere. There’s a lake it shows me. It says it doesn’t know it, but I wonder if that was its home.’
‘A lake? A black lake?’
I sit up. ‘Yes! What do you know of it?’
His brow furrows, and he thinks for a moment. ‘A story I heard, I think. When I was but a boy. It was a fae tale my mother told me.’
‘What was it about?’ I press. ‘Perhaps this story will tell us more.’
He thinks for a moment and then shakes his head. ‘I’m sorry,’ he says. ‘I don’t remember much from before Varrik brought me here. Just my mother and the cell we were kept in.’ He touches the back of his shoulder where I know his scars begin with a frown. ‘Being beaten by human guards to make my mother do what they wanted. I don’t even know what they wanted. It’s all hazy and confused.’
‘I’m sorry,’ I say, wishing I hadn’t brought it up.
He gives me a small smile and settles closer to me. ‘Don’t be. It’s not your fault I don’t recall much about my life before. I’ll try to think.’
I burrow closer to him, liking the safety I feel with him, the closeness. I think about what he did yesterday, and my cheeks heat.
'Would you do that again?' I ask a little timidly.
'Do what?’
‘What you … did before. At the table.’
He looks me up and down, and a slow smile spreads across his face.
‘Liked that, did you?’
I nod hesitantly, and I think he's going to do it again when Kal appears in the room.
‘We need to go,’ he says urgently. ‘Servants are coming.’
He grabs Grey just as the door opens, and they both disappear.
Two servants enter the room. A male and a female. Their eyes cut to me, looking at me, staring with open hostility that makes me wish for a way to defend myself should I need it. I remind myself again that it’s likely not their fault that they’re so protective of Varrik. Their minds have been poisoned by him.
The female glances at the empty hearth and smirks as the other one places a tray down hard on the table. There's water on it and a crust of bread.
The male laughs when he sees me looking at it.
'Did you think that our lord would allow you to be treated as one of the elites,' he gloats.
I don't reply.
‘You’re a filthy human, and everyone knows that your kind aren’t good for much,’ he continues. ‘You think yourself so far above your station, but we’ve all heard what’s planned for you when Dane’s seed doesn’t take.’
The female snarls, coming a little bit closer. Emboldened, I suppose.
I get off the bed, and I stand up straight, refusing to cower and shiver in front of them even though the room is freezing again. I stare them down until the female sneers and stalks forward.
‘Insolent bitch,’ she hisses, raising her hand to slap my face.
‘What the fuck are you doing?’ a male voice snarls low, and I see Dane darkening the door.
The female blanches, and she looks daggers at me. ‘Fiana’s going to fucking kill you when she returns,’ she whispers. ‘I hope she lets me watch!’
I feel the color drain from my face at the mention of my childhood bully returning. Out of everyone here, she was by far the worst, and she hated me.
After all she did to me, the feeling was mutual, but she always ensured that, to Dane, it seemed as if I was the problem.
I hope Kal and Grey have a plan sorted soon because when Fiana returns, I know things are going to get much worse for me here.
Dane
It takes everything in me not to destroy the two servants in front of me for how they're speaking to my Harbinger. I try to ignore the feelings of possessive anger. I fail. Instead, I conjure pain on both of them, and I make them unable to scream. Their eyes widen, and their mouths open, but they can't do anything except endure it.
I vaguely see the Harbinger in my periphery standing by the bed, looking equal parts shocked and smug, and I'm filled with elation in some dark, primal part of me that she likes that I’m defending what’s mine.
I release the two servants from their pain for a moment, but I don't let them move.
'Where is the Harbinger’s fire?' I ask calmly, deciding that if I tackle the other thing that I saw, the raised hand about to strike my female, I’ll probably kill them both.
I still will, I decide, but not in front of Lia. She wouldn’t like me doing that for her.
'Where is the Harbinger’s breakfast?' I continue, walking around them slowly before I let them speak.
'My lord Varrik said?—’
‘Varrik isn't here,’ I snarl and they both pale.
They also both look at Lia as if they can’t wait to get their revenge on her once I’m not here to save her from their vindictiveness. I realize that there won’t be a fire unless I order one daily, she won’t be brought proper food to eat unless I ensure it is done.
I need to have a conversation with Varrik, impart unto him that the Harbinger needs to be looked after if he wants her to be bred, and that I will not tolerate any of the Dregs coming between me and my success.
‘Get out.’
I release them, and they both rush away, mumbling apologies they don’t mean while ignoring the Harbinger completely.
I regard Lia without expression, but before I can speak, I hear a voice from behind me that makes my lip curl as I turn to face him, the next threat to her.
‘Are you regretting your decision to take her from me yet?’ Rikoth leans against the door nonchalantly, a small smile playing on his lips.
Inwardly, I wince. I didn’t want her to know I asked for this.
‘I’m curious,’ Rikoth continues. 'How do you get it up for her?'
His eyes move over the Harbinger with disgust.
'A human. Do you think about Fiana when you fuck her?' He comes to stand next to me.
‘Yes,’ I say, and I see Lia flinch.
Rikoth notices her reaction and chuckles. ‘The little human has feelings for you, Dane.'
I snort. 'No more than she has for anyone else with a bit of power. You know humans.'
But inside, I want to slit Rikoth’s throat or at least conjure something nasty for him. But he's not like the Dregs. He'll give me a fight, and I don't want to make an enemy of him just yet.
'Leave,' I say. ‘I don’t need a fucking audience when I rut her.’
'No.’ Rikoth smirks. ‘Varrik has told me to tell you that your beloved's mission is done. She'll be coming back.'
My eyes fly to his. 'When?'
'Today.'
I can't help my grin. 'Today.'
Relief floods me. I will see my beloved Fiana today. She's finally coming back.
I cast another look at the Harbinger. 'I'll be back later,' I say curtly as I leave the room, pretending that I don't notice the emotion in her eyes that makes all of this even worse.
'Come on,' I say, clapping Rikoth on the back as if we're friends.
I don't want him in here with her by himself. Gods only know what he would do to her if he got her alone. As I leave, I lock the door.
'No one goes in or out,' I say to the guard. 'No one.'
He gives me a nod of ascent.
'What time is she coming back?' I ask.
Rikoth’s eyes narrow at the Harbinger’s door for a moment, and I make a split decision to work a conjure on him here and now so that I know the next time he uses his Skill. He could easily come back here and compel the guard to let him in, and I can practically see him considering it.
I work the conjure wordlessly, and he’s none the wiser as he turns away from the door.
‘I was only told that she's coming back today,’ he drawls.
I nod and turn away, making sure that the conjure I've put on him is working properly and is undetectable.
I practically run towards the hall to find Varrik to learn more.
I burst in, ignoring the guards who stand to attention.
‘She's coming back?’ I ask Varrik, who gives me a small smile.
‘Yes, my boy. In a few moments, in fact. She'll be so overjoyed to see you here to meet her.’
‘Now?’ I ask, scarcely able to believe it.
My body is humming in anticipation of seeing my beloved after so long. I glance in the grandiose mirror on the wall to my left to make sure I look decent. I don't want to shame her as I stand next to Varrik, pretending that I'm not as excited as a small child going to a fayre.
I hear the Breach open, and I can feel my nails digging into my palms in anticipation. A figure comes through, dressed in black. She looks sublime in a gown covered in silver pearls and her hair pinned back elegantly.
Gods, I’ve missed her. She's beautiful. My grin is as wide as can be, and I force myself to be still as her eyes take me in and then pass over me entirely. She ignores me, coming straight to Varrik and kneeling before him.
‘I got it, my lord,’ she announces, not looking at me now as she raises something covered in black silk. ‘My apologies that it took so long to recover. There were some ... loose ends to tie up.’
It’s a small thing, and I can’t help but notice that its size and shape bear a striking resemblance to the box I was sent for not long ago. Varrik takes it from her and places it on his desk without unwrapping it.
I struggle to contain my emotions. I know why she’s feigning indifference, and I understand. Orders come first, and she has a job to do. But I can feel my hands shaking a little as I wait for her attention to fall to me, and it’s more than a little awkward just standing there next to Varrik as she pretends I don’t exist after all this time ‘You've done well,’ Varrik says warmly, and she bows her head from the neck regally.
Only then does she rise and turn to me. She steps forward, a small smile on her face as she searches mine.
‘I didn't know you'd be here,’ she murmurs. ‘Gods, Dane. We all thought you were dead.’
‘I couldn't die,’ I tell her. ‘I had to come back to you.’
Her lips upturn demurely, and I can’t help but notice that her expression doesn't reach her eyes as I step forward and embrace her. I push back the realization that I’ve seen the Harbinger look happier to see me in the past than Fiana does at this moment.
She’s a bit wooden as her arms come up to hug me back, but she’s likely been in a dangerous world for months, I rationalize. She’s probably tired, and it’s been years. It’ll take time for her to relax with me again.
‘I've missed you,’ I say, and she smiles.
‘Me too.’
‘Come with me,’ I murmur, conscious of our audience. ‘Let’s talk.’
She draws back. ‘If my lord will allow it.’
Varrik gives her and I an apologetic smile. ‘I just need her for a few moments,’ he says. ‘You've done so well, Fiana.’
‘Thank you, Varrik.’ She turns to me. ‘Meet me in my room in a few minutes,’ she says, gripping my hands tightly.
I nod and leave the room quickly. I know which room is hers, of course. We spent many a night in there before I left. I go inside and find that it looks almost exactly as it did. Perhaps with some new and more elaborate possessions, I note as I see some golden fragrance bottles and jewelry she didn’t have before. She’s been doing well for herself.
I pace the room in impatience, too excited to sit down. I ache to embrace her, to talk to her, to find out what's been going on and what she's been doing all these years. Has she waited for me? I don’t mind if she hasn’t, of course. I was forced more than once to seek solace in the arms of others. It’s been a long time, after all, but Varrik hasn't spoken of her being with anyone else at the keep, and she doesn’t seem to have any suitors here.
I hear the door, and I whirl around, practically running to her. She lets out a small laugh and urges me back to close the door. I kiss her, and she goes slightly rigid under my embrace, but her lips yield to mine, and she kisses me back, though she seems a bit distracted.
‘I'm sorry I was gone for so long,’ I whisper.
She draws back. ‘We really did think you were dead. Seven years with no word.’
‘I wish I could have found a way to send a message, but we were stuck in a city behind wards. There was no way of getting out.’
She pats my hand. ‘It sounds awful, my love. Varrik tells me you returned some weeks ago and that you brought the Harbinger. You did well.’
Her slight condescension rolls over me, and I try to ignore it.
‘And you're an elite now,’ she continues.
I nod and pretend humility. ‘The lord, in his infinite wisdom, saw that my strengths would be an asset to him.’
She nods and turns away, walking across the room.
I frown slightly at her back. I'm not sure how I thought this reunion was going to go, but I thought perhaps she’d be a bit more excited to see me.
‘It must have been awful,’ she says, going to her bureau and carefully taking off the silver pearl earrings that she's wearing in front of her mirror.
‘What was?’
‘Being gone for so long. Having to track down that horrible human and then travel with her. She’s so devious and spiteful.’ She gives a theatrical shudder and makes a face. ‘I can’t even imagine. At least you had Grey and Kallum to help you.’
‘Yes,’ I say, ‘of course, but orders are orders, and we were finally able to capture her. Traveling with her was tedious, but we got here in the end.’
I find that I don’t want to elaborate on our time with Lia, and I don’t actually want to talk about her with Fiana at all.
‘I've heard she's housed just across the hall.’
‘Yes,’ I say, wondering why she cares where the Harbinger’s room is.
‘Good. I'm glad she's safe behind the keep’s walls,’ she says. ‘Poor Varrik was beside himself when she set that fire and ran off. He was so worried.’
‘Yes,’ I say a bit stiffly. ‘I remember.’
Although I don’t recall his worry, only his fury that she’d escaped him.
She comes to me with an easy smile. ‘I'm sorry if I seem a bit off. I'm very tired. I've been gone for several months, and it’s been a bit taxing.’
I cup her face with my hand gently. ‘There's nothing to apologize for,’ I say. ‘I've missed you so much. There were times when only my thoughts of you kept me going. You saved my life out in the Wilds. If not for you, I doubt any of us would have come home.’
She cants head and smiles at me. ‘There'll be a banquet later to celebrate my successful mission and my return. You'll come?’
‘You need ask?’ I grin. ‘Of course!’
She kisses my cheek. ‘I can't wait to see you there, but for now, I need some rest.’
‘I could lay with you,’ I offer.
‘Perhaps another time,’ she says with a smile and a twinkle in her eye. ‘I don’t remember getting much rest with you in that bed.’
I chuckle. ‘Perhaps you’re right. I’ll go, my love.’
I kiss her lips chastely and leave the room, trying to ignore a vague sense that I’m being managed and dismissed.
I glance toward the Harbinger’s room. It's already mid-morning, and I haven’t seeded her once yet. I look back at Fiana’s closed door uncertainly. I'll need to do it now.
I ignore the guard, and, as I enter the cold chamber, I realize I’ve neglected to ask for someone to re-light Lia’s fire and bring her some food in the excitement of Fiana’s return. Feeling like a cunt, I look back at the guard at the door, who’s studiously ignoring me while he surreptitiously stares at the Harbinger. I bark the orders to him, making him jump before he rushes off to do as I bid him.
Inside the room, the Harbinger sits by the empty hearth with a blanket around her shoulders, and my jaw tenses. I need to take better care of her. I also still need to speak to Varrik about her treatment.
As I move closer to her, she stands up slowly.
‘Fiana’s back?’ she asks.
I nod, and she gives me a wan smile.
‘I'm glad that you've been reunited with your love,’ she says, and it actually sounds like she means it.
‘Thank you,’ I say, managing to remain impassive.
She looks a little bit surprised that I’m here. Perhaps she thought that now that Fiana is back, I wouldn't be doing as Varrik ordered.
‘Where?’ she asks quietly.
I stare at her, and I find I want to get this done as quickly as possible.
‘Bend over the table.’
Her shoulders slump a little as she does what I say.
What does she expect from me?
A bit angrily, I hike up her dress, the one that I gave her. I try to forget how beautiful I think she looks in it as I use my fingers to make sure she's ready. I bite back a curse when I find she's not, and I sink down to put my mouth on her because I already know it's the fastest way with her.
She grips the table and moans beneath me as I feast on her cunt quickly. Methodically. The way she likes it. I try not to think about anything else. This is … just orders.
I stand up and thrust into her when she’s wet enough, not enjoying the squeak of shock that I elicit from her at my sudden movement, but I don't stop. I need it to be done. I plunge into her deeply, thinking of Fiana and how I’ll hopefully be plowing into her later instead.
But as I go through the motions, I realize I’m not getting any closer to coming. The female under me squeals as I impale her roughly, and my heart lurches as I hear what sounds like a stifled sob.
‘I’m sorry,’ I murmur, hating myself for what I’m doing, for ever contacting Varrik in the first place.
Even when I did it, I had my reservations. But I ignored them, and because of me, she’s suffered immeasurably here. Varrik isn’t what I thought. I shy away from that idea instantly. I can’t think of that now. Instead, I focus on Lia.
I wish I could have just let her go after Rondorai, but we’d never have been allowed to return. I would never have seen Fiana again. I did what I had to do, just as I have to now.
I get a hold of myself and try to temper my movements. I rock into her with easy strokes. Slower means I can’t help thinking about her, though. Her expressions when pleasure gets the better of her. The sounds she makes when she’s close. How she feels beneath me. She's already rounding out very slightly from the few good meals I've ensured are brought to her, but it’s hardly enough to make up for her suffering at my hands, however indirectly.
I let out a noise of frustration at my wayward thoughts. Remembering my own mistakes isn’t helping.
Focus!
I pull out of her and sit in the chair I pushed out of the way.
‘Come here,’ I say.
She looks red-faced, and her eyes are glassy as she stands in front of me, and I pull her over my lap to straddle me. I take hold of her thighs and lower her carefully, letting her adjust to this new position before I begin bouncing her up and down on my cock. One of my hands goes to the bodice of a dress and unlaces it, making her breasts spill out to my gaze as I move her on me.
I suckle her teats, making her squeal. She comes hard at the same time as I do, and I push my seed well into her womb as if I truly want to breed her. An image of her round with my babe in her makes me yearn for it for a second, and I frown, confused by this sudden desire.
Vaguely, I remember that I haven't brought her the tea to drink today, and some desperate part of me wants me to forget, let fate run its course.
I lift her off of me without preamble, almost scared of my traitorous mind, and I put myself away. She looks sated but also ravaged, and it’s all I can do not to draw her to me and try to explain, try to give her some semblance of an apology that will make her not hate me . Instead, as she teeters on her feet, I make myself roll my eyes at her as I stand up and switch our positions, pushing her down into the seat I just vacated.
‘I'll be back later,’ I say, not looking at her again.
I go to Varrik feeling replete and content despite my feelings regarding the Harbinger and my treatment of her that are niggling at me. The fae lord is in his office close to the Gate, and I knock quietly.
‘Finished so soon?’ he asks, giving me a once over.
I open my mouth to tell him that I’m only meant to seed the Harbinger, not care about her pleasure, and I realize he’s not talking about her. He means Fiana.
I give him a tight smile. ‘Fiana was tired. She wished to rest. I've left her in her room for now. I'm here to talk about the Harbinger.’
Varrik straightens slightly. ‘What about the Harbinger?’
‘It's come to my attention that she's not being looked after properly by the servants.’
‘In what way?’ His tone is colder than I’ve heard it in a while, but I press on.
‘They don't bring her food. She never has a fire. She had no clothes until I got her some. The blanket on her bed wasn’t fit for a beast. With the weather turning, it's imperative that her room remain warm.’
‘I'll speak to them,’ Varrik promises airily, and my eyes narrow imperceptibly, ‘but you must remember that the servants are still angry about what the Harbinger did when she left.’
‘I understand,’ I say, even though I don’t because, as far as I can tell, most of them weren’t even here seven years ago when she ran, ‘but that was long ago, and you've already punished her for it. They shouldn't be doing the same.’
‘Of course not,’ Varrik accedes. ‘I'll ensure that she's been taken care of properly from now on.’
I give him a small nod of thanks.
His eyes assess me. ‘Is there a reason why you wish the Harbinger to be so well taken care of?’
I shrug, I hope nonchalantly. ‘Only that you’ve ordered me to breed her, and the chances of that are greatly improved if she is in good physical condition. I won't be made to fail because the Dregs have taken it into their heads to discipline her themselves.’
Varrik nods, seemingly satisfied. ‘Very well. I’ll make sure it's done. You will be given every opportunity to breed the female. Shall we drink to your success?’
I'm handed a goblet. I salute Varrik and take a gulp, mostly to appease him. For now, I want to go back to the house and make myself presentable for my love when I see her at the banquet tonight.
As I take my leave, that’s all I think about. My thoughts definitely don’t wander back to a certain human who looked at me as if I’d betrayed her this afternoon again .