Page 161 of Taken By Touch and Torment

Kole’s mind churned. After a minute of silence, he bent to pick up the second half of my sandwich and water and handed them both to me.

“Good boy,” I murmured.

His lips quirked up, sudden amusement in his eyes as he raked a hand through his hair. He glanced away for a moment before sighing. “You stand with Rune. You’re here on behalf of the turned.”

“No,” I said, my tone sharp. “I stand with the turned, because I believe they are best suited to rule, as you should understand by now as well. Just as you should understand that it’s your duty to ensure the kingdom recognizes that fact for a second time. But I am here for me.”

Once Kole delivered these recordings, with the help of personal accounts of what had happened inside this palace and in born districts, the kingdom would understand Durian’s psychotic treason and the necessity of Rune’s rule to ensure stability and the steady flow of exports for their war. At that point, any moves the turned made would be justified, the ceasefire null. Valentin would live to see another day as an autonomous entity with a once-human ruler.

Kole’s lips quirked up, his gaze sweeping from me to Rosalind and back again. He sighed. “Funny how beautiful women always seem to be lurking in the shadows of every man’s vie for power in Valentin.”

I smirked.

Rosalind shrugged as she admired her pink nails. “I’m just a sex demon, Kole,” she drawled. “You’re giving me far too much credit.”

“How’s Sadie?” Kole asked me, searching my face for clues he wouldn’t find.

My smile was unchanging. “Who?”

“Hm.” Kole slipped the orbs into his pocket as the palace trembled again with dark power. “We need to leave now, ladies.”

Rosalind spoke first. “I’m not leaving the slaves,” she said. “Unless you can bring them to safety, too?”

Kole frowned. “I’m afraid I do not have that capacity, as sympathetic as I am?—”

“Then I’m staying,” she said, cutting him off. “Though the door will remain open for a future venture to Ravenia. If you should return when things are more stable.”

Kole nodded in resignation before his eyes flitted to mine. He might’ve been under my spell, but like I’d read at that first meeting, Kole was always going to be most interested in Kole.

I’d also been careful not to stir up too much obsession in him. Kole wanted me, but it was different from the way Brennan and Durian did. He was far more level-headed and intelligent, with centuries of life experience under his belt. Not to mention he enjoyed being dominated and denied, an entirely different power dynamic than I had with the others. As long as I let him down easy, I knew there was little risk of total collapse.

“I have a responsibility to my fellow slaves, too, Kole,” I said gently. “I want you to return to Earle’s court and demand the recognition you deserve, and I will write to you and help in any way I can. And if you return to Valentin, come see me.”

Rune would sooner behead him than let him think he had a shot with me, but that was next month’s problem.

“I wish I could do more to help,” Kole said, disappointment bleeding in his eyes as my true intentions sunk in. “I worry for you both. It’s no longer safe here, and Scarlett, there’s something you should know.”

I swallowed my last bite of sandwich and sipped water. I was still in excruciating pain, but at least I was no longer on the brink of fainting again.

Kole’s apologetic features had dread pooling in my guts.

“I’m afraid whatever escape plan you were counting on may no longer be viable.”

63

SCARLETT

Iheld my breath, terrified of Kole’s next words. That nagging image of Brennan’s sly smile assailed my focus, along with his cryptic hints of some master plan.

“Brennan is convinced that he is about to have Rune in his clutches. He didn’t specify how, but he was confident. One of the many reasons I find it prudent to leave this place as soon as possible.”

Rosalind stared at me. I was forced to breathe again, to steady myself.

“I don’t disagree that despite my personal feelings, the turned clan’s rule seems to be in the best interest of all parties involved. At least for now,” Kole said. “I don’t believe Rune would be stupid enough to walk into a trap, but Brennan’s conviction was strong, and I would be remiss if I didn’t warn you.”

Trap.

I couldn’t hear anything else Kole was saying. I was suddenly livid that he’d waited this long to say something, that he’d cared more about taking me back to live as a courtesan princess than ensuring Valentin’s stability and the freedom of all slaves.

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