Page 74 of Taken By Touch and Torment

I had no intention of entertaining these men a minute longer. They’d gotten more than enough of me already. I’d done what I needed to do, and now it was time to leave them behind. As soon as someone fed me a blood replenishing potion, it was game over. Plus, I was an immortal. I was healing far faster than a human.

A shout pulled me back to full-consciousness.

“We’re starving!” a woman screamed.

“Not our problem,” Brennan hissed.

“It’s a human whore. What else is it good for other than providing a nice meal?”

“Do you know who we are?” Kole asked, his voice raised.

I was set down on the ground.

“Of course you wouldn’t know what it’s like in the streets, pretty boy,” the same female voice who initially shouted said. “Lillian’s prophet was supposed to make blood rain from the sky, pour from faucets. A river of blood—that was what was promised. But the blood has dried up. It was better before him. At least we could still hunt in turned territory. Do you know how many mortals fled to their side?”

“Enough! Enough of your ignorant blasphemy,” Brennan said. “This is Rune and his army of bastards’ fault, not your future king’s. Show some damn respect. You’re speaking to Lord Brennan, second cousin of Ivan Ardente.”

“We don’t give a fuck who we’re speaking to,” another voice growled. “Your ignorant peasants are starving, my holy lordship.”

Rosalind squealed, and I heard several whooshes, weapons meeting flesh. There was a scuffle near me, and someone’s foot hit my ribs.

I gasped, involuntarily shifting.

A pause.

“Why’d your bag move?”

“What’s in the bag?”

Shit.

The earth rumbled, and the sound of crashing, like a building collapse, had my hands over my ears. Were they protecting Rosalind? I didn’t trust these bozos to keep her safe. A lump amassed in my throat. My body was squished and cramped.

When the bag was unzipped, a hand flew to my mouth to stifle my scream.

Brennan’s features came into view, his chestnut hair tousled. “You’re safe, Scar.”

I wanted Rune to cut out his tongue for abbreviating my name like he meant something to me.

“Is Rosalind all right?” I poked my head out, peering around Brennan at the five dead vampires in pools of blood, a lamp post impaling two of them and the others with various combat wounds.

Kole dusted off his plum suit. He’d clearly been behind the uprooting of the lamppost, strong earth magick settling back inside of him.

Rosalind finally came into view, giving me a small wave. She feigned nonchalance, but I saw beneath the surface at her overwhelming terror. She had trauma the same as me. The world had taught her cruelty and hatred. I wondered what her empty place felt like, which colors crowded her vision, how easily she could detach from her body and float away.

At the sound of more footsteps, Brennan pushed my head back down and zipped up the bag. I ground my teeth together, but I stayed quiet.

“Lord Brennan,” an unfamiliar voice said. “And friends.”

My heart hammered at the even, strong, and masculine voice. What now?

“On your way to Black Sapphire, I presume. Please, let us escort you. We heard conflict, and it would appear you encountered some nasty street pests. I offer my deepest apologies for the inconvenience.”

31

SCARLETT

Ineeded out of this damn bag. As usual, my vision of tonight was not as I’d anticipated. I thought I’d be making a grand entrance, wearing some fabulous outfit and wig. I’d be spotted by Rune’s men and immediately rescued. Rosalind and I would lift quadruple middle fingers as we made our grand escape.

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