Page 63 of Cry for Help

Behem ignored him. “You were his advisor.”

“I cleaned his weapons,” Stolas said through gritted teeth. “A squire, at best.”

Behem shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. I’d hoped your presence might gain my new drug acceptance from the other circles. Even with your magic in tatters, your word holds sway.”

“How taxing.” Stolas joked with a drawl.

Behem shook his head, unleashing a put-upon sigh. “I’ll return soon.” He commented lightly. “I can only hope you’ll change your mind. If I can bring myself to forgive you, tricksy old owl.”

Chapter Nineteen

“I heard your scream from the courtyard,” Stolas told me when the cell door clanged shut, and Behem slunk away from the dungeon.

I ignored him, rushing to Murmur’s unconscious body. I wasn’t sure if demons even had a pulse, but I still checked. Murmur’s eyelids fluttered, and sweat beaded on his brow.

I’d seen something like this in prison.

Withdrawal symptoms.

I brushed my shaking hands down the front of my shirt and stood up, giving Stolas my back.

I was so angry at him that every inch of my body vibrated with rage.

“Are you hurt?” Stolas whispered.

I gave him a look and raised an eyebrow. “Fuck your concern.” I signed. “You sold me out. To that slug!”

Stolas rocked back on his heels, pushing his hand through the hair over his ear. It stuck up as he tugged his fingers free. “What?” His brow furrowed. “I did no such thing, Madeleine Speck.”

I gave him a look.

“Ididn’t.” He insisted, adjusting the lapels of his jacket. “Behem is behind the human trafficking in the Red City. Only, as you’re aware, he isn’t just trafficking humans but Sídhe as well, for that drug of his.”

“That drug of his kills people.” I signed. “Several women in my prison died from Sugar.”

“I can believe it.” Stolas nodded. “Sídhe magic is potentand doesn’t mix well with iron. An important ingredient in human blood, so I’m told.”

“How did Behem know I was Sídhe?” I wondered. “Aside from the scream.”

“Explain the scream.” Stolas met my eyes for the first time. He was trying very hard to stay calm.

I sighed and explained as best as I could. The same things I had told the others about the Bean Sídhe aka Banshees—and our patented death scream.

Stolas nodded in understanding.

“It was disgusting. And I hate that I have to use that word. They were people, and Behem and his gluttons picked them apart like Christmas turkeys.” I closed my eyes and placed my hand over my mouth. My fingers shook.

“I knew about the blood. I didn’t know aboutthat.” Stolas pressed his back to the wall of the cell and slid down until his butt hit the floor next to Murmur’s unconscious body.

“What about the government? Whoever you’re working with?” I pleaded. “Can they come and get us? Can you send them a message? What about Asmodeus?”

Stolas shook his head. “I might have... Embellished our importance to the case.”

My teeth gritted with anger. “What?”

“No one is coming.” He knitted his fingers together and looked at the ceiling. “We’re fucked.” Seeing straight-laced and buttoned-tight Stolas curse was jarring.

We were really trapped.

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