Page 62 of Caged By Dance and Desire

“They’re torturing her,” I whispered, or else I would scream, and scream again, in rage. This was what I had wanted to avoid for her. This was?—

Constin’s arms were around me, preventing me from leaping out of the coach, as if running would be faster.

“Steady, steady,” he chanted, his voice as shaken. “They haven’t had her long. They haven’t had time to—” he stopped.

Fae couldn’t lie.

“They’retorturingmy Anah, Con. She’s screaming. She’s—” I inhaled, trembling, my fangs slashing at my bottom lip. No. I couldn’t spiral. She needed me. She?—

The pain cut off. For a moment I thought the worst and dropped into the well of my power so fast I knew when I ascended, I would destroy everything.

Her mind stirred. A bead of awareness, of tentative relief.

I straightened out of Constin’s arms, shifting into a state where rage couldn’t touch my focus.

“Her pain is gone. Her fear has lessened.” Just enough to take the edge off my panic.

Constin exhaled harshly, falling forward to lean on his knees a fraction of a moment. He picked himself up. There was no time for relief.

The telegem in my pocket vibrated. I wrapped my hand around it.

Andreien.I clung to the hard, smooth ice of my mother’s voice. She knew, offered it as a lifeline.I sense your distress.

Lord. My bonded has been taken.

You will retrieve her. And you will do what a Sahakian must in response. Then you will attend me, and we will discuss this lapse.

She ended the connection. The brief conversation steadied me. My mother, my Lord, had no doubt. If she had none, neither could I.

We pulled up to Hasannah’s last known location.

I leaped out and cut Vargas a single, savage glance, Constin on my heels. She met my gaze, her eyes glazed, expression paled. I paused. Did she fear my retribution? But she was accustomed to the Lords of the Courts, though Iliweh tried to keep their bonded well away from House politics.

My gaze snapped to the other side of the street before I had begun walking towards Vargas.

A youth emerged from the shadows. Slender, with chin length dark hair and skin a sungold brown. A girl on the cusp of adulthood physically, pale eyes far too old.

Cassanian Low Fae, dressed in the livery of Coal District Sworn. Black, nondescript, functional, a certain dispassionate feral aura that spoke of Ashlyun’s ruthless training.

“Heir,” the Low girl said, executing a flawless bow, and waited.

I gestured impatiently, wanting to shake her. “Rise. Speak.”

She rose. “Lord Ashlyun escorted the Lady Hasannah safely to his home and invites you to retrieve her at your earliest convenience. He offers his regrets and to answer all questions toyour satisfaction. The Lady will remain unharmed while in his care.”

She emphasized the final sentence as she delivered the message in a flat tone, her gaze unwavering but unchallenging.

“His home in Coal District?” Constin asked.

For the second time in little more than a week, I’d prayed to the Dark, and the Dark had answered.

I dreaded the day it repudiated me. No one received this much favor without a steep penalty.

“Even so, Lord Constin,” the girl said. “I am the daughter of his third lieutenant. I am to accompany you as surety. My blood is yours should Lord Ashlyun fail to protect your bonded.”

He didn’t want a war.

“You agreed to this?” Constin asked.

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