Page 54 of The Omega Slave

Kamir closed his eyes, sick of the conversation, but he was immediately lying in the river of blood and opened them quickly.Iskar.The law was complicated. The only way a purifying rite could be sanctioned for someone of such a high rank was if that person had unlawfully killed another of a high rank, which was why his uncle had never thought to use the rite the first time his dragon had supposedly killed people. Because they were soldiers and slaves, and thought lesser of, much to his shame.

Damatrious had much to learn, but of the alternatives he was the best choice. And his grief, his rage, had seemed genuine.

“No more deaths. Especially none in my name.” He was responsible for enough. Without him and Gabar by default, Rajpur had a chance. If he could do one thing for his people it would be that.

She stood and fisted her hands. He could nearly see the frustration burning through her. “They were supposed to be scared of you. No one expected Damatrious to be absent—”

“Enough!” Kamir spat. “I don’tcare. Just get out and take your lies with you.”

Her eyes flashed. “Very well. When the flames lick your skin I hope you remember you had a choice.”

But he didn’t. He’d never had one. The twelfth bell sounded, and Kamir sighed and stood up. He was alone in the room, and he would go alone to his death. Not that it mattered, and somehow he didn’t feel alone in his heart. The memory of Tsaria’s touch was with him.

And the hope of his love.

Chapter twenty-three

They heard the sound of hooves from a distance and Tsaria’s heart threatened to stop. It was an exact repeat of the clash that had resulted in him being taken to the sewers and nearly dying, except Moxie had saved his life. “Stay down,” Tam ordered. “Get under the seat.”

Tsaria obeyed. He had no fighting skills. The hooves sounded louder, and he knew the moment the driver realized he couldn’t outrun them and slowed. The cart came to a stop, but he was so covered in sacks he couldn’t properly hear what was being said. What was Tam saying? Any second, they would search the wagon. He heard Tam shout something, then the sound of a blade drawn, and that was it. He shoved the sacks away as best he could and yelled. “I’m here. Leave them alone. I just hired a cart,” he added. He might not have any skill with weapons, but he wasn’t about to hide while they hurt Tam. The flap, ripped as it was, was roughly torn aside by one of the biggest men he’d ever seen.

He caught a flash of dark brown eyes, jet-black skin, a completely bald head, and a gold ring through the man’s nose before rough hands grabbed him and yanked him out of the cart. Another man held Tam with a knife across his throat, and the driver was slumped on the ground. Tsaria hoped he was just unconscious.

A fair-skinned man with more tattoos than Tsaria had ever seen swaggered up to him. “You’re the emir’s fuck-toy.”

Tsaria kept his mouth closed. He’d learned to be silent. First with his father, then Ishmael, then every person who had hurt his body because they had the right, and he had none. The man laughed. “I don’t suppose you’re used to talking. I imagine your mouth is used for so much more pleasurable things.”

The man standing to his left leered at him, grabbing his crotch and squeezing. “Do we ‘ave to hand ‘im over?”

Tattoo man, who seemed to be in charge, grunted. “To get the reward.”

Reward?What reward?

“What reward?” Tam demanded.

Tattoo man laughed. “You didn’t know? The palace in Rajpur has posted a very tasty reward for him. We were just lucky we got here first as you passed the border, but there’ll be plenty out trying.”

“Whatever it is, I’ll double it,” Tam said. This time, there was a general snicker all around.

Tattoo man thought that was especially funny. “You got chests of gold in that cart, do you?”

“He means the emir,” Tsaria said. “Kamir will pay any amount to set me free.” Would he, though? He still couldn’t help the little voice that whispered so insidiously that he wasn’t worth what he hoped.

Another snicker. "Well, seeing as how it was his highness that posted the reward, I’m thinking he had a huge change of heart.”

“You saw him write the order, did you?” Tam croaked out. Tsaria saw a line of red bloom on his throat, and he wished he would stay silent. Tattoo man shrugged.

“Royal order means coin. Don’t care who signed it.”

Tsaria swallowed, but it was difficult. He didn’t have a knife to his throat because he supposed they took him to be less of a threat.

He heard a soft twang. A strange noise, but one second the man that held Tam was grinning and the next an arrow was lodged in his forehead. Everyone seemed to freeze, then bedlam erupted.

Or it tried to. The reality was it wasn’t the only arrow, and it was followed by people brandishing swords with deadly accuracy. The men who had stopped the wagon were all lying dead in less time than it had taken him to take a breath.

Tam appeared in front of him, while Tsaria was still trying to process what had happened. “Are you safe?” He couldn’t seem to form words, but then another figure stepped in between him and Tam and chuckled, bowed, and removed his…her hood. “I am sorry we were late.”

It was the same woman who had held him and Jael on the horse when he’d been rescued before. She was stunning. Ink wound its way over both her arms and slid up her neck. She was dressed the same as the rest of them in practical fitted breeches and a shirt, but she stood out even then.

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