Page 118 of A Court Bright and Broken

His hands went up, palms forward, to hover on either side of his shoulders. “Sorry. You must be very frightened. I apologize. I could not have kept him out. My father gets what he wants.”

I snorted in disgust. “So I heard. And apparently what hewantsis to enslave human women and use them for whatever depraved thing he has in mind from moment to moment.”

Stellon’s hands lowered, and he held them in front of him in a supplicating gesture as he moved closer.

“It’s not like that. They’re not slaves. They live in luxurious quarters and eat decadent food, and most of the time they’re not even bothered.”

“And the rest of the time?”

He didn’t respond, just dropped his eyes to the floor.

“Don’t try to tell me they’re here of their own free will, Stellon, because I won’t believe it. They’re being physically forced to… to…dothings with your father—and gods only know who else.”

“It’s just him,” Stellon said in a rush. “And perhaps Pharis on occasion—I don’t really know. No one else would have access to them. And they’re notforced—well, not physically.”

“What is that supposed to mean?” I asked, disgusted with him and his whole race at the moment.

“They’re swayed,” he said. “It keeps them… happy.”

Stellon didn’t look happy. He looked guilty. As he should have.

“I don’t believe for a minute that they’re happy. What is ‘swayed?’” I demanded. “Some Elven trick?”

“Other Fae have the power as well,” he said. “It’s a sort of extremepersuasion, I guess you could say.”

“More likecoercion,”I muttered.

Stellon just folded his lips in and nodded. “Sometimes.”

“And Fae use it to manipulate people?”

“I guess that’s one way of looking at it. Itcanwork on other members of the Fae, but humans are much more susceptible to it.”

Quickly, he added, “I rarely use it. And I don’t visit the retinue quarters—as you heard my father say.”

I still wasn’t past his confession that Fae were controlling humans with their powers.

“Did you ever use thisSwayon me?”

His skin tone deepened a shade. “I started to once—in the market when I wanted to escort you for protection and you wouldn’t allow it.”

“And it didn’t work?” I asked.

“It would have,” he said. “I stopped because I could tell I was scaring you. I didn’t want to do anything to you against your will.”

“What a gentleman.” My tone was painted with sarcasm.

“Why are you angry with me?” Stellon asked. “I just told you I refrained from using it on you. And that I don’t frequent my father’s retinue.”

“Do you expect a reward for not abusing women?”

“Well, no, I—”

I didn’t let him finish. “Do you think it’s actuallyokaythat your father keeps these brainwashed women here at his beck and call?”

It horrified me that Stellon knew about this practice and had said nothing—done nothing to stop it.

His face went blank for a moment.

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