Page 134 of The Sins of Silas

His face was contorted with rage as he whirled at me. “You’ve said quite enough!” he hissed back, and he glanced around, lowering his voice before continuing. “You had a secret relationship with another man. You left in the night with him. You chosehim.”

“It wasn’t like that at all,” I insisted quietly, even though Torrin and I did become intimate with one another years later.

He shook his head, and for a moment—just one moment—sadness shown in his eyes. “There are only so many lies I can look past, Lena. I…I don’t know how I can trust you after all this.”

Ifelt my throat closing up. “I swear to the Gods, I will never keep a secret from you again. Ask me anything, and I will tell you.”

Silas opened his mouth to respond when a guard opened the door above, dragging us from our conversation.

The descent was quick. The woman from earlier, Polly, was shoved back into our cage. Her cheeks were hollow, her eyes glassy, as she held her crossed arms close to her chest. She wandered forward.

Her face was just…bleak, her eyes distant as if dissociating.

“Josie, Dimitri calls for you,” the guard yelled.

Torrin's mother swallowed, her head falling. Tobias grasped her chin, urging her to face him. He whispered something in her ear, then gently kissed her forehead. Tears spilled as she walked away into the guard's grasp.

“What's happening?” I asked quietly as Torrin walked up to Silas and me.

I watched Polly as she shrunk onto the floor, pulling her knees close and lowering her head. I saw myself when I looked at her. I saw my own brokenness…I saw a shell of a person staring back at me.

Torrin's jaw feathered when I gazed up at him. “She is one of Dimitri'stoys. He rotates through the women here, forcing them to do as he pleases. He doesn't shave the heads of those he takes pleasure in.” Torrin's hands were shaking violently at his sides as his eyes followed his mother's disappearing frame. His voice quavered as he said, “He's been using her for years.”

My stomach twisted into knots, my mind drifting to Dimitri's words.

“I may have use for you.”

My chest began heaving, my eyes watering.

I can't go through itagain. I can't.

Torrin's brows drew together as he looked back at me.

I am alive.

They are gone.

They aren’t here.

I am…I amnotsafe here. I'm not safe at all.

I blew out a shaky breath, squeezing my eyes shut tightly.

“Lena?” Torrin asked. In my panic, his voice sounded miles away. “Are you okay?”

I was sinking, but Silas's hand on my back brought me back to shore.

While I knew he was still beyond angry, his eyes softened as he studied me, understanding shining in his irises.

“He won't touch you,” he promised quietly. “He won't get anywhere near you.”

My teary eyes drifted to his, and I was grateful to see the anger behind his eyes gone, at least for now. I nodded my head slowly, hoping he was right.

I wasn't sure how many minutes passed, maybe forty. I had grown accustomed to the horrific smell, and Torrin introduced me to a handful of different people he'd met here. Dani and Viola were nowhere to be found, and while there were plenty of flies buzzing around, I didn't believe Dani to be any of them. I could only hope she and Vi were coming up with a plan.

All the Mageshere…they had no willpower to fight, it seemed. Everyone I'd been introduced to could hardly muster even looking at me.

Torrin told me how Mages here have been kept for labor, whether that be serving, cooking, or doing heavy lifting. Or, in the handful of long-haired women’s case, giving their bodies over to the King. Rations were slim. If there was no work, they remained here, caged like animals.

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