Page 170 of Primal Bonds

In its pure form, iron was a bright white metal, and Blaer’s magic kept the cages from rusting. Somehow those gleaming cages seemed even worse, like a cold, sterile laboratory where unspeakable things went on. Blaer didn’t even give the imprisoned fada the dignity of a private bathroom, just had a rudimentary toilet and sink in each cage and straw scattered on the floor.

In the nearest cage, the big black wolf lay listlessly on a sheepskin.

He had to be in agony, surrounded by iron like that. To a fae or fada, even cold iron burned like fire. The sheepskin provided some protection, but the surrounding iron would slowly drain the wolf’s energy. And each time he touched one of the bars, it would sear his skin, seeping into his veins until his entire body was inflamed.

As the door opened, the wolf lifted his head a few inches, then let it drop back to the sheepskin. His coat was dull and falling off in patches, his eyes rheumy.

Shame filled Fane. Whatever the wolf may or may not have done, this was just wrong. He didn’t even want to tell Marjani that Blaer referred to the room as her “zoo.”

The earth fada slid past him into the room. He kept a grip on her arm so that she remained invisible.

An open switchblade appeared in her hand. An iron switchblade.

“Remember your promise,” he told her. “You get a look only.”

She nodded, her gaze on the sick wolf. A shadow slid over him, creeping across his patchy fur like a ghostly creature from another dimension. Marjani’s face was expressionless, but the arm beneath his hand vibrated with suppressed tension.

The black wolf’s nostrils twitched. Marjani shook off Fane to move closer.

“Corban,” she said. The single word held a world of hate.

The black wolf forced himself up on trembling legs. Mad gold eyes narrowed at her.

“I came here to kill you.” Her tone dripped with scorn. “But now I just pity you. Killing you would be a kindness you don’t deserve.”

Her cousin’s lips peeled back in a snarl. Fane couldn’t tell if he was warning them off—or laughing at them. A thin stream of saliva dripped from a corner of his jaws.

Marjani stopped a few feet away from the cage.

“You think I don’t know why you sent that message to Adric? He”—she jerked her head at Fane—“thinks you couldn’t have done it without help, but I bet it didn’t take much to convince you. Because you’d love to have Ric here, wouldn’t you? But it didn’t work. You got me, instead.” She compressed her mouth. “Goddess, you’re an ass. The clan would never have followed you. They don’t want more of Leron. We’re making something different. Better.”

Corban shuddered. His quartz flickered weakly.

Marjani fingered her own quartz. The purple amethyst shimmered blue, and Fane had the feeling she was sending energy to the other fada. But why?

“You’ve lost,” she said, low and hard. “Die with dignity.”

A growl rasped from the wolf’s throat. Then he lowered his head in defeat.

She released the quartz. “Damn you,” she said in a shaking voice.

“We have to leave.” Fane crossed the room and grabbed her arm.

Then they both froze at the sound of voices on the stairs below.

Chapter 13

Marjani’s heart slammed into gear. If they were caught, she didn’t know what they’d do to Fane. But she’d be thrown into one of those gleaming iron cages.

Fuck that. She’d die first.

Her cougar surged to life, trying to take over. Claws pricked her fingertips and she knew her eyes had gone a feral blue.

“How many?” Fane whispered, reminding her that she wasn’t alone. She had him to think about, too. And he knew the court—if she worked with him, they might both get out of here undetected.

Not now, she hissed at her cougar.

It snarled warningly.

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