Page 78 of Trapped to Tame
They talked about her with each other? Why were they so interested?
‘No,’ she murmured, cheeks coloring. ‘Priest said it was because my body was too thin.’
Fie nodded. ‘I’ve heard of this regarding slaves in the Dark Realms,’ he said. ‘That’s one of the reasons the breeding slaves are always fed well.’
Fie glanced at her expression and coughed. ‘Apologies. I forgot you’re …’ He trailed off.
‘A half-breed?’ she asked, looking away towards the fire.
An awkward silence descended, and Eve glanced at them both.
‘Are human and fae pairings frequent in the Dark Realms?’ she asked, wondering if there were many like her.
‘More so now because of the fae’s dwindling numbers,’ Drax said, ‘but—’
Fie nudged him and he quieted.
Eve frowned at Fie. ‘Don’t keep things from me. I’m not an infant who needs coddling.’ Turning back to Drax, she nudged him. ‘What were you going to say?’ she insisted.
Drax grimaced. ‘The most attractive human slaves are usually bought by the wealthiest fae for the purposes of breeding regardless of the laws. The auctions are simply held in non-fae dark realms.’
‘You mean women are made to …’
‘And men,’ Fie interjected. ‘Remember, the fae are able to enthrall humans to do what they will. The slaves aren’tmadeto do anything. At least, not in the way you’re picturing they are.’
She couldn’t help her shudder. Fie was too perceptive by half. Shehadbeen thinking about her own experiences with the Bull, but his words made her think of the time with him in the Underhill when she had been enchanted by the pink dust. He was right. It wasn’t thesame, but to be taken from your home and family to a fae realm, enthralled andbred…
‘There must be another way,’ she muttered.
Fie and Drax both looked sympathetic.
‘If there is, I hope we find it,’ Drax said, ‘But until then, with many full-blooded fae unable to have children of their own, humans will continue to be taken for the purpose.’
‘Do you have slaves?’ Eve asked, wondering if the Brothers owned enthralled humans and hoping to the gods they didn’t.
‘No,’ Fie said. ‘Most fae who own slaves are wealthy, same as it is in the Light Realm. My family were humble faire folk as I told you before.’
She looked at Drax who grimaced.
‘No,’ he said. ‘My father may have, but he died when I was very small. I lived in the Underhill until I was fifteen. I joined the Brothers as soon as I left.’
Eve canted her head, sensing a sadness in him. ‘Where is your mother?’
A look she couldn’t discern passed between them and Fie quietly busied himself with the feeding the fire. ‘When I was a small child, she was stolen by a wealthy fae lord.’
‘What?’ Eve asked in shock, drawing closer to him.
‘At the time, the birthing rates were starting to decrease, and no one knew why. A fae female who’d already successfully birthed a babe was coveted to beget more.’
Drax looked into the fire. ‘My mother loved my father and, when he died, she refused to marry again. The fae male wouldn’t take no for an answer. He took her and kept her.’
Eve put her hand on his arm, feeling his sadness. ‘What happened to her?’
‘He treated her badly, punished her when he couldn’t breed her. She finally got with child, but she didn’t survive the birth and both she and the babe died.’
‘I’m sorry,’ she breathed.
‘It was a long time ago,’ he said, clearing his throat. ‘I didn’t find out until much later, after I’d left the Underhill.’
