Page 98 of Trapped to Tame
Priest shot him a look. ‘Do not let your emotions get the better of you. We all want Eve back, but we must be careful.’
‘Aye,’ Drax said, straightening the ceremonial dagger at his belt. ‘We may be the heroes of the moment, but you know as well as I how quickly the tide can turn here. If we anger the wrong lord, the wrong member of the Council …’
Fie’s jaw tensed. ‘I know. Let's go. We don't want to be late.’
Drax fell into step behind Fie as they left their rooms, going down the corridors laid with thick carpet and ignoring the slaves that hurried around trying to stay out of their way.
They reached the Grand Hall and Drax donned a mask of ennui making sure he looked his part. It wasn’t hard. In truth, he was already bored of this realm and recalled their months stuck in Kitore with more contentment now than he’d felt at the time. And, yet, his mind was in turmoil, scarcely able to believe that Eve had been taken, that she would likely be sold in marriage knowing her father and his many debts.
Priest took a goblet from a tray that one of the servants was bringing around and Drax followed his lead.
They were here to dance to Isbeth’s tune. Nothing more.
He took a sip from his goblet, tasting the finest wines to be had in the realms. He expected nothing less in the highest of the fae courts.
‘The Council isn't here yet,’ Fie murmured glancing around the room at the many wealthy fae in attendance.
‘Of course they'd be late to their own fucking party,’ Priest muttered.
‘Silence,’ Drax whispered from behind his cup. ‘That’s dangerous talk as you well know.’
They mostly stayed in each other's company for the evening as they skirted around the dancing couples, watching their brethren indulge in too much wine and the most entertaining delights the Dark Realms had to offer. The night wore on, no one from the Council appearing.
Finally, Isbeth arrived alone, making her way slowly over to them as she mingled.
‘Our most sincere thanks once more for finding the treasures that might have been lost to us forever,’ she said smoothly as if they hadn’t been awaiting her pleasure for hours.
‘We did nothing more than anyone else would do,’ Fie said somewhat stiffly.
Isbeth gave a small smile. ‘There is a token the Council would like to give you to show our personal gratitude. It’s in the library awaiting your earliest convenience,’ she said, so quietly that they almost couldn't hear her.
Drax gave a shallow bow. ‘Our thanks, Councilor.’
‘Good evening,’ she said, meandering away to another group without preamble, but still making it look as if she was in no hurry to leave them.
As soon as they were able, Drax, Fie, and Priest made their way slowly to one of the doors that led onto the balconies where they’d be able to climb down. From the gardens, they could move freely around the back of the estate to where the library was without anyone knowing where they'd gone.
They slipped outside into the warm air, avoiding the lights twinkling through the gardens, but it was early enough that no one was yet out here. They were alone as they traversed the stone steps, keeping to the shadows, their footsteps making nary a sound as they made their way to the side of the house.
Drax opened a window, and they stole into the library. They didn't have to wait long as the inner door opened almost immediately, and a shadowy figure entered and approached them.
‘The Councilor sent me,’ said a female slave, stepping into the light.
She held a folded parchment out to Fie. ‘I was instructed to give this to you,’ she said, keeping her eyes low. ‘She also says that Lord Gerling has entered talks with Lord Ceres to give your Fourth to him.’
‘In marriage?’ Priest asked.
‘As a slave,’ she answered.
‘Fuck,’ Drax muttered. ‘How can he get away with this?’
‘The same way he always does,’ Priest said. ‘Our thanks. You may go.’
He waved a hand and the woman left without a word, giving a small bow, and looking thankful that she'd been dismissed.
Drax turned to his Brothers. ‘Why would he give her as a slave? This doesn’t make sense. There’s more at play here than we understand or he wouldn't be giving her away so flippantly and not to Ceres.’
‘Who is Lord Ceres?’ Fie asked.
