Page 23 of Seized to Sacrifice
She focused on that, of his warm bed and bright fire, of the sun streaming through the window. She ignored the things she thought she felt crawling on her arms and legs. There were spiders down here, but that was all, and they’d all been more scared of her than she had been of them, running off at the first signs of her to their cracks and crevices.
She heard someone coming down and hoped the sounds were real as she stood ready for the door to open. When it did, she darted out and ran up the stairs in front of Fen, getting to the light at the top of the steps and breathing a sigh of relief. She saw that the sun was still high. They hadn’t left her down there all day. The cook took her to the kitchens and put her in the scullery washing pots and pans.
Eruk was there too, and her heart sank. He snorted when he saw her.
‘Remember what I said this morning,’ he said. ‘Even if you tell the lords themselves and they actually believed you, it’s not as if they’d care. Like as not, they’d lay you out on that big table of theirs in the hall and watch me defile you before they took their turns with you themselves.’
She grimaced, trying not to let his words get to her but failing. She couldn't go back to that storeroom tonight and, after seeing Nyx’s true form, she was afraid to go back to his chamber.
What were the chances that Eruk would be interrupted a third time?
‘Leave me alone,’ she hissed, and he gave her a chuck under the chin that made her swat his hand away.
‘Perhaps when I’m finished with you,’ he told her, going back to washing the pans.
She let out a breath and put the pot she was drying down. She couldn’t stand here next to him any longer. Turning away, she ran from the scullery and through the kitchens to the hall.
But a guard stopped her as soon as she was in the corridor, barring the way so she could go no further.
‘What are you doing out here?’ he asked sternly, giving her a small push backward.
I–I–,’ she stuttered.
She was turned by her shoulders and shoved in the direction she’d come from.
‘Back where you belong, slave. You're well enough now not to be idling around in the lords’ beds … however comfortable they are.’
‘What's going on?’ said another voice that she knew was Nyx’s.
She looked up, trying not to be afraid after what she’d seen of him this morning.
‘Caught the slave wandering the keep,’ the guard said. ‘Ryder told us to ensure she stays where she’s bid.’
‘Did he?’
She’d never heard Nyx’s tone colder, not even to her that first night.
The guard heard it too and looked uncomfortable. ‘Aye, milord.’
‘Go,’ ordered Nyx the guard who left quickly, his relief at being dismissed clearly palpable.
Nyx said nothing, simply staring at her from the door as she walked slowly back through the kitchen to the scullery, hearing some of the other servants nearby sniggering at her. Feeling more alone and fearful than ever. She walked stiffly, resigned to her fate at least until she could find somewhere else to hide.
A little while later, Fen told Leia to take her back down to the cellar storeroom.
Leia kept Elle in front of her, prodding her in the back when she didn’t like her pace.
‘If you’re being put down here, I suppose I’m still Rye’s favorite,’ she gloated. ‘Perhaps I’ll let Nyx have me as well.’
Jealousy flared in Elle, and she frowned. Why did she care if this woman had Rye or Nyx or even all of them?
They reached the final door and Leia pushed her inside hard enough that she had to scramble not to fall to the hard floor. The woman laughed and, to Elle’s horror, she didn’t leave the torch, practically running through the door and locking it behind her as quickly as she could.
* * *
Nyx
He couldn't stop thinkingabout her. She'd only been in his room for a few days, but now he found himself sitting in his chair, listless, wishing she was still here. He even thought this morning that he could smell her scent in his chamber still. Pathetic, he thought. How he had fallen. He used to be a member of the Horde! Feared. Respected. Humans and fae had trembled at the mere mention of his name and now here he was, sitting in his little room, pining for the female who looked exactly like the one who’d destroyed him. He shook his head and took a long drink. The others would laugh at him if they knew what was going through his head, how much he wanted her.
