Page 19 of Seized to Sacrifice
She’d saved him, had come like a beacon through the dark, made him hers.
He clenched his jaw in anger. They'd been apart far longer than they'd been together, so why did she still have such a hold on him?
It had been so long and yet he still thought of her every fucking day.
Changing his mind, he spun on his heel and made his way to his workroom outside of the main building and across the square. He’d work the conjure as he’d told Nyx he would and, after that was done, they’d put her to work doing the worst jobs they could think of. That would get her out of Nyx’s room before he forgot what she was.
* * *
Thorne
Rye thrusther towards him with a grin. Thorne looked her over. She was wearing a thin chemise and nothing else. He cocked a brow in askance at his Brother.
‘All I could find.’
Thorne snorted.
‘She’s spent too long being of no use,’ Rye announced. ‘Everyone earns their keep here.’
Thorne hid the roll of his eyes at Rye’s theatrics. They’d discussed all of this between them yesterday. Rye had somehow made Nyx relinquish her to them and Thorne had won their subsequent game of dice, so he would be the first to begin her torment.
Nyx had abstained from the game, boring cunt that he was. In truth, Thorne had no idea how Rye had succeeded in whisking her away from Nyx. He’d become very protective ofElle, as she had laughably begun calling herself in some twisted double-bluff, now that she’d clearly started to work her wiles on him, and he was as stubborn as they came.
‘Look at her,’ he sneered. ‘What can she do? She’s a useless slave.’
‘She’ll find a way to be less useless if she knows what’s good for her,’ Rye growled. ‘She's well enough to work. So work her.’
Thorne watched the woman in front of them, standing tall, but staring at the floor. Their words were getting to her.
‘Fine. I’m sure there’s something I can find for her to do.’
His hand shot out and he grabbed her by the arm. She winced and he smiled maliciously. He scared her. Good. But he loosened his grip and led her down the hall to the kitchen. She went with him meek as a lamb.
As they entered the bustling hub of the keep, she stopped dead at the threshold, refusing to go any further.
‘Your time in Nyx’s bed has made you think you’re above your station,’ he said in her ear. ‘That ends now. You are the lowest here. From now on, anyone in this keep can tell you what to do and you will do it. They all know it. If you don’t do as you’re bade, they’re to tell either Ryder or me and you’ll be punished.’
He pushed her forward and she stumbled, looking back at him. Her expression was indiscernible but there was something about the kitchen she didn't like. He’d been right about her getting airs.
‘You think yourself too good for honest work?’ he asked loudly.
She shook her head, eyes wide, but it was too late. More than one servant in the room had taken her measure. She’d find no friends here.
Thorne called the cook over. ‘Put the slave to work, Fen,’ he ordered.
Fen nodded and gestured with his head. ‘Begin with the carrots over near the hearth, girl.’
She gave a jerky nod and, with one final look at Thorne, she went to the side where the other two men Rye had brought were working diligently. She grasped the knife and began to cut, her body movements stiff. Thorne noticed her give the bigger one a side-long glance and he watched them closely. Were they allies? Something more?
He saw the bigger one speak to her and she whispered something back. His eyes narrowed. Perhaps the kitchens weren’t the best place for her to begin after all. Luckily, he’d thought of all manner of nasty chores for her to do. He had something much better in mind.
He crooked his finger.
‘Come here,’ he ordered as if she was a dog.
Obediently, she put down the knife and turned back towards him, looking relieved, and he smirked. She wouldn’t be thanking him when she found out what work he decided to give her instead. She’d long for kitchens very soon, that was for certain.
He made her follow him into the bowels of the keep to the old cellars that had been closed for so long.
