Page 215 of Fangs
They shoved the small body forward—hard enough that the child sprawled on the ground at my feet. The child lifted their head, and I stared in horror at the familiar tear-streaked face, the wide hazel eyes, and the head of soft black curls.
“Roe?” I gasped.
35
“Sara?” Roe cried, scrambling to climb in my lap, wrapping his thin arms around my neck. His entire body shook as he sobbed into my shoulder.
It hadn’t beenthatlong since Trey and I stayed at the Outpost and met Zeke and his little boy Roe. I’d healed Roe from a terminal illness, and I remembered their beaming faces as they waved goodbye to me and Trey.
I strained against the metal cuffs keeping my hands behind my back, desperate to wrap my arms around him. “Roe, what are you doing here? Where’s your dad?” I asked, frantic.
“They killed him,” he sobbed.
Fuck. Zeke had been so kind to me and Trey, and he’d loved his son more than anything. I glared up at the two Voiceless, full of fury. They stared back at me, their expressions blank.
“What the fuck are you doing?” I snarled.
“Providing incentive,” Talmar answered, and my stomach dropped.
“You’re threatening achild?”
“What happens to this child falls on you, Goddess. Submit, and he won’t be harmed.”
Tears of helpless fury filled my eyes. I’d been so relieved it was just me. I could fight if they were threatening me, but not if they were threatening Roe. I couldn’t sacrifice him to save myself.
“Fine,” I seethed.
Talmar smiled, and the satisfied victory on his face made me want to scream.
“Uncuff me,” I demanded.
I didn’t think they would, but Talmar shocked me by pulling a key from his pocket and crouching to unlock the manacles. As soon as they fell away, I wrapped both arms around Roe and held him tightly.
“Do not try to run,” Talmar warned. “There are guards at the door. We leave at first light.”
I didn’t respond, and after a brief pause, they both left.
“Did he call… call you ‘Goddess?’” Roe asked in a shaky whisper.
I winced. “Yes, but my real name is actually Ember. You can call me Em.”
“Where’s Flint?”
Pain lanced through me, and for a second, I considered lying, but I knew trying to shield Roe from the truth would do little to protect him.
“His real name was… was Trey, and he’s dead,” I whispered, my voice cracking with emotion.
Roe wrapped his arms tighter around my neck, and when his shoulders shook, I realized he was crying again. I smoothed back his unruly curls, tears brimming in my own eyes. I felt the urge to promise him I would keep him safe, that I wouldn’t let the Voiceless hurt him, but I kept my lips pressed tightly together. I couldn’t truthfully promise him that. I had very little control over anything, right now.
Roe cried himself to sleep. I had so many questions, but I didn’t wake him up. He looked exhausted, with dark circles under his eyes. I tentatively let my powers flow into him, but besides some bruises and scrapes, he was unharmed, and there was no sign of the illness I’d healed months ago. I healed the few minor injuries he had, remembering the joy on Zeke’s face when I healed Roe and the tenderness as he held his son, and grief overwhelmed me. He was dead—most likely because of me.
How did the Voiceless find them? Had they followed us there?
I swiped my wet face on my shoulder. Little did Talmar know that dragging Roe into this just made me more determined to get us both out. There was no way in hell I was going to submit to the God of Death and have his children.
I’ll always come for you, Em.
Mac’s voice ran through my mind, and my eyes overflowed again. I knew he would come for me. I had no doubts about that, but would he find me in time?
