Page 54 of Brighter Than Gold

Chapter12

Reyah

“Shit,” Kindra whispered under her breath.

“What the fuck is he doing here?” I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

“He does business with Lazio.”

Of course. Of course, he fucking did. The din in the room was still hushed as the clipped noise of Verosa’s shoes could be heard down the hallway.

“Your Grace! How wonderful to see you,” she crooned.

Warrick didn’t bother looking up at Verosa while he unbuttoned a heavy black cloak and handed it to her.

Tepidly, the energy of the room picked back up while people tried not to stare as one of their Kings made himself comfortable among them.

“Is he here?” Warrick asked.

“He’ll be back shortly, Your Grace. May I offer some entertainment in the meantime?”

“Fine.”

The King disappeared down a long corridor. Several royal guards stepped in through the door behind him, and my heart leapt. I couldn’t express my relief to see those marine blue uniforms, it took everything in me not to fly across the bar to them.

“A bottle of the Grand Copper,” Verosa said to the bartender. She turned to Kindra. “Is Silla occupied?”

“Nearly finished, I believe.”

“As soon as you see her, send her to Warrick’s room.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Verosa shot me a blistering stare before heading off with the bottle of liquor.

“How old is Silla?” I asked once the housemother was far enough away. My rage for the man boiled.

“Twenty, but you’d never know it.” Kindra raised her eyebrows and helped herself to more of my juice.

“She looks younger?”

Kindra chuckled and nodded. “That woman is hard as nails. Personally, I’m terrified of her.”

Her words placated me. I watched the far side of the room as the palace guards began shedding their uniforms and making themselves comfortable. I was shocked by the lack of decorum.

“Shouldn’t they be, I don’t know, protecting the King?”

Kindra glanced over her shoulder. “Them? No.” I could hear the distaste in her voice. “The guards are worse than the King, they drink, and fuck, and act like spoiled children. And Lazio doesn’t make them pay.”

I watched them as she spoke, they acted no better than the Rats did. They groped the women walking by or snatched them roughly by the wrists. The girls played and laughed at their brusque treatment, but it was obvious they were not enjoying it. My hope of being saved began to melt away.

“Be right back,” Kindra said to me as she rushed up to the second floor. Out of one of the rooms came an overweight, flushed man who still fingered the buttons on his vest. Behind him was a girl. Not a woman, a fucking girl.

Kindra pulled her aside, and the girl rolled her eyes angrily. I saw her talking back to Kindra, the words leaving her mouth were through snarled, seething lips. Kindra put her arms up defensively before turning and coming back down the stairs. The girl took a moment, loosening her tight fists and smoothing her long hair. Then she strode daintily down the stairs, and when her face turned enough for me to see her, she wore the most innocent doe-eyed expression I had ever seen.

“WasthatSilla?” I asked stunned as Kindra returned.

“That’s Silla.”

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