A new fear rushed through me; one I 'mercifully hadn't considered yet. But when Wrynn shouted his words, that fear tore through me like a hot lance before I turned icy cold, so cold I began to shake.
"There is nothing you can do about it, Wrynn. I can do whatever I please with her. I could even let my males have a turn, and all you can do is watch." He pretended to think about his idea. "Now that I'm considering it… you might enjoy the show."
"You dirty bastard. Do not lay a hand on a kallini, a lady!" Wrynn fumed.
My legs turned to mush, and I faltered, but Cryeogh's hands fisted in my hair kept me on my feet.
"Lucky for you I don't enjoy an audience," he smirked and pulled me into his tent.
"Now let's see what you're hiding underneath that gown," he pulled his knife out again, and backing up, I screamed.
He advanced with his knife in one hand, while he rubbed himself between his legs with the other. "I've never fucked a human or a lady before."
I did the only thing I could think of. "Don't touch me, I'm pregnant."
He stopped dead in his tracks, narrowing his eyes. "You are lying."
"It's why Vandor sent me home. I found out I'm with child."
His expression turned furious, and I hoped he was one of the Thyres who believed that having intercourse with a woman while she was pregnant would harm the child. Not that I thought for a moment he cared if he harmed my child or me, but I wasn't carrying just anybody's baby; I was carrying Warlord Vandor's child and even a louse like him should worry about those consequences. Plus, the advantages of having me and Vandor's child in his clutches wouldn't even escape him. Suddenly, his face brightened. "Kallini, you just made me a rich male."
Hope fluttered through me. "You will let me go to Vandor?"
He laughed cruelly. "Nyck, but Fionbyr will now doubly reward me."
He pushed me to a chair. "Sit."
In front of me stood a table, holding a plate with a piece of bread, a bowl of stew, and a cup of water. "Eat and don't try anything stupid. I have ways to punish you without hurting that brat in your oven."
He didn't sever my bound hands, making it hard for me to eat, but I managed to force some down my throat. I had to drink plenty of water to wash each bite down because my stomach was choked with fear, but I forced myself to eat bite after bite to stay strong for my unborn child.
As the night wore on, the voices outside grew louder, and I caught my head falling to my chest as tiredness overcame me. Cryeogh's bed beckoned me, but I would have rather slept in a nest of hellfire ants than there, so I remained in the chair.
Cryeogh entered hours later, drunk and in a foul mood.
"Up," he commanded, pulling me by my hair.
He forced me to one of the poles at the side of the tent and tied my hands to it before throwing a fur at me.
"Sleep," he slurred before he fell on his bed, instantly followed by loud snoring.
I leaned my head against the pole and closed my eyes while hot tears ran down my cheeks. I didn't dare make a sound, but my heart hurt so badly, I thought it would tear apart. I missed Vandor even more than I had the previous night. I yearned to feel his comforting arms around me and for the feeling of safety and security he always gave me.
When I finally dozed off, I saw him rushing to me on his horse with the same expression of fury and determination on his face he had carried when he came to my rescue last time. And with all my heart, I wished it would come true.
I had no doubt in my mind that once he learned what had happened to me, he would tear Slotenburg down one rock at a time, and that thought frightened me even more. Because I knew that he would risk, no, gladly give, his life to save me. And that wasn't a price I was willing to pay for my freedom.
Just like the day before, a hard kick against my thigh woke me.
"Up," Cryeogh demanded.
My entire body hurt from sitting and being bound to the pole all night, but slowly I managed to do as bid.
Cryeogh shoved a bowl into my hand. "Piss, we'll leave soon."
With that, he thankfully left the tent, but I was forced to figure out how to pee into the bowl with my hands bound. I managed though and was barely done when he returned with a smirk on his face.
"Take it and clean it outside," he ordered.