“It’s okay,” I told Ren, cupping his cheek. “I got this, okay? Trust me.” Before he could respond, I pressed my lips to his. “It’ll be okay,” I said.
Ren reached for me, but Drake yanked on the chain, and I had no choice but to stand and step back. Ren caught himself with his bound hands, and the pained expression on his face broke my heart into a million little pieces.
“Don’t do this,” he said, voice gravelly. “I’m not worth it. You can’t do . . . this.”
“You are worth it,” I told him. “I couldn’t live with myself if . . .” Pressing my lips together, I held his stricken gaze as Drake started out of the room. “I love you,” I stated. Walking backward, I kept my gaze trained on Ren’s face until he blurred, until all I heard was the rattling of his chains as he struggled to his feet. “No matter what, I love you.”
The ancient obscured my vision of Ren, but I heard him shout, “Don’t you fucking touch her. I will rip you into fucking pieces. Ivy, no!”
I took a shaky breath as the door was shut, muffling Ren’s threats, and a second later, my back was against the wall and the prince was leaning into me. Beside us, a human male whimpered on a cot.
The prince was in my face. “If you think to cheat me or trick me, I will do things to you that will make you beg for death, but I will withhold it from you until your hair turns gray and your skin wrinkles,” he said, his voice low and deadly calm. “And that is a promise I will not break. Do you understand me?”
Thinking of the humans I saw hanging from the rafters of Flux, I shuddered. “I understand.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
I stared at the plate of roasted chicken, inhaling the savory herb scent. It smelled amazing. I should have been hungry. The last thing I’d eaten was a bowl of some kind of soup last night, almost twenty-four hours ago, but my stomach churned unsteadily at the idea of eating anything.
It probably had a lot to do with the chain around my neck. Every swallow was a painful reminder of my captivity. The only time it would be removed was tonight, when I finally got to shower. Bathroom breaks were periodic, and even then, the chain was only unhooked from the bed, and the bathroom door was left open.
Anger burned through me as I stared at the plate of food, half-tempted to throw it across the room. I was going to go crazy in this room, wondering and worrying about what was happening out in the world.
Was Ren truly okay? The prince had promised his safety, but that didn’t mean he was okay. Had Brighton found Merle and this supposed group of warm and fuzzy fae? Was Tink okay, or had he burned down my apartment in a panic? Did he even know what had happened to me? And what about David and the rest of the Order? They had to know that Henry was missing by now, that I’d been taken. I didn’t even know if Henry or Kyle had really believed that I was the halfling or if that had been a lie Drake had told.
So many questions and no answers. None.
I stretched out my legs as I pushed a limp, greasy curl out of my face. Drake had only visited me once since he’d taken me to see Ren. Yesterday. It had not gone well. I was trying to be on my . . . best behavior. Earning his trust was the only chance I had at escape, but the man made me crazy insane with anger.
Looking around the room, I saw the same thing I’d seen before. No avenue of escape. The only chance I had was to get this chain off my neck and somehow get outside. I had no idea where we were, but out there, I had a chance. In here, I had nothing.
The bedroom door opened and I tensed, drawing my legs up. Two female fae entered the room. I recognized one. It was the silvery-haired female who’d had that horrified look on her face when she saw me outside the room Ren had been kept in. She’d brought my food earlier and last night, along with the prince and another ancient. I believed her name was, coincidentally, Faye.
I had no idea who the dark-haired fae was, but she was beautiful and lithe like all fae. It wasn’t often that I saw a dark-haired fae, but the combination with the silver skin was stunning. Dressed in tight jeans and a slinky, nearly see-through tank top, she was the kind of woman who had perfectly shaped breasts that looked amazing when braless. I knew this, because I could see her nipples.
Faye glanced at my untouched plate. “You haven’t eaten.”
I didn’t answer, because I really didn’t see the point.
The other female closed the bedroom door and reached into the pocket of her jeans. “Well, we’re here to make sure you shower, so you’ve lost the opportunity to eat.”
“She can eat afterwards, Breena.” Faye stood several feet back. “The prince doesn’t want her to starve.”
I swung my legs off the bed. “You’re Breena?”
Breena’s lush red lips curved into a smirk as she eyed me. “I am.”
Slowly, I stood. “You’re on my to-kill list.”
“Is that so?” Breena shrugged. “I bet I know why.”
Fury dug into my bones. “I bet you do.”
“I told you it wasn’t wise for you to be here,” Faye replied with a weary sigh. “The prince spoke of you. She wasn’t going to forget.”
“I was hoping she wouldn’t.” Breena paused, her pale eyes full of malicious intent. “And you know who else is never going to forget my name? My little human pet.”
“Stop it, Breena,” Faye warned, glancing at the door.
My hands curled into fists. “You’re disgusting.”
“That’s not what Ren thought,” she replied, pulling the key out. “Especially not when I had my mouth on his skin, my tongue on his, and his—”
Screeching, I lurched at her. Breena easily evaded me, stepping just out of my reach, causing the chain to painfully jerk my neck back. “You sound proud of forcing yourself on someone,” I shouted.
“Who’s saying I forced myself?” She laughed darkly. “I can be very, very convincing.”
“And you’re going to be very, very dead,” I promised.
Breena snorted. “My pet had the most amazing tattoo. I traced those vines with my tongue.”
“Shut up.” Rage filled me, mingling with the bitter sting of jealousy. It was stupid to give her that kind of power, but I couldn’t help it. I knew that Ren didn’t want whatever had gone down between them. I wouldn’t have done what I’d done with the prince if I’d known it wasn’t Ren, and the mortification over that still burned brightly, but she was getting under my skin and setting up a home there.
“Give me the key,” Faye ordered.
Breena handed it over without taking her eyes off me. “He tasted like man and salt. Not a bad combination. I may have to pay him a visit.”
“You won’t get the chance,” I said as Faye approached me. My gaze snapped to her.
She stopped, wariness etched into her face as she lifted her hands. “I’m going to unchain you so you can shower. That’s all.”
The moment I was unhooked, I was going to take this chain and wrap it around Breena’s neck.
“Please don’t.” Faye’s eyes met mine, and it was like she’d read my mind. “If you go after her or cause any trouble, one of the males will come in. Do you understand?”
My jaw ached from how tight I was clenching my mouth shut.
“They’ll be in here while you shower,” Faye explained, tone almost pleading, which surprised me. “You don’t want that, right?”
“No,” I forced out.
“Then please don’t go after her,” she said, voice low. “She wasn’t with him that long. She fed on him, but that is all.”
“Keep telling her that if it lets her sleep better at night.” Breena’s laugh tinkled like wind chimes.
“Ignore her,” Faye insisted. “She just wants to get a rise out of you, see you punished. Don’t give her that.”
The breath I took felt like fire in my lungs. “Why do you even care?”
Faye's gaze flicked away from mine, and she didn’t respond. I honestly didn’t get why Faye cared if I had to strip down in front of an army of fae, but she was right. I didn’t want the
m in here while I showered, and I really, really wanted a shower.
“Okay,” I said.
Relief shot across Faye’s face, but Breena smiled like she had won some kind of battle. My answering smile was grim, because after I took a shower and had clothes back on, I really didn’t have anything to lose, and that bitch was going down.
Faye unlocked the chain, but held the end in her hands. “You ready?”