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‘They’ve been paid and given a new version of events to spread around. The human girl was a pleasure slave who was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.’
My eyes widen as I focus on his words again.
‘I’m not a slave,’ I say, afraid I know where they’re going with this and it’s the very reason I needed the bracelet in the first place when I escaped Varrik’s keep.
I don’t want to end up being Sharpe’s plaything, or worse, until the vote happens.
Dane pushes me hard and tells me to keep my mouth shut.
Sharpe looks momentarily surprised, as if he didn’t know the feeble human could speak. Then, he ignores me again, turning his attention back to Grey.
‘And what do I do with this pleasure slave who was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time? She can hardly remain at the academy.’
His scales are getting redder by the second, and I take a small step back.
‘You have an idea, I take it?’ Sharpe asks, his eyes flicking to Dane, who nods.
Grey puts a jingling purse gently on the desk. ‘We’ll take her off your hands and ensure everyone knows that the rumors of a murderous human at the academy are just stories being perpetuated by desperate Isolationists, sir.’
Sharpe nods, looking pleased.
‘If they have their way, the Gate will never be open again.’ He lets out a sound of disgust, but his scales are returning to black. ‘You’re sure you can make this go away? Ensure she disappears?’
‘No one will believe she was ever here,’ Grey promises.
My eyes widen. ‘You can’t buy me,’ I hiss. I point at Sharpe. ‘And you can’t sell me. I don’t belong to you!’
‘Be SILENT!’ Sharpe suddenly yells, making me jump and shuffle back as his scales become as bright as molten rock in an instant, ‘or I’ll burn that deceiving human tongue out of your skull before I sell you!’
He stands up and takes a deep breath in a visible effort to control himself as his eyes lock onto me again. ‘And, unfortunately, you do belong to me, or at least, to the academy. It was ruled on in a closed meeting no more than an hour ago, child. You’re my fucking problem, and if I didn’t care that the writings in my office would be destroyed in the blaze, I’d burn you to ash right now to spare myself. Gods, I’d throw you in my dungeon, except the guards would talk, and that’s even more of what I don’t need just before a vote so important it will secure the future of the entire city, so count yourself as lucky as I do that you’re being taken off my hands!’
My mouth closes, more in outrage than fear.
‘Dane, I suggest you get rid of her quickly,’ Sharpe advises as he slides the purse across the table and deposits it into a drawer. ‘I accept your proposal. I don’t care what you do with her so long as she’s gone and the stories are quashed. Now, get her out of my office before someone comes in and sees her.’
Grey is the one who pulls me away, throwing the cloak back over me like a blanket.
Unable to see, all I can do is walk next to him as he takes my arm and leads me.
He takes me back to Dane’s apartments, I think. But I’m ushered through a different door. I hear a contemptuous snort and the sound of the door closing. A key turns in the lock, and it’s several moments before I take the cloak off and find myself in a small, empty storeroom. There’s a tiny, glassless window high in the wall, but besides the door, there’s nothing else in the room bar a chamber pot in the corner.
‘You can’t keep me in here!’ I yell. ‘I swear to you that I will scream at the top of my lungs so loudly that the entire academy will hear!’
Angry footsteps pound across the floor toward the room, and the key turns in the lock. The door flies open, and Dane stands at the threshold, looking furious.
He waves a hand, and I’m propelled backward against the wall. I let out a cry and struggle, but my arms and legs are stuck spread eagle. He’s using so much power on me that I can barely move my lungs enough to breathe.
Fucking Mage.
When did he get as powerful as this? I’m sure he could barely manage a simple conjure in lessons, and this is complex magick.
My eyes narrow as he comes closer, that same smirk that was always on his face when he was around Fiana making him look equal parts amused and indolent. I always hated it. His dark hair flops over his brow, and he runs a hand through it to move it back from his face. My eyes track the movement. I can’t help myself. I hate him, but I can’t deny that his looks have always drawn me in. The scar does little to detract from them.
Too bad he’s such a dick.
‘Finally found the power you craved, eh?’ I ask through clenched teeth with bravado so false I’m sure he sees right through me.
Surprise passes over his features, but it’s gone almost as soon as I see it.
