“Hey…” I crouched closer, cupping her face with my palms and bringing her vacant gaze up to mine. “I heard you thrashed those men. I bet they didn’t see it coming. Did you pretend to be scared? Make them think they’d win, just like you did with me? I didn’t stand a chance, and neither did they.”
Her eyes closed in a slow blink, which seemed like a response.
I whispered for her ears alone, “I’m so damn proud of you. They deserved it, and you showed them—hell, you showed everyone in this prison how strong you are.”
An airless moment passed, and then she shivered, her hands coming up to twist in the fabric of my shirt. Liana surged forward, wrapping her arms around my neck, holding tight as another shudder rocked her slight frame.
“Bowen? You came.” She whispered my name, and I closed my eyes in relief. My fingers sifted through her hair until she relaxed against me. “Those men tried to steal the blue flame. I couldn’t let them get away. But then the authorities brought me here and wouldn’t let me go. I thought…I thought I’d failed again.”
I had to bite my tongue to keep from telling her the magic crystal wasn’t worth it and she should have let it go. It was the truth, but to her, it was life or death. And that was the root of the problem. She’d risked her life to keep up her end of the contract. The bargain I’d wrung from her had gone further than I imagined, and it was wrong.
As much as I hated it, I knew what I had to do.
“You didn’t fail, and they didn’t get away with anything.” I waved my hand around the moldy cell. “And this place? To be honest, if there were curtains, you would have had them in tatters on the floor. That’s probably why they don’t put them up. People like you would keep tearing them down.”
A laugh burst from her throat, and she leaned back, swiping at her cheeks. She winced when her fingers brushed the edge of her jaw, and I captured her hand between mine.
“Careful—you got a bit of a war wound there.”
“You should see the other three. They need stitches.” She slowly climbed to her feet, noticing Gavin for the first time. He gave her an encouraging nod. “Thank you both for coming to get me.”
“This shouldn’t have happened.” My voice sounded hoarse. “This never would have happened if I hadn’t forced you into our bargain. You should be back in your village with your family. Not here, living in some dreary manor.” I took a breath, hating my next words. “I think it’s time for you to go home.”
Her fingers wrapped around my forearm. “But we have a contract.”
“Not anymore.”
She shook her head, and her lips parted in denial. “No—you don’t understand. I won’t go.” Her gaze found mine, raw and pleading. “I can’t go.”
Then don’t.
My glimmer of remorse had its limits, and it was crumbling fast. “Too bad. I’m setting you free. Consider your father’s debt paid.” I tugged my arm from her grasp and walked out of the cell.
She followed instantly, as if pulled by a string taut between us. “You can clear my father’s debt, but you can’t clear mine.”
I paused, confusion knotting my brow. “What does that mean?”
She straightened her shoulders, determination on full display. “I haven’t been completely honest with you about my past.” Hesitating, she cast a wary glance at Gavin. “The truth is I used Gavin today to take me into town. I planned to slip away on purpose.”
Gavin made a grunting sound and mumbled, “I told you this was her fault. Blaming me, the innocent victim, just minding my own business. He threatened me with a spear, you know? A spear! I mean, I wasn’t worried, but—”
We both turned, shooting him twin glares.
His lips flattened. “Jeez—sorry. Please, continue with your deceitful confession.”
Liana stepped closer and placed her hand on my arm again. This time, I didn’t pull away.
“I want a new contract. One where the commission you asked for pays for something else. I need your help, Bowen. It won’t be easy, and a part of me feels guilty for dragging you into my mess, but I’m asking anyway. So what do you say?”
Gavin scoffed. “That’s it? He’s supposed to decide based on that vague request? Bowen—”
“Shut up, Gavin.” My hand closed over hers. I lifted it, entwining our fingers. “Where do I sign?”
Chapter 14
Liana
After a hot meal and a long bath, I almost felt like myself again. I’d washed away the grime and blood, and outwardly, minus the throbbing bruise on my jaw, you’d never know I’d taken on three street thugs and spent the afternoon in prison.
