‘Don’t!’
But he’s already in front of me, taking the poker gently from my grasp and easing the bracelet from my wrist. I let him because how can I fight them both?
I know when he can see me because his eyes roam my face. He looks thunderous.
‘What the fuck has he done to her?’ he snarls, and my eyes instinctively find the ground.
‘Please don’t tell anyone,’ I beg. ‘Please don’t tell anyone I’m not fae.’
His fingers find my chin and he raises my head. ‘You’re safe with us, little human,’ he rumbles.
Gods. I want to believe him. But he’s a master. Just like all the rest. My kind can’t put their faith in any of them. And yet my traitorous body leans into his touch as if it does know him, as if he and I are equals, and the hollow feeling recedes just a little.
With a small cry, I push myself back, falling into the wall.
‘I’m sorry, my lord,’ I whisper.
‘Jak?’ the huge one snarls.
‘Aye, Morgan?’
‘Wake that cunt, Locke. It’s time we had a reckoning.’
MORGAN
Bryn continuesto watch us as if we’re her enemies. She’s thin and hurt. There are bruises on her neck and face, and she looks exhausted.
‘I can’t wake him,’ Jak mutters from the bed and I give my unconscious former friend a sneer.
‘He’s covered in iron burns,’ Jak says a moment later.
‘Good,’ I snarl and the woman in front of me sinks further into the wall, flattening herself against it as if hoping it will swallow her.
‘He won’t wake tonight.’
‘Fine,’ I say, attempting to temper my tone so that Bryn isn’t so frightened.
But her eyes still dart from me to Jak as if she believes we’re going to turn on her at any moment.
‘Gods,’ I say quietly. ‘It’s as if the journey to the First Circle never even happened. You don’t remember us at all, do you, little human? He made us forget as well, you know.’
‘I don’t understand,’ she says, her eyes wild.
She dances in place a little, her eyes darting around the room. My nostrils flare as I get a scent from her that I recognize and my eyes widen. I take a step back and survey her more closely. The pupils of her eyes are huge and black. She’s panting and her cheeks are flushed.
‘Jak?’ I ask, not taking my eyes from Bryn.
‘What is it?’
‘I think we have a bit of a problem.’
Jak snorts. ‘Another? Already?’
I see him come to stand beside me in my periphery and I glance at him.
‘What now?’
‘It’s Bryn,’ I say very quietly.
