Page 17

I follow the paths of the rope, find them trapped beneath the truck’s tire, and careful not to rattle the metal and make too much noise, I jerk the binds in a laughable attempt to snap the far too thick rope.

“It’s the Virgin who survived?” The woman’s voice is white noise against the rage-spiked blood pulsing in my ear.

“Yes. Had to put the whore down. Got bit.”

“And you’re certain she’s a virgin.”

“Priest didn’t even get his dick in her.”

“All right, then. I’ll consider the full trade. But I want to see her first.”

No. No, no, no. I try to saw through the rope with the chain, but it’s no use. The truck dips as Sam hops onto the bed of it behind me, and I kick out at him on all fours.

“You lying piece of shit!” With one swift, backward kick, I manage to hit him square in his nose, and he stumbles back on a curse.

“You’re lucky you’re worth more than an ass beating right now.”

“Fuck you.” I reattempt the same maneuver, but he dodges my kick and leaps onto my back, knocking the wind out of me. “Let me go! Let me fucking go!”

“Listen to me!” His arms wrap tight around me. “I don’t want to do this, but I have to. We need weapons. And supplies.”

“I don’t give a damn what you need, you piece of shit!”

“Madame Beaumont isn’t bad. Better than the convent you wanted me to take you to.”

“Madame? She runs a fucking brothel!” I squirm and kick, using the bed of the truck for leverage. Hot metal scrapes over my knees, mocking my effort with a cold sting of pain.

“You’re too valuable as a virgin. She isn’t going to whore you out.”

“What the hell ... else … does she want with me?” My words, broken by struggle, fail to convey the absolute fury blazing inside of me.

“She’ll probably keep you as her personal servant.”

“Or sell me … to some disgusting pig ... who has a thing for virgins! Asshole!”

“Look at her. Does she look like she needs anything? You’ll be well fed. Well cared for. Better than the nuns, who’ll keep you locked away in some convent. I could’ve sold you off to marauders, but I’m trying to do the Christian thing here.”

“Christian thing? What the hell church did you go to?” I spit back, still wriggling to get loose.

“One more merciful than yours, apparently.”

“This is why … you didn’t ask … my name.”

“What?”

Realizing my fight is futile, I still beneath him. “Back at the cave. I found it odd that you introduced yourself, but didn’t bother to ask my name. I figured you didn’t want to know, for some reason. But you already knew, didn’t you?”

“Yes.”

“Who is your contact at Szolen?”

“I’m not telling you that.”

“Why? So you can keep the business of selling women? Tell me!”

“Doesn’t matter. She’s dead.”

Dead? “Who? Who’s dead?” I turn my head to the side, unable to see his face from this angle.