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It can happen again. The only reason Dusk waited to come after me was that he was afraid of Veron. Dusk warned off the other guards. If he was being rushed to a healer, he won’t be around to do that again—and what happens if he comes back?
Shit.
What happens now?
It all comes down to being an unclaimed human. So long as the fae look at me like a prize to be won or something rare and unique they can own, I’ll always have to look over my shoulder and be wary. Just because Veron finally gave up on me, that just means I have a prison full of fae to look out for. Something tells me that Dusk was only the first.
What if he was the last?
What… what if someone touched me?
This isn’t the first time I’ve had that thought. When I was staying in the cell opposite of Posey’s, I wondered just how terrible it would be to invite one of the kinder guards into my cell. Saxon, perhaps, or Kyr. Definitely not Dusk, but someone who would take just enough and then leave me the hell alone.
I couldn’t bring myself to do it, though. I’m not naive. Especially so close to the succubus, one thing would definitely lead to another. It wouldn’t just be a touch. It would be more than that—and I just couldn’t do it.
I just never found one of the fae that I was willing to give all that power to while also opening myself up to them.
Until now.
Rys.
Rys is perfect.
He’s been good to me. He’s never made a move. It might just be possible that I could offer him a touch in exchange for him to keep wa
tching out for me. Add it to our own little bargain. He’s not into me like that. I wouldn’t have to worry about him taking it too far.
And if he did?
I’ve been lonely for so long. He’s my cellmate. If I’m going to be stuck in Siúcra for the rest of my life, it wouldn’t be so terrible to make him something more.
That’s even assuming I’m going to survive the prison after this...
I need a protector. I need someone I can trust.
I need him.
9
“Leannán? You’ve been quiet for too long. That’s not like you. Everything is going to be alright. The shadows are cold, but they won’t harm you. You’ll be safe with me.”
The shadows won’t harm me because I’m a human. Because this is a punishment for a Seelie.
And I haven’t even checked on him yet.
“I... I’m okay.” I think. “What about you?”
“I’m used to it.”
I start to laugh, a hollow sound that is quickly cut off when my teeth chatter again. The click-ing of tooth against tooth is impossible to control without risking my tongue. I’m scared and confused and, damn it, it really is fucking cold down here. The shock is still tearing through me, making me second-guess if my brain is working right since all I want to do is throw myself at him.
He edges closer to me. I can’t see him move, but I can sense it.
“I feel the chill coming off of you. You need more heat.”
I need something alright.
It’s hard to make out what he’s doing since it’s so dark. My eyes have adjusted a little, but he’s one, big shadow shifting in the black space in front of me.
