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My mind, fear-stricken and panicked, spiraled into chaos.
I’m already exhausted. How will I be able to create a portal to get out of here? I don’t have another plan, and if I get caught, I’m dead. I’m worse than dead.
I closed my eyes for a moment, took a few calming breaths and tried to rid my mind of the fear threatening to overtake my senses. With a shaky exhale, I pushed away all the pain and negative emotion away so I could think logically.
I don’t know how long I sat there staring at him through the gap between the boxes. I stupidly hadn’t thought to change into proper clothing before this adventure began, and so I sat trying not to let my teeth chatter as the cold seeped under my skin and my bum went numb.
It was clear he was frustrated with his current situation—I tried not to feel smug about that—but he was clean and secure in this warehouse. Which had to mean someone was helping him. Willing or not.
Who is helping him? What is he doing here? What’s his plan?
And why doesn’t he look old and weak like Sigurd does?
I waited impatiently for something to happen, for this to be a worthwhile venture. Something Nisha needed me to see. I thought I was a rather patient person, but I found myself getting more irritated with each frustrated breath he huffed.
“Fafnir?” a feminine voice called in a whisper.
Footsteps echoed across the warehouse, and I suddenly warmed as my heartbeat increased. As Fafnir turned around, I scuttled onto the bottom shelf so I was covered from all sides by boxes.
“Where have you been?” he growled.
Hearing his voice, especially his angry voice, immediately had my mind time traveling to my past. As the reminder of my suffering coursed through my body, I quaked and not from the cold.
I will have so much fun breaking you in.
You are mine to use, jewel. In any way I please. You need to resign yourself to that fate now. It will hurt less.
I’ll have to teach you how to respect your husband first.
I covered my mouth to stop a whimper from escaping, my eyes clouding with tears. All the emotions I felt in those moments were brought back, and I felt sick.
I shouldn’t be here. Baelen was right. I should have stayed far away from the dragon.
“My lord?” Her voice brought me back from the fringes of panic as the sound caught my interest. It was familiar.
She stepped into view, tentatively walking around the huge metal shelf and into the aisle in which Fafnir paced. I choked on a gasp at the sight of a short woman with short brown hair. A woman who pretended to love my witch and ultimately betrayed and killed her with a blade across her throat.
Mary.
Mary, who killed Winnie. Mary, who almost killed me too. My blood boiled, and my eyes narrowed in furious focus.
This is what I needed to know. Mary was working with Fafnir.
But why? She called him lord. Is it a cult thing? Was Winnie’s murder related to this, or was she just cutting ties before fulfilling this duty?
She carried a pile of clothes with a book placed on top, and her expression was one I hadn’t seen on her before. Fear.
“I’m sorry, my lord. There are police everywhere tonight. I had to avoid them to ensure we weren’t followed.” Her voice quivered as she handed him the clothes.
Thankfully, he immediately began pulling the trousers on, so I no longer had to avoid looking below his waist. “I don’t want your excuses. Has my legacy been so diminished that you’ve forgotten the penalty for disappointing me?”
“No, my lord. I’m sorry.” She hugged the book to her body like a shield.
Now fully dressed, he gave her a look of pure contempt with his black soulless eyes and curled lip. “You are safe for now, while I acclimatize to this new world. Prove your worth, or I’ll kill you the second I have more of my followers and descendants to assist me.”
She licked her lips, a crazed gleam in her eye as she said, “All I have wanted to do my entire life is serve you, my lord. I promise to do better.”
He huffed his disbelief but said, “I’m low on power and hungry for more. I need witches. If you don’t want to die the most painful death, I suggest you bring me some.”
