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My shoulders rise a fraction of an inch in reply. I wouldn’t put it past him.
He laughs, raising his glass to his mouth and knocking it back in one long gulp, smacking his lips at the taste. “There. Now drink.”
I lower my gaze, my eyes dropping to the glass and the scented liquid that makes my stomach grumble as much as my mouth water. Lifting it to my lips like an offering, I take a sip, forcing myself not to swallow it down in one long gulp. The liquid is sweet, with notes of honey and spice, and a hint of tartness that invigorates the palate. I want to savour it because who knows when I’ll be offered such a thirst quenching drink again.
“Your reward for the work you have done so far,” he says, resting his inked fingers on his tattooed thighs, watching me as I drink.
My eyes graze over his flaccid cock, flicking away quickly. He laughs darkly.
“If I hadn’t already fucked, I’d be tempted,” he says, grasping his dick and giving it a tug. “But a night under the influence of your drug has already satisfied my desires.”
My nostrils flare at the threat, but that’s the only outward sign that his intimidation has affected me. If he tries to touch me, I’ll deny making him any more diamonds, and if he persists, a broken piece of glass should be enough to sever his slug-like cock.
Of course, there’s no guarantee such an act would kill him, and it would most definitely condemn me to death, but at least I’d die knowing I’ve made the king of the Skulls a eunuch. He deserves no less.
My thoughts are disturbed by a pitiful moan coming from beyond the heavy draped curtains enclosing his bed. The sound sets my teeth on edge, and goosebumps scatter across my skin.
“That’s why I brought you here,” Soren says, shifting forward in his seat, his green eyes flashing.
“My bitch is sick, and I hear you’re a healer as much as a witch capable of making mind-altering drugs.”
Scowling, I meet his gaze. “Thewomanwho accompanies you everywhere you go?” I ask, my silence broken by my need to helpher, not him.
“Yes.”
“And you want me to help her?”
“My unborn child is the only reason you are here and she’s not carrion for the vultures. Don’t mistake my request as anything other than keeping that bitch alive until my son is born. After that, I’ll have no use for her.”
A spike of rage jabs my stomach, but I swallow every word of anger I want to say and replace it with something else. “Then I’d better examine her.”
He nods, getting to his feet. I place my glass back on the table and follow him to the bed, debating whether I should take this opportunity alone with him to end his life, or at least try to. With a shake of my head, I flick that thought away. I might be feeling brave, but I’m not foolish. Besides, whether he realises it or not, Soren has changed my need for revenge to my need to heal the sick. I will do nothing to prevent myself from helping this woman.
Drawing back the curtains, the faintly stale air of sex, dried blood and alcohol assails my nostrils. On the bed lies his slave, curled up into a foetal position. She shivers despite the sweat glistening on her skin, which is covered in a patchwork of fresh bruises and old scars.
Bile burns my throat at her injuries and the pain she’s had to endure to survive such abuse, but I force myself to cut off my deepest emotions, allowing only my natural instincts and knowledge to seep to the surface.
“She’s been like this since the early hours of this morning,” Soren says, without an ounce of empathy in his voice. If anything, he’s annoyed.
Kneeling on the mattress, I move closer towards her, gingerly touching her shoulder. Her eyes fly open and she wails, a sound so heart-wrenching my own stutters inside my chest. I’ve barely touched her, but she’s reacting as if I’ve taken a hammer to her body.
“My God, what have you done to her?” I seethe, unable to help myself.
The anger in my voice is unmistakable, and Soren narrows his eyes on me.
“Can you help her or not?” He retorts coldly.
My mind races as I look at the broken figure before me. She needs more than just a healer; she needs a haven where she can be away from the man who did this to her—but that is not something I can provide right now. Taking a deep breath, I turn towards Soren and answer calmly, “Only if I’m given the time to examine her properly and provided with everything I need to help her. This won’t be a quick fix.”
Soren stares at me for a long moment before giving a curt nod. “The first batch of diamonds has already been sold and will be collected by our buyers. I want her fit for our celebration night in a few days. You have that time to get her fit,” he says.
“A few days?” I ask incredulously. “That’s barely enough time to do anything useful. I am a healer, not a miracle worker.”
“She was never fully alive at the best of times. Just get her back to her usual state of apathy,” he says coldly, glancing at the woman as she groans, delirious from pain.
Apathy? A scream of rage rises up my throat and I have to forcefully swallow it down.
“If you want to save the life of this woman and your unborn child, I urge you to reconsider. She needs time.”
