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“I’m going to go check on him,” I said.
“He’ll be fine,” Traes said. “Stay here and vegetate with me and celebrate the end of another forced social party.”
I set the teacup to one side.
“I really should check on him,” I said.
“Do you need company?” Traes said, not moving a single muscle to get out of the chair.
“Would you help if I asked?” I said.
He chuckled and waved his hand.
“See you soon,” he said.
I carried my heels in two crooked fingers as I ascended the stairs. I’d become well accustomed to the layout of the house by now. I turned a corner without needing to think but still needed to count down the number of bedroom doors before I came to a stop outside Cleb’s room.
I was about to knock, then thought better of it. I didn’t want to wake him if he was already sleeping soundly.
I pressed my ear to the door to see if I could hear him breathing. Unlikely, I thought, with the door as thick as it was. I press my hand to the handle and began to ease it down.
That’s when I heard a muffling sound.
Was he having a nightmare? Was he dreaming about what happened today?
I felt terrible. The least I could do was calm him while he suffered the nightmares I’d unleashed upon him.
I opened the door slowly to ensure there was no unnecessary squeak that might disturb him.
I squinted against a blinding light that flashed in my face. I blocked it with a hand and stepped to one side. Now I was cloaked in semi-darkness, I noticed a lamp had fallen off its side table and landed on the floor. What should have been soft yellow light dampened by its lampshade was harsh light glaring out the top of the lampshade.
My eyes adjusted and immediately snapped in the direction of the figure lit by a silhouette of light.
My blood froze in my veins.
Within the nightmarish glow stood the figure of Asshole. He had Cleb clutched in his arms, a hand wrapped firmly over his muffling mouth.
If he wanted to, he could snap his neck with a single jolt of his arm, or any number of other awful things.
“No!” I said. “Please! Don’t hurt him!”
I raised my hands in supplication.
“Shut the door,” Asshole said.
I did as he said. I couldn’t take the risk of Cleb getting hurt.
“It’s me you want,” I said. “Leave him out of this—”
“Now listen to me, girly,” Asshole said. “You gave me the slip once already. It won’t happen again. Not if you want to keep your little lord in one piece. You’re both coming with me.”
6
TRAES
My muscles relaxed and my body unfurled, melting into the sofa’s soft upholstery. I was pleased with how the evening had gone. I had learned there was still great interest in mining. Managing to confirm interest from two of the wealthiest Titans in the empire meant the new mine was as good as built. All it took now was time.
But that wasn’t all I learned.
