by Linsey Hall
“Bree!” Cade’s voice came through the smoke.
I looked up. He limped through the dark fog, his arm wrapped around his chest. Broken ribs from the Grallag? My own hurt like the devil, too.
He knelt by my side. “Are you all right?”
“Yeah.” I gasped, pain streaking through me. “Just a sprained ankle. Broken maybe.”
“Rise!” The Ring Master’s voice rang through the air.
The smoke had dissipated mostly, and I squinted through it, finally catching sight of his white cloak.
Cade reached down and hauled me to my feet.
I stood and doubled over with pain. “I really hope that was the last challenge.”
“It was a close one.” He gave me a knowing look, but didn’t mention my new power.
“You are both victorious,” the Ring Master shouted. He sounded a bit peeved, actually. “Go now!”
I didn’t need to be told twice.
We both limped toward the exit. Cade kept me upright, but my ankle ached with every step. He made a move to pick me up.
“Don’t even think about it,” I muttered.
He grinned.
“But thanks.” I just had to look strong. No way I’d get carried out of here.
I was sweating with pain by the time we reached the corral of fighters. Cade was pale, too.
“Internal injuries?” I murmured.
“I think so.”
The trainer opened the gate, his gaze running up and down our bodies. “Go toward the left. The guard will take you to the healer.”
“Then breakfast?” I’d already gotten my bath, but I didn’t want to miss food.
“Yes.”
“Good.”
We limped toward the corral exit, where a burly man glowered at us before leading us toward the roundhouse with the healer. I’d prefer to heal myself, but didn’t want to let that power slip.
“In here.” The guard pushed open the door.
We entered a round, smoky room that smelled like sickness and death.
“Ew,” I muttered.
“On the bench,” the guard growled.
We took the nearest bench. A figure with a crazy nest of long gray hair and a stained robe worked in the corner, stirring a bubbling cauldron of something that smelled like old garbage and gasoline.
“Thank fates this isn’t the breakfast stop,” I said.
Cade chuckled.
“I’ll be with you in a moment!” The healer cackled.
My gaze darted around, taking in the bloody tools and bowls and a tank full of worms.
I swallowed hard and leaned toward Cade. “I don’t think we want this woman to heal us.”
“Agreed.”
I glanced toward the door where the guard had stood, but he’d stepped outside and closed it behind him. I couldn’t blame him.
Yeah, whatever this healer wanted to do to us, I wanted no part of it.
“Heal yourself,” I murmured.
Quickly, we went to work, using our magic to heal our wounds. Relief flowed through me as the pain faded, but exhaustion came on its heels.
I was nearly out of magic. Frighteningly so.
I’d need to recover.
We sat for ages as she stirred the cauldron. I wanted to leave, but we needed to pretend she’d helped us, or they’d figure out we had healing powers.
At least an hour passed before she turned, her dirty hair like a helmet around her head. She approached, and I realized that she wasn’t the gray-haired old hag that I’d thought.
Nope.
She was just freaking filthy.
Her hair was actually blond, but it was coated in dust and ash. Dirt coated her face, and her eyes glittered with malice. Her magic stank of rotten garbage.
“What ails you?” she croaked.
A rat climbed out of her nest of hair, perching on her head like a silent sentinel, watching me with shining dark eyes. My gaze darted to him.
“Don’t mind Boris.” She pointed to her head. “He’s my assistant. Very talented.”
Boris hissed at me.
I looked away. Clearly that rat did not like eye contact.
But at least his hygiene was better than the healer’s.
“Well, what’s wrong with you?” she demanded.
Boris hissed again, seemingly for emphasis.
“Is that all he does?” I asked.
“It’s very helpful.”
Boris shot me the hairy eyeball.
“All right, all right, Boris.” I held up my hands. “You’re the foundation of this operation.”
“I wouldn’t go that far,” the healer said.
But Boris preened, looking quite pleased. All right, the way to that rat’s heart was through flattery. I had no problem flattering a rat if it got me what I wanted.
And right now, I wanted to be out of here.
I stood, holding out my arms. “Looks like I’m good as new. No more pain.” I saluted the rat. “Thanks, Boris.”
Cade stood as well. “I’m also fine.” He nodded to Boris. “Thank you, sir, for healing us.”
The rat bowed his head, whiskers twitching.
The witch healer sputtered. “But…but…!”
I hopped up and down. “See, no pain! So we’ll be going now.”
I turned, the image of Boris and the healer burned into my mind, and stepped outside. Cade followed.
I heard the woman sputtering behind me, and Boris squeaking.
“This way.” The surly guard led us to the next roundhouse, which was absolutely massive.
“Is this breakfast?” I asked.
He just grunted, and pushed open the door. Cade entered first, and I followed. Though it was dimly lit, there was enough light to make out the long tables crowded with people. The scent of roasted meat made my mouth water.
“Finally.”
“Hey!” a feminine voice shouted.
My gaze darted over.
Maira sat at a table, waving at us. She grinned wide, a black eye blooming in virulent shades of purple and blue.
“It looks like we have a friend,” Cade said.
“Good. I’d hate to be the kid who sits alone at the lunch table.”
“This isn’t quite high school.”
“No, that would be worse.” At least from what I’d seen in the movies. Ana and I had been driving missions across Death Valley when we should have been in high school.
I hurried toward Maira, pleased when no one stopped me. It was nice to have freedom of movement, even if it was in this one building.
There were two spots on the bench across from Maira. On either side of her sat burly men who were plowing into hunks of meat. Their braids were dirty and ragged, but their teeth were strong as they went at the meat like wolves.
“You made it!” Maira said. “They’ve been telling me about how you both made it through your challenge. Really angered the Ring Master, I heard.”
“We did.” I looked around. “But how did you get here? Last I saw, you were still in the captive’s house.”
“We’re still captives, technically,” the man next to her grunted.
“True.” I reached for the large platter of meat and grabbed a piece. Cade was already digging in.
“I was called right after you,” Maira said. “I fought the fight after yours. But it was quick, and I didn’t have to go to the healer. I’ve heard she makes you wait ages.”
“Sadistic bitch,” the other man growled, meat juice glistening on his lips.
I looked away, grossed out, and took a bite of my own meat. I had no idea what it was, but it was tasty. In the corner, a flash of ghostly blue caught my eye. I turned, catching sight of Mayhem stealing a hunk of meat from a table.
No one seemed to notice her, but I grinned, pleased she was here. Lying low, but not so low she wouldn’t steal a snack.
“I’m glad you made it out all right,” I said.
“I knew I would.” She held up the meat in her hand. “This isn’t
quite the feast I’d hoped for, but it will do. I’m just glad you two survived. They wanted to pit you against each other. Hard for two people to live through a fight to the death.”
“True,” Cade said.
I tore into the meat, realizing that it wasn’t as good as I’d thought. I ate anyway, needing my strength.
“What happens now?” I asked.
“We get shown to our quarters,” Maira said. “Depending on how well you did, you might get a better place to sleep. Then we fight tomorrow.”
“Will Cocidius watch those fights?” I asked.
“Probably,” she said. “He likes the big ones.”
“Only goes to the best.” The man at her left held out his hand. “I’m Aodh.”
I shook his hand. “Hi, Aodh.”
The other guy ignored us, so I ignored him.
“Is Cocidius here?”
“What are you, a god fucker?” Aodh asked.
Cade growled. I put a hand on his leg. He shut up, but didn’t look happy about it.
“Not usually, no,” I said. “But I can’t help but be interested. Never saw a real god before.”
“He’s a bastard,” Aodh muttered.
“Yeah, well, he threw me in a ring and made me fight a giant octopus made of black magic, so I can’t help but agree.”
Cade chuckled.
“He returned to camp a while ago,” Maira said. “With some woman. Then they left. Went hunting or something.”
Rowan. I’d felt her. Then her presence had disappeared.
“I heard they’ll be back tomorrow,” Aodh said. “For the fight.”
Good. I wanted to ask more—like where he stayed when he was here and all that—but I didn’t trust Aodh not to reveal my interest to the wrong person. And definitely not the silent guy on the other side of Maira.
So I zipped my lip and kept eating.
5
After the meal, guards led Cade and me to a small roundhouse toward the edge of the village. Another guard stood at the door, but he stepped back to let us enter.
Inside, there was a warm fire and a pile of furs on a straw mattress, along with some clean clothes.
I turned back to the guard who’d escorted us. “It’s just us in here.”
He nodded. “Korg will guard the door. Do not try to leave.”
I held up my hands. “You don’t have to worry about that.”
He nodded, his gaze suspicious, and turned to leave.
I glanced at Cade. “I guess any time someone says not to worry about something, that’s what you immediately start worrying about.”
“Aye.” Cade walked to the door, flipping a small wooden lock. It wouldn’t keep people out if they really wanted to get in. One swift kick would do it. But it afforded a tiny bit of privacy.
I dropped the glamour that kept our true natures hidden.
Cade turned back to me, finally showing his real face.
It looked so much better.
“Why’d they give us such a good place?” I asked.
“I’d bet it’s because hierarchies amongst prisoners sows discontent. We’re less likely to join up and revolt if there is infighting. Especially if the strongest ones, the leaders, are separated from the masses.”
“Smart.” I sat on the mattress near the fire, warming my hands.
“Cocidius is nothing if he’s not smart. He’s risen a long way as a minor god.”
“Minor god, major asshole.”
While he paced around the small room, searching the walls for weakness, I stripped off most of my clothes, leaving myself in nothing but a bra and underwear. Quickly, I slipped under the blankets.
“Mind if I join you?” Cade asked.
It was the only bed in the room, so I raised the blanket. “I’d be delighted.”
His gaze dropped, and I realized that he could see my bare stomach. Heat flushed through me.
I’d been so preoccupied with the danger of this that I hadn’t realized what this was.
We were in a room, alone.
I was almost naked.
Now was not the time.
Not that it kept me from wanting him.
Heat raced through me as he stripped off his shirt. His skin gleamed in the firelight, the curves of his muscles highlighted by the flame. He was built like a god. Literally.
Cade toed off his boots and socks, then hooked his thumbs in his jeans. “Mind if I take these off? I’ve got underwear on.”
I swallowed hard. “Not at all.” I winced at the squeak in my voice.
Smooth, Bree. Real smooth.
He pushed his jeans down, revealing black boxer briefs and strongly muscled thighs.
Liquid heat raced through me.
He climbed into the bed next to me, his presence immediately warming me to my bones. I turned toward him, my gaze traveling from his heavily muscled chest up to his eyes. He watched me with enough intensity to make my blood warm.
“Hey.” His voice was rough.
“Hey.” Tension thrummed in the air between us, a living thing. It crackled and pulsed. Every breath that he took raised his chest, and I felt like I could feel it against my own despite the inches that separated us.
I itched to roll closer to him—to press my body to his and feel every inch of his strength. My mind raced with images of us together, making me shiver.
Unable to help myself, I leaned toward him, pressing a kiss to his lips.
Pleasure burst through me.
His big hands came up to grip my waist. They were warm and strong. I moved toward him. He pulled me closer until my chest pressed firmly against his.
The rich scent of him made my head swim. The smoothness of his skin cloaking the strength of his muscles was a drug.
“We should take it slow,” he murmured against my lips. “Not lose our heads.”
“I think I’ve already lost mine.”
“Just a kiss.”
“A few kisses.” I pressed my lips to his. “Maybe a bit more.”
He groaned and pressed a kiss to my lips, and I fell into it, losing whatever sanity I had left.
The next morning, we woke before the guards came. We hadn’t had sex last night—like Cade had said, now was not the time to lose our heads. The mission was too important.
And I really didn’t want our first time to be interrupted by a surly guard who wanted to throw me into a fight ring. But we’d kept ourselves entertained, and memories of last night made heat rise inside me as I dressed.
Cade finished stoking the fire and turned. He’d redressed in his old clothes, as I had, ignoring the ones laid out for us. Our clothes might be dirty, but it felt better to wear our own stuff.
I met his gaze, then blushed.
Then I felt embarrassed, because I should be worldly enough not to blush.
Ah well, whatever.
He joined me on the low wooden bench by the fire. “So, what’s our plan when we get out of here?”
“You’re asking me?”
He shrugged. “I have some ideas, but this is your sister we’re talking about. You get priority.”
“Thanks.” I leaned toward the flame and stared into it. “Mostly, we’ll have to play it by ear. If we can find Maira and get some info, great. Ideally, we’d figure out where Rowan sleeps and steal her from there when it’s quiet. Then we’ll get her out of here using the heavenly transport charm. But before we leave for good, we help free the slaves.”
“You get Rowan out of here. I’ll lead the revolt.”
I hesitated, wanting to stay behind to fight.
But Rowan. I had to put her first. I nodded. “And hopefully Mayhem will show up to help.”
“I have no doubt that when you need her, she’ll appear.”
A loud banging sounded at the door.
My heart leapt into my chest, and I called upon Loki’s magic, giving Cade and me the familiar glamour that was our disguise here.
The door crashed open, splintering the tiny lock.
Yep.
I was super glad we hadn’t had sex last night. Having this burly dude bust in on us would put me off the stuff for good.
He scowled down at us, his squished face looking like he’d taken too many rocks to the mug. “Time to fight.”
I stood, brushing my hands off on my pants. “Lead on.”
We followed him out the door. As soon as I stepped outside, he grabbed my arm, gripping tightly. I wanted to tell him not to worry about it—I wasn’t running until I got what I came for—but that wasn’t a great idea. The guard grabbed Cade’s arm as well.
Cade looked down at his hand balefully, then back up at the guard. He sighed lightly, then nodded.
It was like a little old lady with a giant Great Dane pulling it on a leash. The only reason the old lady didn’t go flying down the street was because the Great Dane didn’t mind wearing the leash.
As the guard dragged us through the settlement, I took in as much as I could. There were still slaves wearing the collars, and they seemed to have free roam, within reason. None of the ring fighters were like us, though. They must’ve been kept on lockdown. But soldiers were everywhere.
These guys would be a problem when it came time to escape. But Cade could handle it.
The guard shoved us toward the waiting corral where I’d met the trainer yesterday. He didn’t turn to look at us today, just hiked a thumb over his shoulder toward the benches at the back. The guard pushed us toward them, letting go of our arms.
I caught sight of Maira on the bench and grinned. Perfect. Just what I’d hoped for.
I snagged a seat next to her—the only one—while Cade leaned against the back wall of the enclosure, arms crossed over his chest and eyes scanning the guards who wore armor and swords. There were at least ten of them in the waiting ring.
I leaned toward Maira, who grinned at me, and whispered, “How’s it going?”
“Fine. I hear I’m going up against some ghouls.”
I shuddered. “Don’t let them scratch you.”
She nodded. “Last thing I want is to turn into a ghoul.”
“So what’s the deal here? Why do some of the prisoners wear collars, and others don’t?” The collars were going to be an issue, I could tell.
Her gaze darted around, checking to make sure no one watched us, and she leaned toward me slightly to whisper, trying to look casual. “Servant slaves wear the collars. Gives them free roam to do their jobs, but the magic prevents them from straying away from camp.”
