15. Maggie

Chapter 15

Maggie

O ne of the king’s staff latched onto the chain secured to my manacle and wrapped it around his palm. The challenge in his eyes dared me to run. He’d catch me, and I’d bet anything he’d hurt me. Not kill me, or I couldn’t dance for the king, but I’d be expected to perform even with bruises.

And his claws. A cut from them could fester.

My gaze met Davon’s, and I struggled to find a hint of reassurance there and send it back to him. At least the king had bought him as well. But his supplies were inside his room across the street, not with us. And I suspected our odds of escaping the king were even slimmer than getting past Wortek. He knew Davon cared for me. He must suspect we ached to find a way free.

Davon stepped closer to the king, and a wall of guards thrust themselves between him and the Veerenad ruler.

“Can I collect my things from my room across the street?” Davon asked in a reasonable tone, pretending he was in agreement with all this. We had to play their game until we got our chance. We might survive an escape if we had supplies.

I held my breath, hoping the king would agree, but he seemed more interested in me than Davon.

“I see no issue with this,” he finally said. He waved to one of his staff. “Go with him. Make sure he doesn't try to wander.” His steely gaze flicked to Davon's. “I've paid for you. You belong to me. Do not try to run.”

Davon dipped his head forward, his face a mask of compliance.

Clever.

I did the same, struggling to look passive, even excited about what the king must view as a wonderful opportunity for a lowly human dancer like me. After all, I'd only have to perform for him, not sweat for hours for a greedy crowd. A step up in this world.

As long as he was satisfied by my dancing and didn't ask for anything else. My skin peppered over with goosebumps that would not go away until we were free of this place and away from his clutches.

They took us outside, and Davon was escorted to the building across the road by one of the king's staff. Worry gnawed on my spine. Davon wouldn't do anything suspicious, but if he was gone too long . . .

“Do you have possessions, human?” the king asked me.

I was overwhelmed to think about anything but how a noose had tightened around my throat .

“Clothing,” I finally said.

“You won’t need that.” The king gestured to a large carriage waiting for us pulled by enormous, tan-colored beasts with long necks and four legs. Their hooves were split, and they had long, bushy tails. I'd never seen anything like them before, and I could hardly believe such creatures existed. “I’ll provide your clothing from now on.”

Two of the king’s staff lifted me into the carriage and shoved me down onto a bench mounted at the back of the long vehicle while the king settled on a plush seat near the front, his back facing me. His attendants joined us, sitting either on the floor or the bench beside me, casting curious looks my way.

I peered out the window, grateful to see Davon emerge from his building, bags slung over his shoulder. He hurried over to the carriage, and it shifted as he climbed up onto the top and settled.

The king waved his tail, and the large carriage lurched forward, pulling us through the bustling city. Buildings of various shapes and sizes loomed around us, their colors a mix of muted earth tones and vibrant hues, some with bright colors slashed along the sides. Veerenads strode around us, some pausing to watch the carriage pass, others ignoring it altogether.

As we progressed toward the southern end of the city, we passed through an inner two-story wall fortified with Veerenad guards. Their sharp gazes followed our passage, their tails flicking back and forth.

We continued, the carriage rolling over a well-maintained cobblestone road. I stared out the window at long stretches of lavender lawn peppered with gardens on either side of us. Perfume from strange flowers hung in the air, their colors shifting in the sunlight filtering through the canopy of the equally purple trees.

A three-story box structure made of sleek, white stone veined with shimmering silver had been built to nestle into the trees and gardens ahead. The king’s residence? Though alien like everything else around me, it still looked like a palace. It was an imposing sight, a symbol of his power and wealth.

No one spoke during the journey. The long silence was broken only by the rhythmic clop of the beasts' hooves and the distant hum of the city. At last, the carriage stopped in front of the double-doored entrance of the building. The king got out, his tail flicking rapidly as he gestured for his staff to bring me inside.

A glance back showed Davon climbing off the top of the carriage, his gaze fixed on me. I saw reassurance there, though I’d bet anything he didn’t feel it inside.

One of the king’s staff grabbed his arm and urged him around the right side of the building. I wanted to go with him, but I would do nothing to endanger him. We had to bide our time until we found our chance to escape.

I followed the king, stepping through the front door and into an enormous foyer. It was a breathtaking sight, made up of stone floors inlaid with intricate patterns that seemed to swirl and dance in the light, plus glittering chandeliers hanging from the high ceiling. They cast a warm, golden glow over the space. Artwork hung on the walls with scenes of Veerenad battles, possible diplomatic meetings if the long desks with stern-faced lizards sitting on either side were anything to go by, and fancy celebrations.

“Take her to the green room.” Turning, the king's lips peeled back on his snout to reveal his sharp teeth, his sneer taking in my form. “See that she has better garments. I don't want her performing for me or my guests dressed like this.” He grunted and lifted my chin with the tip of his tail, the sharp end poking. His sharp gaze met mine. “As for the male I also purchased, he will serve as your bodyguard and nothing else. If he's caught with you in any other capacity, I'll kill him.” I got it. Guarding. No touching.

“Alright,” I croaked.

With a pivot, he stalked into a room on the right side of the foyer, his tail a whip behind him.

One of the staff yanked on my chain, taking me to a room on this level, a small space with green walls and a bed large enough for two Veerenads. A tiny bathroom had been tucked off the right side. The guards left, locking the door behind them.

Now, all I could do was wait, trying to make sense of the new situation I'd been thrust into. As I sat on the edge of the bed, my heart pounded from worry for Davon. The memory of his lips on mine filled me with a mix of fear and longing, messing with my already tangled emotions.

The distant hum of the city filtered through the barred window along with the soft rustle of wind through the trees. Under any other circumstances, this might not be bad. The king hadn’t indicated he wanted me in any way other than to dance, and I doubted he’d expect me to perform from dusk until dawn. He also hadn’t suggested I’d do anything else.

But I was as trapped here as I'd been in my room below the bar. I closed my eyes, trying to calm my whirling thoughts, but I wouldn't relax until I saw Davon.

A while later, someone opened the door.

They thrust Davon inside.

He stopped, remaining in place, waiting until they’d locked the door again before turning toward me.

“You’re alright?” he whispered, lowering two sturdy packs onto the floor near the wall.

“They didn’t hurt me.”

“Good.” He scanned the room, noting the solitary window with bars. Striding over to it, he tested it, yanking on the bars, but they didn’t grate or make a sound, telling me they were sturdy enough to keep us penned in. Even if we could make it outside, we’d still have the guarded wall to get past.

“The king made it clear that you’re only my bodyguard, that he’ll kill you if you touch me in any other way,” I said.

“Then we’ll keep our distance.”

I nodded, sliding off the bed. “What’s the new plan?”

His eyes gleamed, and I tried to read hope there, but it was hard. This situation might provide an easier job for me, but in many ways, it felt worse than the last. At least at the bar, he could sneak in and help me, talk to me, help keep my spirits from flagging. “I’m working on it. I studied the place as we arrived, and I’ll find a way.”

I rushed to him and gave him a quick hug, not daring to touch him more than that before backing away. I doubted they had cameras inside my room, but we didn’t know who might find a way to watch. We’d be unwise to ignore the king’s warning.

The door opened again and a slender Veerenad with bright pink hair hanging to their shoulders stepped in, holding a folded pile of clothing. A female? Perhaps.

“I’m Oolah,” she said in a lilting voice. “Welcome to the king’s palace. You’ll dance. Dance some more. And you’ll do whatever else you’re asked.” Another warning I’d take heed of. She laid the pile of clothing on my bed. “I was told you don’t have a tail.” A sneer came through in her voice. “I closed the back holes in these, but it’ll take time to gather new outfits for you.” Her assessing gaze traveled down my frame. “You’re much too small. A youngling?”

I wasn’t going to tell her I was fully grown. Let her think I was a child, and she might slip up and give me a way out of this trap.

Nodding, I smiled. Tried to, that is. Exhaustion kept trying to bowl me over. I needed to sleep, or I was going to collapse.

“Do you require food?” she asked, striding back to the door, totally ignoring Davon. But he was my guard. She probably didn’t acknowledge the king’s either .

“No, thank you,” I said.

Finally, she looked Davon’s way. “Why aren’t you out in the hall? Your job is to make sure this odd female doesn’t escape.”

Not without him.

“They locked him inside with me,” I said with a shrug. “Take him with you when you go, please.” Let her think I didn’t even know who he was.

“As you request.” Davon dipped forward, giving her a bow.

Satisfaction gleamed in Oolah’s eyes. He might be one of the first to show her deference, and she appeared to like it. We could work with this too.

“I appreciate all you’ve done for me,” I told her, adding to Davon’s gesture. “Thank you very much.”

With a grunt and a sneer, she opened the door, waving for Davon to leave the room. Once they’d stepped out into the hall, she closed and locked the panel behind her.

I used the odd bathroom, a struggle since I was so short, and the toilet had been mounted high. And it had no seat. How did Veerenads pee? I wasn’t going to ask.

Then I dropped onto the bed and slept.