Fear of Fire and Shadow (The Fade #1) - Samantha Young Page 0,34
that the clan would have a mage among them, considering there were so few left.
“Yes. The healer took the effects of the drugs away so we would wake up. I was then informed of who they are and what they want with us.”
Feeling guilty, I exhaled. “What do they want with us?”
He snorted humorlessly. “They find themselves fortunate enough to have in their hands the Handmaiden of Phaedra and the captain of the Royal Guard. We’re bargaining chips, my lady. They’re going to hold us for ransom—they want land from Markiza Raven.”
I scoffed. “Are they idiots? Even if they managed some temporary agreement with Novia, once we’re free we’ll just send in the entire Guard to arrest them for what they’ve done.”
Wolfe shook his head. “Not if they refuse to free us but merely guarantee our safety while we’re imprisoned. They know how much the princezna cares about you.”
An awful understanding dawned. “They mean to keep us here indefinitely?”
“That would be my guess.” He nodded. “They’ll promise to look after us, keep us alive. But they won’t hand us over until they’re certain of their position. If ever.”
Acid curdled in my stomach and I dragged myself along the floor so I could lean my head against the wall. The tight, fearful knot that had begun to grow within me since we learned of the increasing crime in Phaedra was suddenly nauseating. “This is because of Haydyn … isn’t it? Because her power is waning?”
Wolfe sighed and followed my lead, leaning back against the wall, his light eyes hard as flint. I looked away, unnerved by the focused, ruthless expression. “Yes. It is,” he replied finally.
“We have to get out of here.” I jumped up to rush at the cellar door. My legs were wobbly with disuse but I pushed through the sensation.
“Rogan …”
I pulled at the door but it was useless. Ignoring the prick of tears, I peered through the bars. There was nothing there to see. Just a narrow, dark staircase leading upward into the house. I whirled around, my focus on the window. I ran at it but couldn’t reach it. I twisted around to glare at Wolfe. “Can you get your ass up for a minute to see if these bars will shift?”
He pinned me to the wall with a disgusted look. “I’m the captain of the Royal Guard, Rogan, not an idiot. I tried the window and the door as soon as they left us in this damn cellar.”
I deflated but refused to show my fear. “Well, we have to do something.”
“The only chance we have of escape is if they let us out of the room.”
Reluctantly hearing the wisdom in his statement, I nodded and returned to my spot against the wall. I slumped to the ground. It was then I became aware of how much I needed a bath. I wrinkled my nose in disgust.
Wolfe grunted and muttered a curse under his breath.
“If you’ve got something to say, say it,” I huffed.
“Oh, it’s nothing.” His words were laced with heavy sarcasm. “Just relaxing, you know, thanking my fortunate stars for being the one who was put in charge of protecting you.”
“No one asked you to protect me. To follow me!”
“I’m the princezna’s captain, Lady Rogan, and you are the most important person in her life. Not to mention the last of the Azyl and the only bloody person who knows where the Somna plant is. It’s my job to protect you. And you make it very difficult.”
“I went for a walk!”
“And got us kidnapped by the Iavii!”
“Oh, dear haven,” I groaned, closing my eyes. “Please get over it so we can move on.”
He spluttered, “Get over it? Get over it? Do you have any idea what this could do to me? What if I can’t get us out of here, Rogan? What if something happens to you?”
“Relax. It’s not like they’ll blame you and you’ll lose your job.” I sighed. “I can’t believe I got kidnapped with Captain Wolfe Stovia. Talk about fun.”
“You are such a brat.”
I smiled, enjoying the thought of irritating him. “And you are such a pompous, untrustworthy snake.”
I heard his indrawn breath and determinedly squished my remorse.
Before he could reply, a key turned in the lock. A huge, burly man with long, dark hair pulled back into a messy queue strolled into the cellar. He seemed to take up the entire space as he watched us, like a predator studying its prey.