Fear of Fire and Shadow (The Fade #1) - Samantha Young Page 0,35

his words rolling and unrefined. He nodded at someone and a young man came into the room carrying a tray. “One move and I run ye through,” the big man warned, his hand going to the hilt of a sword strapped to a belt around his hip.

I looked at Wolfe for guidance. His attention was trained on the larger of the men. The young man came forward, keeping his distance, and set the tray on the ground. He looked at me as he picked up one bowl and slid it toward me. He did the same for Wolfe’s bowl, his eyes never leaving me, and I squirmed under his strange regard. He watched me with a clinical interest that was extremely disturbing. I waited for Wolfe to do something. But he just sat there.

“I need to use the … I have need of … I need to relieve myself.”

“Relieve yerself?” The big man grinned. “Ye mean ye need to use the piss pot?”

I flushed at his crassness but nodded, hoping he would let me out of the cellar so I could note our surroundings for Wolfe.

“There’s one in the corner.” He grinned harder. “Behind the changing screen.”

I was horrified. “You are jesting?”

He shook his head. “If ye’re that desperate, ye’ll use it.”

Disgusted, I could do nothing but wait with bated breath for them to leave and then I turned on Wolfe. “Why didn’t you do something?”

He shrugged and grabbed the bowl and bread that had been left for him. “He had the upper hand. Plus … I’m hungry.”

How could he be so blasé? Infuriated with not only him but myself for not having the skills to save myself, I snatched my bowl. “Wonderful. Just wonderful. Let me know when you decide to start working on that whole protecting-me thing you keep spouting on about.”

He threw me a look but didn’t retort, which annoyed me more than I would have liked.

When we finished eating, he looked at me with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. “You know, if you need to … relieve yourself … I could hum or sing so you’re not embarrassed … you know, by the noise—”

“I understand your meaning, thank you.” I blushed so hard my face could have warmed the Guard around a campsite.

“I’m just saying I—”

“You could sing, yes, yes, very funny.”

He nearly choked himself to death laughing when three hours later, I made him do just that as I darted behind the changing screen to use the chamber pot.

Worse still, he actually had a very nice singing voice.

Chapter 12

“I really am tiring of people manhandling me,” I muttered, covering my fear with bravado at the bite of the dagger at my neck. I tried not to think how ironic it was that only a few days ago, I had someone else in the position I was now in.

“Rogan,” Wolfe warned.

I shrugged, and the clan member at my back pressed the blade harder against my skin. I winced as it nicked my skin.

“Hey!” Wolfe growled in outrage, making a move toward me. The two huge Iavii holding him reeled him in.

“I told ye, the girl gets it if ye make a move to attack.” The man holding me was the one from yesterday with the messy queue and hand-me-down gentleman’s clothing. The arm he wrapped around my waist tightened so I was flush with his body. “And ye,” he whispered softly in my ear, “keep quiet. Or I’ll find a far more pleasurable way to occupy yer mouth.”

Aghast and repulsed, humiliated at being treated this way in front of Wolfe, who eyed the man as if he’d just signed his own death warrant, I decided it would be best if I shut up.

“Now,” the Iavii continued, “we’re going for a little walk outside. And ye’re both going to behave.” I noticed how measured his words were, as if he had to concentrate on his enunciation.

I tried to catch Wolfe’s eye to see if he had a plan, but our captor pushed me ahead and I stumbled, my throat nearly catching the blade edge again.

“If you want me to behave, you better stop putting her life in danger,” Wolfe warned in a tone that would have intimidated a lesser man.

The man grunted but was more careful with me as he took us upstairs. I really only caught a glimpse of a cozy parlor while we were taken out the front door of the modestly sized farmhouse. He dragged me down porch steps, and I gaped at