Sing, Canary - Ashley Amy Page 0,36

system at a young age.

When I had been kidnapped, my lack of social life kept people from knowing I had gone missing. Even though I hadn't been tortured like I was when I turned, I knew the cruelty in a normal life.

I knew what it felt like to not be loved on many levels. Though, in a short time, one angel proved she cared more than anyone ever had before.

Lyra was the light for a reason, and I was learning she meant her word.

Just as I grew comfortable with my thoughts, an unwanted familiar hand gripped my neck from behind. I memorized who this touch belonged to. I knew Barcel's touch like the fish knew a coming storm on the sea. At least the fish could take cover and prepare. I was stuck being shoved into the wall of my cell as his free hand groped my breasts.

"Someone didn't find me this morning," he growled into my hairline. I closed my eyes, reminding myself today would be the last day he got to touch me so intimately.

"I had a visitor," I hissed as he pinched my nipple roughly between his fingers. He didn't care for permission. My body was no longer my own when it came to this sick and twisted man.

His caress stopped once I spoke. Unnerved by my words, he hastily spun me around to face him. His deadly glare rested across from mine as he lowered it to be so.

"Who?"

I searched for why it always mattered so much to him. Barcel did not like when others showed interest in me.

Detective Winston and I had already been through what I needed to say, but something triggered me to go a different route. Maintaining his gaze, I could see something made him nervous.

Something made this monster worry about a secret I might learn.

"A woman. She didn't give me her name. She just told me there was something important I needed to know. She left before telling me but promised to return."

Goading his fear, I watched as Barcel stormed out of my cell. His hackles were raised as he stormed to the place one of his informants would be.

I just watched, knowing I'd be gone before he could return to call me on my bluff. It helped me confirm something about my past did have him agitated, and I'd find out.

Whatever it was, I needed to solve it before he came to kill me on the outside. A man made of so much power had a lot of enemies, but few were threatening to his empire.

What was it about me that had him revealing his trepidation?

Before I could think more into it, Detective Winston came to retrieve me. As a man Lyra trusted, maybe I could get his help on this issue as well.

"Are you ready?" he asked.

I smiled, letting him see me watch Barcel's back go down the hallway.

"Let's do this."

23

Lyra

Within the next two days, Talon came through, and Simone was out of prison. The court reanalyzed her case when the mistake was presented. With a swift hand, knowing the impending lawsuit was coming—they got her out before she suffered another day.

Talon assured me he'd keep her safe. I knew he would, but part of me still feared Barcel's power. Simone meant something to him. I was sure of it.

I saw the malicious way his greedy eyes watched my warlock escort her out. That loathing stare also caught me saying goodbye to her. Barcel knew I had been involved with her departure, but he didn’t know what Talon discovered.

Being lost in my mind, I didn't anticipate what came behind me. A forceful hold gathered me to a strong chest. Before I could put up a fight, I was tossed over a giant shoulder. My hands quickly beat into the back of the brute that trudged forward with me in tow.

As I lifted my head to yell at the man who abducted me, I noticed Barcel walking behind the man. He wanted me to find him like this because he wanted me to talk to him.

"Someone let a little birdie out of her gilded cage." His eyes feasted on me. There was something dark and knowing within his glare. Barcel had something up his sleeve, but I wasn't quite sure what.

Staying silent, I didn't want to give away my heightened fear. Whatever they had planned for me couldn't be pleasant.

Barcel clucked his tongue at my lack of response. My face remained neutral as my balled-up fists released. The vampire king