Page 14

When he offered nothing more, I looked up at him. “You are not terribly talkative, are you?”

“No, my lady.”

Ordinarily, I might have taken offence, but he was clearly unaccustomed to speaking with someone of higher rank. Perhaps his birth Pack had not been able to afford a proper education. I could hardly blame him for that.

“I would like to wash and rest.” I glanced around the plain corridor. “I assume the bathing room has temperature-controlled water?”

He did not answer, so I continued. “I also require something light to eat and freshly laundered clothing brought to my quarters.”

“Yes, my lady.”

His tone was beginning to irritate me, but I thanked him. “I will also need materials for a nest.”

That earned me a glance. “I was assured that everything necessary would be provided upon request,” I explained. “I prefer natural fabrics, nothing heavily perfumed. Several clean blankets should be sufficient until I am settled.”

He turned his attention back to the corridor. At home, I would have told an attendant what I needed and found everything arranged before I thought to ask again. Perhaps Temeria does things differently.

That explanation became impossible to maintain when the guarded door ahead opened, and Omega scents hit me so hard I covered my mouth. Terror, despair, grief and shame filled the air. Their fear made bile rise in my throat and brought tears to my eyes.

Rourke caught my arm and pulled me through the doorway. I stumbled after him, barely aware of his grip as I stared at the Omegas around us. So many of them, and every instinct urged me to do something, but I couldn’t move or speak. He dragged me farther inside.

Cells lined the walls, almost every one occupied. The air smelt of sweat and unwashed bodies, with the unmistakable metallic scent of blood beneath it.

A middle-aged Omega sat against the wall of the nearest cell, her knees drawn to her chest. An iron cuff circled one ankle, its short chain attached to the wall behind her. In the next cell, a woman lay curled on a mattress with her back to us. Another sat on the floor, slowly running a finger up and down a bar.

Farther along, an Omega looked directly at me. Greasy strands of hair hung around her cheeks, bruises covered one side of her throat and face, and her dress was torn. She held my gaze briefly, then lowered her eyes.

I had deceived my guards, abandoned my family, and crossed a kingdom to come here. After everything I had done to escape, I had delivered myself to these people.

“I wish to leave, Rourke.” My voice came out as a squeak, without a trace of the dignity my rank demanded.

He smiled and kept dragging me farther inside.

“I am Lady Elowen Hart of Kharith.”

Rourke released my arm only to shove me into an open cell. The door closed and locked before I could take a step towards him.

My legs shook as I approached the bars. “You misunderstand me. My father is Lord Cedric Hart. If you know who he is, you will understand how serious a mistake you are making.”

There was no hiding the fear in my voice or my scent, but I kept my back straight and met his gaze.

“I know exactly who your father is. You would do well to understand that you have no title here. No family, no servants and no guards.”

“My family will already be searching for me.”

“Let them. The people who brought you here made certain there would be no trace for your Pack to follow.”

He turned away, and I stepped closer to the bars. “Wait!”

“Learn the rules quickly, Omega. Keep quiet, do as you are told, and you will make this easier on yourself.”

The heavy door closed behind him. I stayed where I was, trembling and crying, unable to think of anything else to say.

“They all say someone is coming,” the Omega in the neighbouring cell told me. “Mates, fathers, brothers. Always someone. They never do.”

I pressed my shaking fingers to my mouth. My family would not come either.

They did not even know I was gone.