I unconsciously rubbed the Sabourin insignia branded into my upper arm and traced the slash through it indicating that I was Covenless. It was a mark of shame, but I felt no shame. I used it as a reminder of who I was and who I was meant to be.
Hearing the metal door creak open, I shook myself from my thoughts and saw the perfect eyes of the man I hated.
“I wanted to see if you were awake yet.” Kayden slipped into the room as it shut behind him. He clicked on a small light and placed it on the ground between us.
“What do you want?” I wasn’t interested in what he had to say, but it would pass the time.
He leaned forward and cleared his throat. “I want in.”
“Are you that inept at asking for sex? You really don’t know how to seduce a woman. I hope the bribe to get you in here wasn’t expensive, because you just wasted your time.”
He shook his head and lowered his eyes. “No, Ceyla. I want to join your new coven.”
Perplexed, I stared at him, waiting for him to laugh. When he didn’t crack a smile, I leaned forward. “Are you serious? Let’s ignore the obvious problem of you being a Night Slave and focus on the reality of your life. The second someone threatened you, seven guards came to rescue you. You don’t have to fight your own battles because you’re the Headmistress’ earned boy. Why would you want to leave that life? You’re constantly given rewards. Why would you want to join my coven?”
He wet his lips and looked away from me. “Why do you think I get special treatment?”
“I’m going with the obvious answer that you’re screwing Wesling. You’re hot enough to seduce anyone, even if you have no experience.” I crossed my arms, waiting for him to admit that he was an ass kisser.
He closed his eyes and swallowed harshly before looking up at me. Tears formed in the corner of his wide eyes and his lower lip trembled. I had never seen a more despondent man.
My breath caught in my throat when I finally comprehended the fear on his face. “You didn’t seduce anyone. You’re her unwilling plaything.”
He slowly nodded. “I will do anything to escape with you. Please. You have to help me.”
I wasn’t sure if I believed him. Yes, I believed that he was Wesling’s toy, but I didn’t know how deeply his loyalties ran. He could easily pretend to be sympathetic to my cause so that he could spy on me.
I shook my head. “Nope. You’re on your own.”
He pulled off his black tie and unbuttoned his shirt.
Confused, I didn’t know what he was doing until he leaned forward to kiss me.
“Wait. What are you doing?” I pushed him away and threw his tie at him.
Looking up at me through his long lashes, he gulped. “I will do anything you want, Ceyla.”
A cold tremor ran through me. He was offering to be my plaything in exchange for his freedom.
I held my hand up to stop him. “Kayden, I don’t want sexual favors. I want loyalty. The Headmistress will do anything to stop a rebellion, so I need people who won’t submit when things get hard. Once we’re free, everyone can go their separate ways, but inside these walls, we need to have each other’s backs no matter what.”
Kayden retied his tie and glanced at the door. “My loyalty belongs to anyone who can help me. I understand your reluctance, Ceyla, and I know how much you despise my kind. Just know that I can’t take much more of this.”
I thought about his fight in the blood room. “What were you trying to prove with Isabella? Were you testing Wesling’s willingness to protect you?”
He shook his head as his haunted eyes silently pleaded with me. “I was trying to die.”
Stunned, I sat with my mouth open, contemplating his situation. Here I thought he had it easy, yet he was actively trying to end his life. Unsure of what to do, I stared at him until he nodded and stood up. He knocked on the door and quietly slipped out of the cell.
In the darkness, I thought about everything he had said and couldn’t say. I imagined what Welsing was doing to him that would make him suicidal. I despised this place, yet I wasn’t ready to give up my life even though I had no future ahead of me.
I thought about the blank look on Kayden’s face when Isabella was threatening him. Was he praying for a quick death or was he so happy to escape that he didn’t care what happened to him?
My breath caught in my throat when I realized that Adriel had stolen away Kayden’s decision to die and forced him to keep on living. Wesling was controlling Kayden’s life and death to the point where his life was literally not his own.
I felt terrible for Kayden and sympathized with his plight, but I didn’t know if I could trust him.
Chapter Four
Over the next few hours, I thought about Kayden’s words and wondered who else was desperate enough to wage a war against Wesling. I knew how to get revenge on her, but without the right people, it would be the shortest rebellion in history.
The door swung open again, but this time there was no handsome face to greet me. Instead, Adriel’s fist hit my face, breaking my nose. “I
