Page 9 of The Sunbound Princess
A noblewoman?
Probably a madam from the brothels.
The last made my cheeks heat, although I couldn’t fault the humans’ speculation. Saldu Kuum was famous for its brothels, which were known for their extravagance—and willingness to fulfill even the most elaborate fantasies. The Summer Court boasted its share of brothels, too, but the pleasure houses of the human realm were legendary.
An idea formed in my head. Maybe I could use the humans’ speculation to my advantage.
“I work for a brothel in the city,” I said. “My…employer has tasked me with finding handsome men to entertain our clients.”
The sheriff narrowed his eyes. “Which brothel?”
Shit.My heart beat faster as I scrambled for a believable response. I lifted my chin, careful not to tip my head too far back and dislodge my hood. “My employer wishes to remain anonymous.” As the sheriff drew a breath to speak, I jingled the purse. “I have more than enough gold. How much to settle the bond?”
The sheriff dropped his gaze to the bag. He darted his tongue out, wetting his lips. “Fifty gold pieces.”
Relief swept me. That wasn’t so?—
“Each,” the sheriff added.
Dain’s rumble cut through the murmurs of the crowd. “Our bonds were twenty apiece.”
The sheriff held my stare. “Inflation. The price of goods is going up everywhere.”
Anger pumped hot in my veins, but I nodded. “It’s a deal. One hundred gold pieces.”
Turning to a man near the front of the crowd, the sheriff jerked his thumb toward the platform. “Cut them down.”
Ten minutes later, my purse was considerably lighter, and I strode from the clearing with my new…acquisitions.
Nikolas stole glances at me as he rubbed his wrists. “So, which brothel do you work for? The Salty Siren? Mount and Merriment?” He lowered his voice to a suggestive purr. “The Rear Admiral?”
I tugged my hood more snugly around my face. “It’s none of your concern.” And I’d probably made a big mistake paying the men’s bond. What was I going to do with two humans? Twothieves? Doubts nibbled at me as I walked faster, skirting fallen branches and tangled underbrush.
Even as my misgivings swirled, the Dokimasi tugged in my chest. When I risked a look at Dain, he watched me from the corner of his eye. He was even bigger than he’d appeared on the platform, his shoulders broader than a doorway. Several strands of blond hair had escaped the knot at his nape. His lips were pink and well-formed in their frame of dark blond scruff. If he scraped the hair away, his jaw would probably be even harder. But it was already so hard. Sharp like the edge of a?—
I jerked my gaze away. The tug in my chest faded. Alarm spiked, and I turned my head and looked at Dain again.
The Dokimasi surged back. Dain’s nostrils flared.
Stopping, I faced him. “Who—?” The snap of a branch made me swallow the question. As the men and I swung around, half a dozen villagers emerged from behind the trees. Several were familiar, including the man with dull eyes and a dirt-streaked face. They’d followed us from the gallows. One man reached into his grubby-looking coat and slowly withdrew a dagger. Another looked between Dain and Nikolas as if sizing them up.
Leaves crunched, and a seventh man stepped into view. Like the others, he was unkempt with a shrewd, assessing expression. As a breeze stirred the trees around us, he produced a knife.
My body went hot and then cold, my heart thundering. The sheriff was probably out of shouting range, not that he would have responded if I called for him. For all I knew, he’d sent the villagers after me. I had a dagger in my boot, but Nikolas and Dain had come from the gallows. Most likely, they didn’t possess any weapons.
We were outnumbered. I didn’t have my magic. And now I was going to die in Andulum.
Nikolas kept his gaze on the villagers as he leaned close and spoke out of the corner of his mouth. “Not to sound ungrateful,but it probably wasn’t the wisest move to wave your coin purse around and tell everyone about youramplegold.”
The ragtag group of villagers eased forward.
Dain and Nikolas exchanged a look. Something unspoken passed between them as they stood straighter. In a lightning-fast move, Nikolas grabbed my arm and spun me around. Gripping my hand, he pulled me almost as hard as the Dokimasi. Dain grabbed my other elbow, and the men propelled us forward.
“Run!”
Chapter
Three
