“Tamsin,” Trik turned to address the Light Elf King.

“My lord,” Tamsin bowed his head and waited.

“I will not ask you or any of your warriors to assist me. I do not deserve your loyalty. I would ask that if I get Cassie out, that you would care for her and protect her.”

Syndra stepped forward and met Trik’s eyes. “We will always care for our Queen, but you must return, Trik. Do not let the words of a mad she-elf turn you from your fate. The Forest Lords have called to you and want to see you fulfill your purpose, don’t let the judgment of those who do not matter keep you from your path.”

A slight smile appeared on Trik’s face, though it was brief. “Tamsin, I do believe your Chosen is wise.”

Tamsin smiled and looked at Syndra . “She is more than wise, Triktapic, and you would do well to hear her words.”

“I hear them. I will not fail my people a second time.” Trik turned back to where Alok’s body lay. The elf still breathed but he was unconscious.

“Put him in a prison. I will not grant him the mercy of death just yet,” Trik told Tamsin. “I will meet you at your castle in a few days. I imagine that I will have to make my way through Lorsan’s land and he will not make it easy on me, though I have some old tricks up my sleeves that he will not expect.”

“Before you go, I have some things that belong to you,” Tamsin told him. “Come back with me to the castle and then you can depart from there.”

Trik’s head cocked to the side. “Things?”

Tamsin smiled slyly. “The Forest Lords did not leave you unarmed and defenseless.”

Chapter 15

Darkness is all around me. I’m at the bottom of a pit and no matter how hard I try to climb up the walls I cannot get to the top. My nails bleed from the clawing and my face and body are covered in dirt. I writhe in pain and misery and I cry out for more; more of the red liquid that brings me happiness, fleeting though it may be. My body hums in remembrance of the warm liquid sliding silkily down my throat. I dance and those around me sing and laugh. Some whistle and call out my name and I dance faster. Then the feeling is gone and I’m sinking into the pit again and I cry out for more; more pleasure, more warmth, more feeling, more anything but the emptiness I feel when the high is gone. ~ Cassandra Tate

“Cassandra,” a female voice pushes through the haze that fills Cassie’s mind. She tries to sit up but her body won’t cooperate. Her breathing is labored and pain courses through her veins.

“More,” her voice is hoarse from the hours of screaming.

“I know you want more, but first we must get you ready,” the female voice tells her as she helps her stand. It’s painful. Her legs are weak and don’t want to support her body, but she is thinner now and so she is able to force them.

“Ready?” She asks wearily.

“You must dance tonight. Dance for a suitor. King Lorsan is growing tired of the endless requests for you and so he is goingto give you to a male tonight.”

Cassie frowned, or at least she thought it was a frown. Give her to a male. What did that mean? So she asked.

“It means you are going to be Bound in Union,” the woman answered.

“Bound?” Cassie whispered.

“Yes, but you must try to stop saying his name at night. You call it out endlessly and I imagine your mate will not take kindly to his woman calling the name of another.”

Cassie’s breath caught in her throat and she felt jolts of pain sear through her. She yelped in pain and fell to the floor. Whose name? Who did she cry out for in the darkness of night, in the dreams that swirled in her mind as she slept? She could see his face but his identity eluded her. She reached for him in her dreams and no matter how fast she ran she could not catch him. When she got close to him she would hear the words that repeatedly ripped out her heart.

“I don’t want you,” his deep, smooth voice carried to her ears.

“Please,” she would whisper as she fell to the ground. “I love you.”

Always he would shake his head, his beautiful black hair so dark that it appeared to have a purple tint and pity would fill his silver eyes. “I don’t love you.” His red, full lips moved and yet the words that came out were words that she never wanted to hear.

“Who is he?” she asked the woman. She could never remember her name, but she came every day and helped bathe her and dress her.

“You don’t need to worry about that; it’s best if you simply forget him.” She held out a glass to her and Cassie’s eyes glazed over. She grabbed for the glass greedily and guzzled the liquid down. The warmth hit her mouth and trailed down her throat and she moaned. She knelt there as the full effects of Rapture coursed through her body and when she was numb and consumed in the glorious high she stood, her movements like a languid cat.

“That’s more like it,” the woman crooned. “Now off to the bath with you.” She ushered Cassie through a door that led into a lavish bathroom. A tub was filled with steaming hot water and Cassie could smell the perfume that had been poured into the bath. She stripped off her night gown and climbed slowly into the tub and let out a soft sigh as the hot water surrounded her. Her skin tingled everywhere that it touched and she giggled at the sensation.

The woman clucked her tongue at her. “You really are much too young to be married off.” She hurried around the bathroom, setting out clothes and a towel. She placed a brush on the counte r and various lotions and oils, all of which were designed to make Cassie’s skin softer and shiny and her hair silky. She had to admit that she enjoyed being pampered. She didn’t think that it had always been this way. She couldn’t help but think that in another life she had not had all the luxury that she had now. But as Rapture continued to haze her brain with pleasure, she pushed the thoughts away and focused on the sensations and the here and now.