Broken Enchantment (Unbreakable Force Book 3) by Kara Jaynes Page B

say?”
    Polly straightened from smoothing the rumpled linen bed sheets. “Nothing, dear, except that that eccentric inventor is in prison. I can’t recall his name. You know, the handsome one, with the gray eyes.”
    “Aaric.” His name came out a whisper. Grace felt sick.
    “Yes, sweetie. That’s the one. He was caught with my peo—” Polly caught herself, “—the nomads. He killed some of Kingsley’s bodyguards, and attacked Kingsley himself, according to rumor.” Polly shuddered. “A hard man, Lord Kingsley. I wouldn’t want to be his—” She pressed her lips tight on what she had been going to say. Kingsley was not a popular figure among the slaves.
    “What happened to the girl?” Grace asked, feeling a touch breathless. “The slave girl?”
    “The one the inventor ran away with?” Polly asked. “Kingsley claimed her. He’s her master now.”
    Grace couldn’t breathe. Aaric in prison, and Adaryn a slave. She turned, facing her reflection in the large vanity mirror. Her complexion had paled. She couldn’t say she liked Adaryn, but they had gone through a lot together in Sen Altare. And Aaric . . . she cared for him very much. She might have gone so far as to say she’d been sweet on him, before she met Bran. No, she couldn’t let them suffer like this. She wouldn’t!
    But what could she do? Certainly, her father was wealthy and had a reputation and position, but he wouldn’t listen to her if she asked for his help in this matter. Who could she turn to?
    Grace tightened her fists, her mouth firming in a straight line. There was only one man she could turn to, one man who could help her. She wasn’t sure what he thought of her now, but she knew he would help Aaric and Adaryn. The only question was: how to get to him?

28
Adaryn
     
    P ain. There was nothing but pure, unadulterated pain, generated by the collar encircled around my neck. It consumed all my thoughts. I had long since stopped screaming, my voice completely hoarse. I lay on my side, curled in a protective ball. I wished for death. I tried to think of Aaric, to focus on his soft gray eyes, his smile, his touch, but the pain was unrelenting and forced thoughts of him away.
    How long have I been here? Hours? Days? Months? I didn’t know, and I didn’t care. I just wanted the agony to stop.
    I heard the opening and closing of a door, and just like that, the pain was gone. A gasp of relief turned into shuddering sobs, tears leaking from my eyes. I tried to stop crying, but couldn’t.
    Footsteps neared. Too exhausted to lift my head, I watched as a pair of polished black boots entered my vision. Even without seeing the rest of him I knew it was Kingsley.
    The magistrate knelt down, his green eyes meeting mine. His face appeared concerned, almost gentle, but his eyes held the same glittering intensity they always did when he looked at me.
    “How much longer?” he asked, reaching out to push a strand of my hair behind my ear. “How much pain are you willing to endure?” He sat back on his heels, still watching me. “You’ve been in here for two days. I’ve never had a slave go that long before conceding defeat. You need to let go. This is your new life.” He paused, as if considering. “I’ll even let you keep your old name, for a while, if you will cooperate.”
    “What do I have to do?” The words came out a croak; even talking hurt, my throat was so completely raw.
    “Admit that I am your master, and that my word is law.” He spoke frankly, as if it were no concern. “Those are the first steps.”
    “Yeah?” I pushed myself up with my hands, but I was still unable to stand. I wouldn’t kneel though, not that. “And what’s after that?”
    Kingsley didn’t say a word as he looked at me, but the slow, hungry smile that grew on his face was the only answer I needed. A tingle of icy revulsion and fear ran down my spine, but I refused to look away. I wouldn’t be cowed.
    “Where’s Aaric?”
    The smile dropped from