Blood Red (40 page)

She thought about Wolf. She hoped he was still alive, that they didn’t beat him to death. Her head ached violently from the rap she had gotten. She had been foolish rushing to him like that. They would certainly use those feelings against her. Feelings she was just starting to realize were there.

She heard movement at the door of her cell. She glanced over. The guards stood leering at her. One opened the door.

“Hello, love, finally dry?”

“Fuck you,” Red murmured.

“Sorry, love, we already played that game, remember?”

Red knew he was lying. She would have felt it if she had been violated.

The guards stepped back and a petite dark-haired 78

Blood Red

woman entered the cell. She was wearing a plain cotton dress and her hair was up in a bun. She carried a bowl of water and a cloth. She was obviously a servant.

She set the bowl on the floor, averting her eyes from Red. “Could you please set her down so I can have a look at her?”

The guards grabbed her and slid her off the rod.

They carried her over to the mattress and dumped her.

“Be careful with her. She bites.”

The petite woman looked up at the guard, venom in her eyes. “I do not blame her.”

“I’d watch what you say, girl.”

“No, it’s you who had better mind his tongue. The Master favors me. You are expendable.”

The guard sneered at her. He grabbed her dress and pulled it down off her shoulder. A black winged dragon was burned into her flesh like a cattle brand.

“Just because you are branded his whore does not mean he will favor you.”

She swatted his hand away and pulled up her dress. “Do you want to wager?”

The guard sniffed and backed off.

“Unchain her, and bring me her clothes.”

The guard unlocked Red’s shackles. “She is to remain naked as per The Taker.”

“Fine, then fetch me a blanket.”

The guards retreated from the cell. Red watched them go. She rubbed at her wrists as she stared at the little woman soaking a cloth in the bowl of water.

“Who are you, to command the guard?”

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Vivi Anna

The woman looked up at Red. She smiled demurely. “No one, really. Just a servant girl.”

“What is your name?”

“Rose.” She wrung out the cloth and brought it to Red’s face. She dabbed at the encrusted blood around her nose.