“For-forgive me,” she stammers.
“Say it to her,” I command, gesturing back to Melisa. She stands in the breeze, cheeks red and hair unbound.
Everyone holds their breath, watching as the woman grits her teeth.
“My apologies,” she says, dipping her head.
“Use her name,” I growl. “Melisa.”
My mate casts her displeasure through the bond but the woman lets out a long breath.
“Melisa, forgive me. I will never spit on you again.”
I nod, satisfied. Melisa however frowns. She is oddly quiet.
One of Rodrigo’s men steps forward. Felip. He had accompanied me to the meeting. His mouth is downturned as he takes a deep breath.
“Ra’Sa,” he calls.
"Where is Rodrigo?" I ask, scanning the crowd.
"He was murdered in his sleep," Felip says.
I suck in a breath.
I think of Abet, and the scenes from earlier in the night make sense. He waited for everyone to return from the meeting and killed each one. He would’ve killed me had I given him the chance.
Another traitor.
“Then you will stay with me.” I have questions, but there is another human I search for. I turn back to the broader group, my stomach dropping. “Nicolás?”
My blond haired companion pushes out from the group.
“Rasa!” he calls, slightly horrified.
I breathe a sigh of relief. “You live!”
He grins. “Unfortunately.” Then his smile drops at my blue skin. I see him survey my Enduar form, eyes still full of disbelief.
“You come, too. The rest: go to the gates leading into the slave pens and begin to construct a barricade. It will not keep the giants out for long, but it will alert us to their arrival. Those too young or feeble to fight should gather anything that could be used as a weapon.”
Most scramble, moving through the area and bustling over the bodies of their slavers. Melisa joins my side, sliding her arms around mine. I pull her close, embracing her.
Felip clears his throat, and I pull away.
"What would you have me do?" the man asks.
"Find the others of your group in these pens. Any others dead?"
“Everyone who attended the meeting save you and me,” he admits, and I take a deep breath.
“Why weren’t you harmed?” I ask.
“I left to visit my partner,” he says.
I search his face for signs of deception and see none. But I had been foolish before…
“Are you lying?” I demand.