Read Online The Skylighter (The Keepers' Chronicles Book 2) by Becky Wallace - Free Book Online
Authors: Becky Wallace
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doing nothing about it.”
She gasped, her eyes growing round. “Wh-what do you mean?”
“I’m certain Maribelle is here for one of Inimigo’s wicked schemes. Reporting our every action back to her father.”
Brynn blinked a few times, her eyelashes fluttering against her creamy skin. “Well, of course she is.”
“You have access to her room,” he continued. “You can search through her things and read her notes. You’re just a maid. She’ll never suspect you.”
“Just a maid,” she said, and took a quick breath. “Yes, of course.”
Dom offered her a bright grin. “You can report what you find when you bring Michael to his fencing lessons.”
“That won’t work.” She returned his smile, but it lacked all its typical warmth. “Lady Maribelle is extremely wary of all the servants. She doesn’t let anyone into her room for any reason. The two ladies she brought with her do all the work, cleaning the space, taking care of her wardrobe.”
“Oh.”
“You might be able to get into her room, though.” She took a step away, her voice returning to normal volume. “She’d never guess you were there for information .”
“I suppose I could do that.” Dom knew her words were true, but the way she said them made him feel guilty—like he was doing something wrong.
Brynn retreated to the doorway. “Getting into ladies’ rooms is the one thing you truly excel at.”
It took a moment for her message to sink in, to strike the tender spot that he had already been nursing.
He called after her, but she was already gone.
Chapter 14
----
Pira
Rain pelted Pira, dripping down her face and running under the collar. The rivulets of water made the raw skin underneath sting and burn.
Her horse tossed its head, as impatient and uncomfortable as its rider. They’d come to a crossroads, the small forest trail opening onto a broader, well-traveled road. “Is there a reason we’re sitting in the rain?”
As soon as the words were out of her mouth, a ball of air was forced between her teeth, her jaw cracking as it stretched around the invisible gag.
“You were told not to speak,” Vibora said without looking at Pira. “If you can’t learn to obey, I will make you.”
Pira growled in frustration, bringing her fist down on her thigh. It did nothing to make her feel better. She’d already learned a few hard lessons about obedience.
The evening Barrata arrived, she had tried to run when her captors had fallen asleep. She made it beyond the perimeter of their camp, when the collar yanked her off her feet. Pira fell flat on her back, cursing the sky, as stinging, hot prickles raced along her skin.
Barrata stood above her and giggled. “Make her crawl,” he said to Vibora, clapping his hands excitedly. “It’s always best when they know they’re nothing better than pets.”
Without her consent, Pira’s limbs flailed. She groaned, trying to lock her joints and keep her muscles tight. Vibora’s face contorted in concentration, and a dull ache started in the back of Pira’s head. At first it felt like a hand pressed against her skull, but the pain grew in intensity. In response, her muscles began to loosen, then move.
It was an uncoordinated slither, but eventually Pira followed her master back to the blanket they’d given her by the fire.
“Make her beg,” Barrata said.
With a tired sigh Vibora complied. “Ask me for a drink of water.”
“I don’t want a drink,” Pira managed through gritted teeth. The fist of control closed around her brain and squeezed. Tears sprang to her eyes as she tried to assert herself.
Get out of my head. Get out of my head. Get out of my head.
“Ask me for a drink of water,” Vibora repeated.
“No,” Pira managed with a moan as the pain spread to her spine.
“Sapo’s going to love this one,” Barrata said, chafing his palms together. “She’s full of vinegar and violence.”
“It’ll be easier for everyone, especially you, if you simply
She gasped, her eyes growing round. “Wh-what do you mean?”
“I’m certain Maribelle is here for one of Inimigo’s wicked schemes. Reporting our every action back to her father.”
Brynn blinked a few times, her eyelashes fluttering against her creamy skin. “Well, of course she is.”
“You have access to her room,” he continued. “You can search through her things and read her notes. You’re just a maid. She’ll never suspect you.”
“Just a maid,” she said, and took a quick breath. “Yes, of course.”
Dom offered her a bright grin. “You can report what you find when you bring Michael to his fencing lessons.”
“That won’t work.” She returned his smile, but it lacked all its typical warmth. “Lady Maribelle is extremely wary of all the servants. She doesn’t let anyone into her room for any reason. The two ladies she brought with her do all the work, cleaning the space, taking care of her wardrobe.”
“Oh.”
“You might be able to get into her room, though.” She took a step away, her voice returning to normal volume. “She’d never guess you were there for information .”
“I suppose I could do that.” Dom knew her words were true, but the way she said them made him feel guilty—like he was doing something wrong.
Brynn retreated to the doorway. “Getting into ladies’ rooms is the one thing you truly excel at.”
It took a moment for her message to sink in, to strike the tender spot that he had already been nursing.
He called after her, but she was already gone.
Chapter 14
----
Pira
Rain pelted Pira, dripping down her face and running under the collar. The rivulets of water made the raw skin underneath sting and burn.
Her horse tossed its head, as impatient and uncomfortable as its rider. They’d come to a crossroads, the small forest trail opening onto a broader, well-traveled road. “Is there a reason we’re sitting in the rain?”
As soon as the words were out of her mouth, a ball of air was forced between her teeth, her jaw cracking as it stretched around the invisible gag.
“You were told not to speak,” Vibora said without looking at Pira. “If you can’t learn to obey, I will make you.”
Pira growled in frustration, bringing her fist down on her thigh. It did nothing to make her feel better. She’d already learned a few hard lessons about obedience.
The evening Barrata arrived, she had tried to run when her captors had fallen asleep. She made it beyond the perimeter of their camp, when the collar yanked her off her feet. Pira fell flat on her back, cursing the sky, as stinging, hot prickles raced along her skin.
Barrata stood above her and giggled. “Make her crawl,” he said to Vibora, clapping his hands excitedly. “It’s always best when they know they’re nothing better than pets.”
Without her consent, Pira’s limbs flailed. She groaned, trying to lock her joints and keep her muscles tight. Vibora’s face contorted in concentration, and a dull ache started in the back of Pira’s head. At first it felt like a hand pressed against her skull, but the pain grew in intensity. In response, her muscles began to loosen, then move.
It was an uncoordinated slither, but eventually Pira followed her master back to the blanket they’d given her by the fire.
“Make her beg,” Barrata said.
With a tired sigh Vibora complied. “Ask me for a drink of water.”
“I don’t want a drink,” Pira managed through gritted teeth. The fist of control closed around her brain and squeezed. Tears sprang to her eyes as she tried to assert herself.
Get out of my head. Get out of my head. Get out of my head.
“Ask me for a drink of water,” Vibora repeated.
“No,” Pira managed with a moan as the pain spread to her spine.
“Sapo’s going to love this one,” Barrata said, chafing his palms together. “She’s full of vinegar and violence.”
“It’ll be easier for everyone, especially you, if you simply
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