Aoife sagged against Orynn as she retracted her magick, her energy completely depleted.
"I've done all I can for now." She said softly as she studied LExi closely, allowing Orynn's arms to support her as her legs trembled beneath her.
Her complexion looked a little better and the heat from her chest and fever had subsided slightly and Aoife nodded in satisfaction.
"She should be stable for now. You will need to have someone in here to ensure her fever remains under control." Aoife advised as she rolled her shoulders, the muscles taught having been hunched over her for the past few hours as she worked.
"And how exactly am I supposed to do that?" Eromaugs voice came from the sofa that he was currently lounging on as he sipped elegantly from a goblet.
She hated the easy grace that he held himself with when his supposed Eternal was suffering just a short distance away and she bristled at his nonchalant one.
"Let me guess, you don't have air conditioning here? Nor do you have a healthy dose of medication to treat illness."
"I've never had to before." Eromaug answered dismissively, "This is what healers are for, why would I need things that I have no use for."
"Because your Eternal is as fragile as this little fucking witchling." Aoife snapped, "I cannot treat her if I do not have what I need to keep her stable."
She huffed in irritation as she glanced back at Lexi, a scornful smile appearing on her face.
"And here was me thinking that you males were supposed to care for your mates…what utter bullshit."
Eromaugs eyes narrowed as he slowly placed his goblet on the table before him and licked his lips carefully, his intimidating gaze sweeping across to Orynn.
"You." He said sharply, the tone making them both flinch at the severity. "Make sure she gets what she needs to fix her. Otherwise that's four lives that will be forfeit due to her incompetence." He paused before a dark laugh rolled from his chest, "Actually, make that seven lives. We can't forget about the thieving males that took what wasn't theirs to begin with and her dear mother, now, can we?"
Orynn's lip lifted in a barely perceptible sneer as he forced a slight bow and a chirrup of acquiescence. He couldn't afford to antagonize him any further until Lexi was well and truly out of the danger zone.
"Seven lives?" Aoife questioned with a confused frown as she glanced between Eromaug and Orynn.
A slow smirk spread across Eromaug's face as he stood and stalked towards her slowly, his intense stare sending fear coursing through her veins.
"Yes. Seven. Lexi would be the first to suffer if you fail. If she dies then Bella's bond will be broken and she will, quite literally die from a broken heart, mad with grief. I've never seen it personally but I suppose it would be interesting to watch. Then, both you and Orynn would be put to death…you for your failure to do as you were instructed and Orynn because…well, I have a feeling that he has a vengeful heart and would seek to avenge his mothers death. Then, what use do I really have for her mother and the males that currently reside in my dungeon, if I cannot use them to encourage her to stay? Perhaps I will give them to my flesh crafters to play with…or the Daemons that roam the lower halls of my realms," He answered calmly and without a trace of remorse as amusement danced in his eyes..
"You're a fucking monster." Aoife hissed, "If she is your eternal then why would you have to coerce her into staying?"
"Oh she has no idea that I have her so-called mates or her mother," he sneered, "They're merely an insurance policy just in case she decides to step out of line in any way. Not that any of this is any of your business. You are here, alive and well because of her. You were supposed to be an insurance policy too, but now you have some use to me so your designated living standards have been elevated. Both you and Orynn should be grateful that I have acted so benevolently towards the two of you."
"You want us to thank you for this?" Aoife scoffed in disbelief, "Being held against our will just so that you have a means to keep your Eternal here if things don't go your way? How is that fair?!"
"Life isn't fair on so many levels little witch," Eromaug laughed, "And down here, you are all at the mercy of my whims. It won't change so it would be better for all of you if you both accepted this and worked with me instead of against me. I always have a use for a good healer. Some of the lessers can get quite…"
"She doesn't want you, does she?" Aoife gasped suddenly as the realization dawned on her and Eromaugs face froze before a terrifying cloud settled over it.
He laughed lightly, the sound in itself carrying a chilling warning as he tossed his head, his horns glinting wickedly in the glow of the firelight as he leaned closer to her face.
"What she wants is irrelevant." He practically purred as he reached up and ran a finger slowly down the side of her face, "What any of you want is irrelevant."
Orynn stepped forward with a worried chirp as Eromaugs eyes flicked across to him and pinned him in place with one dangerous look.
"Both of you will fix this, and you will thank me for the fucking priviledge every day that you draw breath, do you undersand me?"
The promise of violence radiated off him and rolled over the two of them as a vicious grin spread across his lips.
"I think I need to remind you of just what your life was like before you were brought here," He murmured as his hands lifted to hold her cheeks, sliding his fingers up across her temples and through her hair, gripping the sides of Aoife's head firmly.
Her heart began to seize in panic as she realized that her body was completely paralyzed and she was unable to move.
"I left you the good memories, little witchling, to spare you the trauma and betrayal of your previous life, but I think you need a little reminder of just how benevolent I have actually been."