“A few. Most are Dark who have gone against Taraeth or need … persuasion of some kind.”
She couldn’t believe she was even considering asking him about Rhi, but she hadn’t been able to forget Kiril’s words. He had called the Light a friend. She didn’t think any Fae—Light or Dark—were friends with the Dragon Kings. At least that’s what she had been taught.
“What else do you have here?” she asked.
He smiled and loosened his hold on her hand. “An enemy of mine. A Light Fae.”
Her shock wasn’t faked. She had thought Kiril might be wrong in who he thought had taken Rhi. But he hadn’t been. She grabbed his arm with her free hand, her eyes widening. “Are you serious? You actually have a Light?”
“Why is that so surprising?”
“I’ve never seen a Light Fae.” It wasn’t a lie. “Are they as silly as we’re taught?”
Balladyn studied her carefully. “I was Light.”
“I know.”
“I was one of their fiercest warriors, Shara. Do I look silly?”
Of all the words she could have chosen, she had to use that one. Just great. “You’re Dark now. I assumed you became who you are once you came to us.”
“I didn’t come to this side. I was taken wounded off the battlefield,” he said softly, severely.
No wonder he considered Rhi an enemy. Had she been with him when he was injured and left him to be taken by the Dark? Shara didn’t want to feel sympathy for Balladyn, but she did. She cupped his face before she could think twice about it. “I’m sorry you were taken from your home.”
He covered her hand so that he held each of her hands in his. “A Dark who feels compassion?”
Shara looked away, suddenly fearful of the empathy she had shown him. It wasn’t what a Dark would do, should do. She pulled away from him and took several steps back. The fact that he had released her couldn’t be a good sign. She fisted her hands to stop them from shaking. Associating with someone like Balladyn could either mean good things or very, very bad things.
One little comment could seal her doom.
His arms dropped to his sides. “Stubbornness, willfulness, and compassion. The first two are traits pushed for in the males, but certainly not females. Nay,” he continued in a calm, smooth voice. “Females need to be compliant, subservient, and respectful.”
She held his gaze while trying to figure out what he was going to do with her. He was so composed and unruffled that it set her on edge.
“You, a daughter of a high-ranking family, killed human females that were in service to your family. Why?”
Not once had she ever thought she would have to defend her actions outside of her family. Yet here she was. Was it a simple question, or was she on trial? “Does it matter?”
“It does to me,” Balladyn answered and crossed his arms across his chest.
Shara had once tried to explain herself to her family, but they hadn’t wanted to listen. Balladyn would be the same, she was sure of it. No matter what, she had to give him an answer.
“I was with them on the streets of Cork. I ate with them, drank with them, and kidnapped them for my family. I knew the vivacious women that they were before they were reduced to crying masses begging me to help.”
“Begging?” Balladyn asked with a frown.
Shara laughed as she recalled how two of her female cousins had each held one of her arms to keep her immobile. “Didn’t Farrell share that part? They made me watch. Farrell thought it would affirm what it was our family did.”
“And you had never seen a Dark male take a human female before?”
“No. I knew it occurred. I just didn’t realize what it would do to the females.”
“So you killed them.”
“Yes. Farrell wanted to kill me right then and there, but my uncle brought me before my father.”
“Obviously your father disagreed with Farrell.”
Shara loosened her fingers. If she were going to die, then she would do it with courage. “Is that why you kept me with you? You wanted to know everything? To see if I would screw up and prove that I wasn’t a true Dark?”
A full minute passed in silence before Balladyn dropped his arms and turned on his heel to walk to the door. “Follow me.”
Her legs were shaky and her feet heavy, but she fell into step behind Balladyn. His strides were long, making her quicken her pace to remain with him. He took her downstairs below the great hall to the dungeon. Balladyn didn’t stop until he stood in front of a solid metal door. Shara looked from the door to him.
“Go inside,” Balladyn said in a hard voice.
So this is what was to become of her. He had said she would know when he imprisoned her. From one prison to another. She clenched her teeth when he made her open the door. Only a certified ass would make a prisoner open their own cell door.
The heavy door swung open silently. Shara peered inside the dark prison to see someone chained at the far wall. The prisoner’s head hung to their chest as they were half-lying, half-sitting up.