“Honestly, Master Adonis, I’m not sure he’ll make it through the night. If your father—”

“Don’t worry about my father. I’ve taken care of that. Just do your best to save him. We’ve got three days until the trip, and if he’s not well enough to walk, I’ll have a hard time bringing him. Also, let me know if he wakes up, I’d like to talk with him.”

I stay still. Apparently my attempts to die have been thwarted. I’m not particularly interested in speaking with the man who robbed me of that peace.

“Master Killex, your sister is looking for you.” It’s the young page’s voice.

My new owner sighs. “Thanks, Vix. Do what you can, Nikolie.”

“I will, sir.”

There’s the sound of a door opening and closing and I turn my attention to my body. I’m weak and sore, my thigh and hand pounding. Wings outspread, I’m on my belly, . Despite my efforts to stay still, at the thought of my wings, they twitch and rustle.

“Oh! You’re waking up. Stars, I’m not ready. Oh dear, oh dear. I’m so sorry about this.”

There’s a tightening around my legs and my back, under my wings. I open my eyes to see an older man with bright blue eyes and a panicked look before he pulls something below me and my head is clamped to the table I’m on by a leather strap.

“I’m sorry! But you really shouldn’t move anyway, I haven’t finished treating your wounds.”

He’s apologetic, but at being strapped down, my rage returns. I lift my wings—he was stupid not to strap them down too. Pain flares through me as I move the left one, but luckily he’s on my right and I knock him down with my wing. He hits the ground hard, face smacking an iron bucket on the floor.

“You should have let me die,” I say, my voice rough, mouth dry and coppery. My hands are under the waist strap, but I wriggle them out, feeling along the edge of the table for the strap buckle.

Nikolie stands up, blood dribbling from a cut on his cheek, bright against his pale, papery skin. “Please stop, you’re just going to hurt yourself!”

I laugh and he looks around anxiously as I continue searching for freedom. I find the latch and yank it, freeing my head. Next, I loose my waist and get up to a kneel. My hand and thigh are covered in white bandage, my shirt is gone, and my pants have been cut up to above my thigh wound. Freeing my legs, I try to ignore the room spinning. Nikolie backs up, wringing his hands. I look around.

It’s a workshop or sorts. Sunlight peeks through the wooden slats and although most things have been moved to the edge of the room to make room for the two tables I was laid on, I see a forge in the corner and saw dust on one side of the room. The double doors are shut and the only window has curtains drawn over it. I swing my legs down, facing the door which Nikolie is backing towards.

Spotting a leaning of wooden boards, I half-walk, half-hop over to them, grabbing one to lean against before turning back to the door and Nikolie.

“Move,” I say gruffly.

“Please, you’re safe here but not out there. Master Adonis and I mean you no harm. At least wait until you’ve spoken with him.”

I shuffle over towards the forge and grab a metal hammer, hefting it before moving to tower over Nikolie. “Move,” I say again.

“You need help in there?” A voice calls from outside, guess there are guards after all.

“No, thank you,” Nikolie calls out and I cock my head.

“You have a death wish, old man?”

Nikolie meets my eyes and his are determined. “No, but you do and I’m not about to let you kill yourself after promising to keep you alive. Look, the guard’s swords aren’t going anywhere and there are plenty of things here you could kill yourself with. But, please, listen to me first.”

I could push him aside and open the doors. Then the guards would kill me or beat me into submission and this starts over. Escape just isn’t a possibility with a broken wing. I could use Nikolie as a hostage, but if they are willing to leave him alone with me, he’s probably not important enough. I hesitate and Nikolie seizes the moment.

“Look I know you're hurt and desperate, but this isn’t like anything you’ve been in before. Master Adonis isn’t...well he’s not like other Soli.”

I give him a doubtful glance but he seems earnest, so I look him over again.

“You’re from Valhym.” I say. “A Valhym working for a Soli noble, your people would not be happy.”

My last job had been as a messenger for Captain Tiborious in Valhym, sending updates as he crushed the last of the Valhym forces. The Valhym were proud warriors and hated the Soli for forcing them into the empire.

Nikolie nods. “You’re correct. But the warrior death philosophy never sat right with me and as I said, Master Adonis is different.”

“Does he pretend to care? Give you enough respect and freedom to ease your guilt at turning your back on your people? I’ve seen that before, but it’s just a ploy to keep the empire stable. A few “good” Soli nobles and you can justify the slaughter being done by the rest. I’m sick of all of it.” I’m shaking, the rage boiling inside me. Did this man honestly think I would ever accept my place again after tasting freedom?

I grip the hammer harder. “Don’t pretend like a Valhym getting a cushy job in a Soli noble house is the same as as Avin being acknowledged as a living being. It won’t change the fact that I’m a slave if my master calls me by my name or treats me well. There’s only one way I’ll have freedom and that’s in the next life.”

Nikolie gets even paler, at a loss for words. I brush past him and reach for the door. It’s thrown open before I reach it and there’s the Soli noble. His brown hair falls back as he looks up at me in surprise. Those green eyes flick from Nikolie to me and then he ducks into a roll, dodging the hammer swing that I instinctively make in his direction.

“Shut the door men, I’ve got this!” he shouts, standing and drawing a sword. I turn and lean on my crutch, holding the hammer ready. The doors close.

Nikolie backs up in a corner and I gesture. “This is the Soli you say is so different? I’ll probably be doing the world a favor if I take him to hell with me.”

The Soli gives a half smile and a little bow. “I don’t think we've been properly introduced, my name is Adonis Killex. And who do I have the pleasure of speaking to?”

I narrow my eyes. Does he think this is a game? Or maybe he’s one of the spoiled noble sons who takes pleasure in fighting and killing different species. It would explain why he wanted me healed, to get a proper fight.

“Does it matter?”

Adonis shrugs. “It does make it hard to converse if you don’t know the other person’s name.”

“I don’t plan on talking.” I ready myself to charge.

Adonis looks at me, sword hovering above the ground. “If you are so determined to die, at least tell me your name so I can mark your grave. Every man has the right to be remembered.”

His words are solemn and still his sword stays down, although I have no doubt he could cut me down in my state.

“Taff. My name is Taff.”

He nods. “Well, Taff, the next bit is on you. I would rather you live, but it’s your life and if death is what you truly want then I will grant it to you. However, if you stand down and hear me out first, I think you’ll be more satisfied with your options.”

I hesitate. The four and a half months of freedom I’d enjoyed had taught me one thing: life could be good. Was I ready to throw that chance away? I doubt Adonis had anything good in mind—I’ve been part of enough Soli operations to know when I’m being used—but the potential...if he was willing to have me healed, the chances of me escaping would increase.

But there’s nowhere to be free in. The great oxymoron. Escape only meant being trapped in a bigger cage. Still, the temptation is my weakness. If I die now, what am I leaving the world? Only my participation in the Soli crimes. If I let Adonis have his way, I will have more options.

I lower the hammer. “I might change my mind and kill you.”

Adonis grins. “I’m sure you’re thinking that I might do the same, so it’s only fair we’re both anxious. But for the record, I have no intention of killing you unless you ask. Would you mind sitting down, you look ready to pass out.”

Nikolie brings over a chair and I take it gingerly, turning it around to straddle it. Nikolie fusses over my wings. “Oh dear, I really should get this set.”

“Don’t touch me,” I hiss.

Adonis waves a hand. “Not now Nikolie. Let’s cool our heads first. I’m sure Taff will want his wing healed eventually. I can’t imagine flying would be something one would ever want to give up.”

Stepping closer Adonis begins to pace before speaking quietly, “Alright, now first things first, what I’m about to tell you is not exactly common knowledge. I’d rather no one heard but you and Nikolie.”

He gives a brief nod to the door where the guards must be.

“That being said,” Adonis grabs another chair and brings it close, “do you mind if I sit here?”

I shrug, if he wants to be in arms reach, that’s his risk.

“As I’m sure you’ve gathered, my family—the House of Killex—is one of the most powerful families in the empire. I’m the first son and also the family heir, but I want to be clear that I don’t want any of it.” Adonis’ voice gets sharp. “I am aware of the crimes of the empire and my family’s participation in them and want nothing to do with either of them. That being said, I can’t just walk away.”

“You wouldn’t survive anyway.” I snort.

To my surprise Adonis just grins. “Perhaps not, but more importantly the circumstances of my birth give me power. It would be irresponsible of me not to use that power to do something good for the world. I have a plan to both strike a blow against the empire and get me out. Once it’s complete, I’m going to join the rebellion and I’d like you to come with me.”

I stare at Adon. He’s crazy. The rebellion is a loose network of trouble makers, not an actual threat and I highly doubt they’d let the heir of House Killex into their ranks anyway. Of course, all of this is supposing he can manage to spit out his silver spoon.

Despite my no-doubt openly skeptical expression, Adonis continues, voice impassioned, “In three days, I’m going to one of my family's other estates to take private lessons—supposedly to prepare myself for enlisting as an officer. This is a ruse I’ve prepared to give myself six months to put my plan into action. When I saw you on the street, I realized that I could also use that time to get you back on your feet. Then we can find the rebellion, which is probably the safest place for you and the ones most likely to know how to get you wherever you want to go.”

“And what do you need from me?” I ask, a bit surprised I seem to be an outside factor in his grand scheme.

“For you not to die. Also not to break my ruse.” Adonis leans forward. “My father has no idea of my intentions, and should he find out, all hope of me crippling my house and country will be lost. I’ll probably be either killed as a traitor or locked up as a madman. I’m not asking you to risk yourself on my account, I honestly believe it’s your best bet if we can pull this off. However, for this to work, I need to be Lord Adonis Killex a while longer and that means I’ll be a different person until we get to the other estate.”

“You mean that you’ll treat me like your slave since I am.”

Adonis takes a deep breath. “Honestly, I don’t plan on seeing you at all. But, yes, I just ask that you give me three days. I’ll be a Killex for three more days and then spend the rest of my life making up for it. Once we get to the other estate, you’re a free man, Taff. Do we have a deal?”

He reaches out a hand and I eye it, thinking. It’s a bold claim and I don’t let myself believe it, but I need more time to heal anyway so I take the hand. Adonis waits for a verbal response, but I don’t have anything to say so he pulls away and stands up.

“I’ve probably been gone too long as it is. Taff, please let Nikolie treat you and don’t trust anyone but him.”

I nod and Adonis turns to the door. He straightens and swings it open. “Got it all sorted lads, keep up the good work.”

A guard peeks in, seeing me sitting and Nikolai giving me a critical eye and then the door shuts.

“Now for Star’s sakes, can I please set that wing.”