She must have come down in search of him when she'd woken up alone. Though it was early, they'd also gone to bed before dinner. She'd probably gotten enough sleep. "Come here, meet Rhys," Aaron said. "Rhys, this is Lorelei. She came with me to help find the girls."

  "You brought a courtesan with you?" Rhys asked, shocked.

  Lorelei stepped closer. "I'm not a courtesan." She flashed him the brand on her wrist. "You're an amber?" she asked. "I've never seen anyone with anything other than sapphire eyes."

  That had been a result of the Gem Apocalypse. The Sapphire's had won in Brayleigh.

  "We're rare, but not extinct."

  Aaron cleared his throat. "What can you tell me about the girls we're looking for?"

  Rhys snorted under his breath. "Aside from the fact it would have been easier if you had just showed up at the rendezvous point?" He looked Lorelei over a second time. "Are you sure we haven't met before?"

  "I don't get out much," Lorelei said, not divulging anything about her past.

  He studied her face another moment before his eyes lit up and he lifted the pistol from his slacks, holding it up at the red-haired young woman. "You're that murderess!"

  Aaron swallowed nervously, throwing his arm forward as he jumped in front of Rhys. "Are you crazy?"

  "I've seen her picture and that name! It's not that common," Rhys said, sure of himself.

  Lorelei rested her hand on Aaron's shoulder. "Do you want to take me back, make me a slave again?" she asked, stepping forward as she showed him her hands and put them together to restrain her. "Do it." She showed no hint of fear.

  Rhys shook his head and lowered the gun. "I'm not onboard with slavery. I just don't think murderers should be walking free."

  "Neither do I. My uncle is the one that killed my parents. He blamed me for their deaths and then sold me into slavery," Lorelei said. She refused to meet Aaron's stare.

  "Where's your uncle now?" Aaron asked.

  Lorelei shook her head, uncertain. "Dead I hope."

  It was an awful thought to have but the prince agreed with her. A man that sold a young girl and murdered her family deserved death.

  "Why do you know her?" Aaron asked.

  Rhys sighed. "After the girl was sold, some questions arose about the double homicide. Her uncle insisted she was responsible but wouldn't divulge the name of the slave trader. If he did, he feared the money might have to be returned. Signs were posted through the market. Word traveled amongst the rebels looking for the young woman. No one really knew whether to believe the uncle or first hear what the girl had to say."

  "It's been years," Lorelei said. "How do you even remember me?"

  Rhys stepped closer. "It's rare to hear about a murderess prowling the land. Honestly, we wanted her on our side, as part of the rebel agenda. It seemed like a good way to infiltrate our enemies."

  Aaron snorted under his breath. "You mean my father's palace."

  "You're the one funding our militia," Rhys said, reminding the prince of his position with the rebels.

  "You don't really care about my story, do you? I mean I didn't kill my parents, and you still want me as part of your rebel group?"

  The rebel soldier shrugged. "That's up to you whether you desire to tell the story or not. The stories created, I suppose they're myths, are only as strong as the person. Do you have it in you to take a life?" Rhys asked.

  "She does," Aaron said, speaking up for Lorelei. He wouldn't let her incriminate herself for murder, not that anyone would likely care. The only court involved his father, and he was far from knowing what transpired. "But she's not riding off into the sunset with your rebel men."

  "I can speak for myself," Lorelei said, crossing her arms across her chest.

  Aaron shot her a look, a warning to be careful. Befriending the rebels was one thing, becoming one of them was something else entirely. He didn't say a word, not wanting an argument in front of Rhys. It wasn't appropriate.

  "I appreciate the offer, but at this point I'd have to decline," Lorelei said.

  The prince breathed a sigh of relief.

  Rhys merely shrugged, showing no sign of disappointment. He probably hadn't expected her to say yes. As it was, he certainly hadn't anticipated seeing her that morning. "Your call," Rhys said. He turned to face Aaron. "I'll get you the information on your girls, but it's going to require more than just the two of you to mount any type of rescue mission. Let me help you."

  Aaron's eyes narrowed. "How much?" He knew there was always a price with Rhys. He wasn't offering out of the goodness of his heart. Not that he didn't have an agenda that involved destroying and dismantling the slave trade, but if he could do it for a price, why wouldn't he?

  Whatever the price was, Aaron would pay it. Riley and Sabrina's lives were worth that much, even if they had pissed him off.

  Chapter Eleven

  Lorelei, Rhys, and Aaron spent three days traveling and preparing to rescue Sabrina and Riley. After contact had been made with a rebel that knew of their whereabouts, the three of them traveled closer to enemy territory, near the slave trade ring operation. By the time they arrived, it'd been too late and the girls had been purchased by a single buyer, Kyle Mattock.

  Aaron had been familiar with Kyle and his perversion of women. He was well known through the slave trade markets, purchasing women for his black market brothel establishments where men could visit, and for an hour pretend to be a prince of Brayleigh. It sickened Aaron to think what his girls would be subjected to while enslaved.

  "How are we going to get Sabrina and Riley?" Aaron asked. He sat at a long wooden table across from Rhys. On the table was an open blueprint that someone had drawn of the brothel, its location, and how to get there.

  "We take down Kyle Mattock," Rhys said.

  Aaron stared at Rhys. "Is the mission to rescue the girls or to kill Kyle?" He needed to know that Sabrina and Riley were the first priority.

  Rhys remained quiet for a moment longer than necessary. Aaron knew without a doubt what that meant, the girls came second. If they could stop Kyle, it would prevent other women from falling victim to his establishment. "We do what we have to. Our men would rather take out the slave trade ring, but since that isn't our priority, we've got to make do with our resources."

  "I'll help," Lorelei said. "If someone can give me a gun, I know how to use it."

  A rebel soldier walked in, smiling when he heard her words. "I bet you do. Is this the legend?" he asked.

  "Brent, I'd like you to meet, Lorelei," Rhys introduced them.

  Lorelei's face reddened as she scowled at Rhys. "I can't believe you told him!"

  "I didn't say anything," Rhys said, rolling his eyes. "It's not much of a secret when a girl named Lorelei with red-hair enters our camp. Everyone talks. Word travels fast."

  Brent's eyes were brown and Lorelei looked him over before reaching for Aaron's hand, showing him she was taken. "When can I get that gun?" she asked again.

  * * * * *

  They drove as close as possible to the facility, needing the car as a getaway device if they weren't able to stop Kyle. Aaron stepped out of the vehicle. They'd all been well armed for the raid. Lorelei had changed clothes, borrowing a pair of pants and a t-shirt, in fatigue colors. The clothes weren't nearly as beautiful as the outfit she'd worn at the palace, but it also would help her blend into their surroundings. Wearing bright red and gold was sure to stand out.

  Rhys accompanied them, as did Brent, Peter, and Saul. It was a small team with two getaway cars. They would need an escape plan. Hell they needed more of a plan than the one Rhys had come up with, which involved Dylan drawing a few corridors. He'd been to the facility once or twice, on business.

  No one knew the exact layout of the brothel. From the entrance through the first corridor was mapped out, but there had to be a back door, a hidden exit, some place that Kyle would escape from. Dylan wasn't invited to join the raid.

  Brent, Peter, and Saul headed through the wooded forest and to the opposite side of the building. The brothel had once been a mansion. The outside looked considerably nice for a shitty establishment. How had Kyle restored the building or kept it to himself? Perhaps being part of the slave trade offered a certain level of protection.

  Rhys, Lorelei, and Aaron headed for the front door.

  "Now or never," Rhys said, trying the handle. The door remained unlocked. He headed inside, his gun drawn.

  Aaron and Lorelei both held their weapons up, prepared to shoot if necessary. Though Aaron doubted he'd have to shoot anyone other than Kyle, he was ready for whatever developed.

  Rhys stormed through the foyer where a receptionist behind the front desk screamed and hit a button, setting off the alarm. The lights shut off and a red light flashed as the siren wailed. Aaron wanted to cover his ears but he refused. He kept the gun steady and inched forward. The receptionist ducked behind the desk.

  "Go find your girls. I'll go after Kyle," Rhys said.

  "Not alone." Aaron wasn't going to have Rhys risk his life. He needed backup.

  A set of keys sat on the receptionist's desk. Aaron snagged them, tossing them to Lorelei. "Let the girls free, all of them. I'm going with Rhys."

  Lorelei knew her place and probably didn't want another spanking. With a brief nod, she took the keys and started with the first locked room, before going to the second, letting the girls escape.

  "Stop right there!" Aaron shouted, catching sight of Kyle as he escaped one of the girl's rooms at the far end of the hall and skidded down the corridor when he turned.

  Aaron and Rhys went after him, chasing him to the rear entrance.

  Kyle slowed but he didn't stop, forcing the door open into the bright sun and warm air.

  Outside Saul stood, gun drawn pointing it at Kyle's head. "Don't move!" He warned him. The safety had been cocked off.

  Kyle put his hands up in the air and stopped moving. He wasn't going to get shot.

  While Saul and Rhys put Kyle in restraints, Aaron headed back inside to check on Lorelei and the girls. "Lorelei!" he shouted, glancing at the open doors.

  "I'm trying to help you," Lorelei said, staring at Riley.

  "You, help me?" Riley laughed under her breath. "I don't need rescuing. I'm doing just fine here, thank you."

  Sabrina stood awkwardly in the hallway. She scratched at her arms, shivering as she glanced from the open door of the exit to her friend's room. "Come on, Riley."

  Aaron stepped into the room, seeing the standoff between Riley and Lorelei. His nostrils flared. Why was Riley still here? "March your bottom right out that door." He pointed at the corridor. "Now!"

  "I don't have to listen to you any longer," Riley said. "What are you going to do? Stomp your foot? You can't spank me."

  Aaron felt torn, debating whether it was appropriate to toss her over his knee right there, in front of Lorelei and Sabrina, just to prove he could. She wasn't his anymore though, and he knew that he'd given up the right to spank and discipline her as needed.

  "No, I can't." He shook his head and turned stalking out the door. "Lorelei, let's go."

  Lorelei shuffled right behind him, quick to catch up.

  Aaron headed back toward the car. Saul and Peter were putting Kyle into the backseat. With the number of girls that had been rescued, they'd more than just a few seats to drive the girls someplace safer.

  "We'll be back," Saul said.

  Aaron nodded as Saul and Peter drove Kyle away from the brothel. The prince didn't know what would happen to Kyle. Would they drive him twenty minutes away and shoot him, leaving his body for animals to find the remains? Or did they intend to bring him before King Gideon. Aaron doubted his father would do much to discipline the man. Though it did undermine the harem.

  Lorelei slipped her hand into Aaron's. "I'm glad everything went smoothly today. Well, as much as can be expected." She gestured toward the front entrance. Riley stood by the door, glancing outside but hadn't embraced her freedom. Had it been because Lorelei had helped rescue her, or was she still angry with Aaron for forcing her to leave the harem?

  "I won't force her to come with us," Aaron said. "That's her choice."

  "She can't stay here." Lorelei looked appalled by the idea. "The slave traders know of Kyle's brothel. They'll be back. If she's hanging around, they'll probably just integrate her back into their system and sell her again."

  Aaron sighed. "I hate it when you're right."

  "Me too," Lorelei said. "Do you want to try talking to her?"

  "Yeah, I probably should." He leaned in, dropping a kiss to Lorelei's lips before releasing his grip on her hand. "Stay here. Make sure the other girls don't get too far from the vehicle or the house."

  Aaron headed back for the front porch. Riley slipped farther into the house, keeping out of his grasp. Just by looking at her, he knew she was mad at him.

  "You don't get to show up and tell me what to do!"

  "You're right." Aaron tried to be as diplomatic as possible. "I don't have that power anymore."

  She leaned against the wall that sat nestled behind her. "What about Suzie?" She pointed at the receptionist that continued to cower in fear. "Are you going to execute her too?"

  "No one said anything about executing Kyle." Aaron didn't know without a doubt that's what was being done. He wasn't in charge of the rebel leaders or their militia.

  "You don't have to say it," Riley said. "We all know that's what happens. The rebels murder anyone that doesn't agree with their plans. You know, the palace, your father. It's next."

  Aaron wasn't going to listen to her threats and wild ideas. "Is that why Kyle told you when he bought you?" He stepped closer, brooding over her. "I could just as easily buy you back, sell you to someone I know will keep you safe."

  "You wouldn't dare!" Riley shouted, throwing her fists at his chest.

  He captured her arms in his hands. "No, I wouldn't."

  Tears quickly fell, slipping past her cheeks. "I want to go back to the palace."

  He couldn't make that happen. Even if he wanted to, and only a small part of him did, it was against the rules. "It's over, Riley," Aaron said. "I love you, but you hurt me."

  She pulled away from his grasp and wiped the snot from her face. "So, what? You hurt me in retaliation by selling me off? You swore you'd never do that to your girls!"

  Aaron knew she was right. He'd made a promise that he hadn't intended to break. "I'm here now." It was the truth. He might have screwed up, but he'd come as quickly as he could to save her and stop any farther damage from being done to those he cared about.

  Her eyes stared at the stained carpeting. "No, you're not. You're with Lorelei and your other courtesans. Go back to the palace, Aaron."

  "I will, as soon as you're safely away from the slave traders." He wasn't going to leave her or the other women to fend for themselves. They'd be herded like animals into the next auction.

  "Fine." She relented.

  Chapter Twelve

  "Why?" Lorelei asked Rhys. "Why run a rebel army when the king could have you executed for treason?"

  "He could, but he won't." Rhys sounded cocky of his answer and probably for good reason. The prince would protect him, wouldn't he? "It all boils down to Gems. Have you noticed how many Gems visit the royal harem and how few ever get turned down? We want to protect the girls."

  "You want to protect the population," Aaron said, knowing where this was heading. "You worry that only princes will be able to conceive children with different eye color."

  "It is a concern," Rhys said. He cleared his throat. "I got word today about where Kyle made the initial sale for the girls. The auction house is only a few miles north of our location. At first daylight we're heading out to raid the facility, rescue any girls and take down the lead operator, who we believe is working with Gideon."

  Aaron exhaled loudly. "That's a big mission with little prep."

  "We have all we need," Rhys said. "A grown man faced with death, you'd be surprised the amount of information that seeps from his lips like a sprig."

  "You trust Kyle's information?" Aaron asked, skeptical that it would be useful.

  "He knows we'll kill him if he's wrong. He's hungry and desperate. We've kept him locked up for two days."

  "Or he's counting on the fact we don't return because we're already dead." Aaron didn't want to go in blindly or trust a man that would easily have them killed.

  * * * * *

  At first light, they drove north. Aaron was still tired and Lorelei slept with her head on his shoulder in the backseat. Her hand rested on his thigh. He placed his hand above hers and tried his best to relax. There were two cars ahead of them and another followed behind their vehicle.

  Kyle's information better be reliable.

  Rhys had called every militia member within a reasonable radius to help with the raid. Aaron's stomach bubbled with nerves. Since when was he a fighter? Maybe he should have waited back at the palace.

  He couldn't go home. Not until he knew the man that sold Riley and Sabrina was dead. Would another slave trade owner rise in his place and collect the women from the palace? Probably, but Aaron only had so much power, even as a prince his hands were tied in many ways.

  In the vehicle behind them, Riley and Sabrina teamed up with the rebels. Though they didn't have much training and Aaron had warned them against joining, the rebels had provided the girls with weapons and tactical gear. As the last group, they weren't the first running into the line of fire.

  The prince no longer had control over Riley and Sabrina. They weren't his courtesans; he couldn't order them around.

  They drove nearer and as they approached, a barb-wired fence surrounded the building inside. Rhys parked the car along with the other rebels as they stepped out from the vehicle.

  "Where's the bolt cutters?" Rhys asked.

  Brent opened the trunk and pulled them out, walking toward the fence as they cut the lock and pushed open the gate, allowing them to quietly cover all exits of the facility.

 

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