Chapter 147

   Burke was in coma for months after giving birth to his twin sons. Even after he regained consciousness, his recovery was slow.

   The only person he had contact was one of the sorcerer’s spirit helpers. It couldn’t speak and Burke wasn’t entirely sure that it was male.

   One day the sorcerer entered his chambers. He studied Burke for a long while before speaking.

   “It has been a year since you fulfilled your purpose here. I’m told that you have recovered physically from your ordeal. I have no use for you and since you survived the experience, I do not wish to kill you. So I have decided to sell you to a brothel.”

   Burke widened his eyes. “A brothel? Why?”

   “The man who procured you for me normally deals in such things. The tattoos on your body mark you for that trade. The tattoos cannot be removed, so you will be unable to return to a normal life.”

   He nodded. He could feel the magic imbued in the tattoos. He wanted to return home, but was ashamed of what had happened here. Even if he could leave, nothing would ever be the same again.

   A week later, Burke became the newest employee of The Soiled Dove. After a month of training, he took his first client. The nights soon blurred into each other with the help of alcohol and drugs. The owner of the brothel was delighted with his ability to withstand pain and heal quickly after injury. Soon enough most of his clientele were those men and women who enjoyed causing pain.