Page 10 of Alpha's Claim

Heat rolls down my inner thighs. What if he’s rough?

A trembling starts in my legs. It’s fear, not arousal. Definitely not arousal.

“A little more lip gloss.” Ellie grabs a tube and swipes the wand of clear plumping gloss across my lips, even though I thought they were already quite moist. She surveys her work once more. “Perfect.”

I don’t enlist Ellie’s help. I tried once, years ago, and shegrew terrified. Tears streaked her face, and she begged me not to speak of it again.

“I can’t help you,” she’d whispered.

I figured Thom had some leverage over her, too. Something to keep her in line, same as he keeps me in line. So to spare her–my only “friend” here now that Wren is gone–I don’t make a fuss.

I glance at the clock. “I still have fifteen minutes. I’m going to read.” I crawl up on my four-poster with no consideration of whether I wrinkle my virgin business woman outfit.

Ellie opens her mouth to argue, but I’ve already picked upThe Spymaster’s Lady, the Joanna Bourne romance I’m reading for the seventh time. She closes her mouth again. “Of course. I’ll see you later.” She slips out the door.

Usually on weekends, I spend as much time outside as I can, since my weekdays are spent in a work dungeon with only blue light from the monitors. Today I had no desire to rub elbows with my suitors, though. Suitors is probably not an apt term, even if I am living a fairytale nightmare. My would-be owners? Jailors?

Anyway, after my morning ride, I spent the rest of the day voluntarily locked in my chambers, reading. Escapism is the best I can hope for.

Escapism and…

I’m not hoping for the Viking to be the winner. I definitelydon’twant a man like that.

Okay, maybe I do. He’s the least like my foster father of all of them, at least in appearance. He took that giant, muscled body into the cold ocean this morningfor fun. And he defended me last night.

But he’s still a horrible human engaging in human trafficking and forced labor. Of course, he might not understandthe extent of Thom’s control over me. Maybe he thinks I’m willing. That I profit from the deal, too.

A light tap sounds on my door, and I tense before it opens, knowing who will be there.

I’m already swinging my legs off the bed to stand when Thom walks in.

“Ah. Darling.” He spreads his arms in my direction. “You look magnificent.”

“Not your darling,” I say through clenched teeth.

He drops the fatherly pretense. “Remember what we talked about,” he warns. “I didn’t care for your lifeless act last night.” He cups my chin, and I wrench back, out of his grasp.

“I did everything you asked of me,” I seethe.

He nods. “You did. And you’d better continue to do so, or Wren will suffer the consequences.”

Hot tears spear my eyes. “Leave her out of this. That’s all I ever ask of you.”

He smiles, like he’s pleased he won my tears. “And I have upheld my end of the bargain. You are the one who tried to flee.”

My nose burns. I clench my fists so tightly my nails dig into my palms. “It won’t happen again,” I say stiffly.

“Good.” He beckons to me. “Now, put on your mask. I expect you to make a better impression than you did last night. I’m not just leasing your services to your new fiance.”

Alarm bells go off. The room swoops around me. Cold rushes through my limbs. Somehow, I know that whatever he means, it’s going to be terrible.

“What are you talking about?” I don’t keep the warble out of my voice.

“The highest bidder will also take your virginity, darling. We’ve kept you locked away from men for far toolong,” he says as he ties the mask on. “It’s high time I breed you to see if my grandchildren are equally as talented.”

I catch the wall to keep from falling over. Now the cold turns to hot, like hot iron pouring down through the top of my head and into my chest, creating a terrible rushing in my ears.

Thom’s lips twist into a satisfied smile at my reaction. He picks up the masquerade mask and walks around behind me to put it on.

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