Page 6 of Her Tortured Beasts

Spawn gapes at me before she’s forced to rise from the chair.

“Indeed,” my father says haughtily. “Dragons of old kept chosen pets close by, and we’ve taken up the tradition. Sometimes, I tote my human slaves around if I have need for it.”

Ghoul clucks his tongue as if this is exactly what he expected from dragons.

I can’t see Mace’s reaction, for I’m choosing to ignore the worm. In fact, pretending neither reptiles are here will be for the best. If the king of worms thoughthe’dbe in control of this situation, he has another thing coming. The investment is here because of me. Not him.

My father makes an amused sound in his throat. “We will speak in the morning, my son.”

Hearing those words from his mouth makes my chest go tight. “Of course, Father.” I incline my head. “My thanks to you.”

He pats me on the shoulder twice before turning around, nodding to Mace and sweeping away to his rooms.

I too turn my back upon the weevils, tugging Spawn along. She trips on her own feet before scuttling in my wake.

Not her. Not she.It.I must never forget that.

Chapter 3

Ghoul

The serpent king and I watch the newly reinstated heir of Drakos Estate stalk away with our prize after sending our scientists scattering.

Once the hall is emptied, with nothing but the old dragon statues to cast their sinister eyes over us, Mace turns to me. “We cannot afford the same mistakes as last time. She must be broken. That is imperative. And I want you to ensure that.”

I bow low and purr, “With theutmostpleasure, Your Majesty.”

Chapter 4

Aurelia

Whatever I imagined being held captive would be like, it was notthis:

Being led on a Goddess-forsaken leash by a cruel and silent Xander through the hallowed halls of his monstrosity of a home.

The prodding, the poking, even the drawing of blood I could suffer through. Expected it, really. A part of me may have hoped that this is some kind of protection, something that Xander could only have thought of to keep me away from whatever horrors my father has planned for me. Except…it had beenhisfather who had brought out the chain and collar, and Xander had blinked at it for a moment, as if stunned. He’d recovered quickly, of course, and the revelation that this is a private custom performed by dragons for centuries leaves a stone in the pit of my stomach.

Whatever could be said of serpent court, they’d never done anything like this. There are no more prideful, arrogant creatures than dragons.

As if this entire thing isn’t already embarrassing enoughwithoutthe collar and chain.

Xander says nothing as I follow him up a set of grand, carpeted stairs, the glistening golden chain slack between my neck and his hand as I hurry after his long stride.

Whatdoesone say to the mate who rejected her so brutally? I’d asked for his help in my plan to surrender only because any obstruction from him would have stopped the entire operation. Xander might be powerful, but I also knew he’d wanted me gone from his life. That was the reason that allowed me to ask him to do this. The end result was me out of his life.

But…this result is the exact opposite.

The backs of my eyes burn and I stumble over my bare feet once again, catching myself just in time. I wrap my arms around my middle as if I can hold myself together.

Because Iwillhold myself together if it’s the last fucking thing I do on this earth.

There are clues here, I must remember, both in this majestic place and the people who occupy it. Clues to fuel my revenge. Weapons I might be able to use against these creatures.

As we walk up the stairs, people appear from the shadows as if they’ve been waiting. Humans, by the smell of them, smartly dressed in formal black and white maid and butler attire. Two of them, a middle-aged man and woman, wait at the top of the stairs, bowing and curtseying deeply as we come to stand before them.

They both avert their eyes to the richly carpeted crimson floor.

“My Lord Xander,” the man says. “It is a great pleasure to see you once again. And a greater pleasure still, to be your manservant.”

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