Page 78 of Her Tortured Beasts

My father glances at me, frowning as if he’s wondering who it is too. We had ten approved bidders tonight, and he doesn’t like surprises.

Uncle Fabian chuckles as if this is good fun before pressing his button with a flourish.

“Twenty-two!”

I send another message.

“Twenty-three to anonymous bidder six!” cries the auctioneer. “What’ll it be, Lord Fabian?”

“Twenty-four, of course,” Uncle Fabian replies, ever so smooth.

Discreetly, my fingers fly across my phone screen.

“Twenty-five from Anonymous Six! Come on, Lord Fabian, I know you’ve got it in you.”

My uncle taps his knee in thought. “I’m out.” He puts up his palms.

Now it’s my turn for my heart to pitter-patter. I glare at the stage.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” the auctioneer says, mopping his forehead with a black kerchief. “I believe now is the time for any more surprise bids!” The room is pin-drop silent. Everyone looks around the room, but the screen doesn’t flash again.

Draconic satisfaction winds through my insides, greedy and golden.

“Ladies and gentlemen, Drakos Estate, Naga House…” He bows towards my father and Mace Naga. “Tonight has been the highlight of my career. I thank you.” He smashes his gavel. “Soldfor twenty-five million dollars to Anonymous Bidder Six.”

A raucous applause ensues, and for some blasted reason that has everything to do with power, I fold my arms and smirk.

Chapter 43

Lyle

We stand at the ruins of The Lily Institute around Scythe, who crouches down, crushing a piece of rubble with his fingers. Darkness coils around his entire being. Violence curls around all three of us.

The entire complex has been destroyed. The casualties are in the hundreds, the injured being carted out on stretchers by more ambulances and healing eagles than I can count. It wasn’t fire that destroyed Scythe’s pride and joy, nor water.

The humans put it down to an earthquake. But we know better.

It was telekinesis.

They had ripped the place apart with sheer force alone.

It’s Beak who brings us the picture, tentative, unsure as he steps through the rubble. He’s covered in blood that’s not his, healing as many patients as he can in rapid succession. Saving the innocent lives affected by this horror.

“What is it?” Savage growls.

Beak holds it out to me as I stand closest to him. I take it, turning it over because he’s been trying to hide it from passersby.

When I lay eyes on the photos, on my regina, naked in that medieval cage, gagged and enraged,my entire universe crumbles around me, just like The Lily Institute.

This had been a distraction. They had used the innocents inside The Lily Institute to keep us from interrupting the auction of my regina.

The roar in my head rattles the bones of my skull.

Chapter 44

Aurelia

I’m wheeled off the bright stage with confusion roiling in my belly. The bidding had gone as expected, but I’d not anticipated so many anonymous bidders. I don’t remember any from Scythe’s auction, and it unsettled me not knowing which parties wanted a piece of me.

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