Page 108 of Her Tortured Beasts

“Thanks,” Savage says loudly. He showered, for once, if only at the thought that he might get a glimpse of his regina. Lyle wears a white dress shirt and slacks, and I’m in my usualblack shirt and pants, despite this heat. Connor wears his usual stilettos as well as black denim cut-offs and a flowered blouse.

It would do me well to swim in cold, cold brine, but my mind is fixed on my regina. “She’s in her throne room, I imagine,” I say to the girl.

“Please follow me,” is all she replies. “Connor, please follow my colleague.”

Connor gives us a final nod before setting his suitcase on the floor and wheeling it after the roo anima. I wonder if I will ever see him again.

The first roo turns around and, with her rear in almost full view, leads us to The Collector. Savage makes anare-you-serious?face at the girl’s back, but we all know Lady Crocodylus is very purposeful in her reception of us.

In her taunting of us.

We are led to a drawing room, which she has styled with a long emerald carpet, leading to a large, elaborate green and gold throne. She looks ridiculous sitting in it, but she tries her best with her cigarette and the bare legs draped over the armrest.

She’s also in lingerie.

As we enter, nothing but three murderous predators on a hunt, her flirtatious smile widens before she draws on her cigarette. I lead the way, and despite stopping at a fair distance away, she holds out her hand, tipped in long gold nails.

“Your Majesty,” she purrs.

She’s the only one who calls me that. I might hold the marine seat at the council, but the title was never cold enough for what I am.

“My lady,” I say formally, ignoring her hand by crossing my hands over my belt buckle. “We are pleased you accepted our request for a meeting.”

“I am also quite pleased,” she purrs, rising from her seat and revealing how sheer her crimson babydoll nightie is.

Savage lets out a sound of irritation, looking around the room with impatience. There is a fish tank by the wall, bubbling away under a UV light. Seaweed and artificial rocks along with a miniature castle line the bottom, making it look full. I wonder if one of her ‘collectables’ lies sleeping in there. Some rare aquatic creature.

“Forgive me for my dress. I wasn’t expecting you so late.”

“It is of no consequence to us. We have a regina,” Lyle says dismissively.

“Of course, of course.” She doesn’t miss a beat, waving her hand to the servants behind us. “We will discuss matters now, of course. You must be hungry, no? I am, of course, well versed in the needs of alpha males such as yourselves.”

Revulsion scores through me at her overt flirtation.

Savage cracks his neck as servants hurry forth, carrying an entire table laden with a roast dinner and…sushi. There is raw steak for Savage and two whole roast ducks with plum sauce for Lyle.

She’s done her research.

“I’m not hungry, Collector,” Savage announces.

Her eyes flick down the length of Savage’s body, his bare torso with the tattoo of the snarling wolf’s head. “Please call me Katerina, Savage. I am most happy you didn’t decide to dress for me. Word on the street is that you’ve been quite a busy feral boy.”

Chairs are brought out for us and The Collector sits down, bringing up her bare legs to rest on the edge of the chair as if to show them to us. “Please, eat while we talk.”

Lyle and I sit, but Savage chooses to pace the room behind us.“I want my regina,” he says.

Katerina’s eyes flare with something for a moment. As a crocodile, her aura is hard to read. She’s naturally protected byher Triassic skin, from both physical harm and being read. But I’m strong enough to see a flash of bright, venomous green.

Jealousy, then.

“We are aware,” I say, picking up my chopsticks and selecting several pieces of sushi, “that Aurelia has been sold at auction.”

Savage prowls to the fish tank in the corner, bending down and all but pressing his nose to the glass.

“Don’t break it, Sav,” Lyle warns.

“I won’t,” he says irritably.

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