Page 37 of Curvy Hostage Mate
“I know you’re here,” Cain called out. “Why don’t you come out so my men don’t have to go traipsing through the woods after you?”
I closed my eyes in frustration as anxiety rippled through me. Remaining motionless, I thought about conjuring a portal, but I wouldn’t have time to cast one and step through it before they grabbed me. I could turn myself invisible, and I might get away, but it was risky, and something told me it wouldn’t work.
Cain snarled when I didn’t emerge. “I doubt they’ll be particularly gentle,” he added. “As long as you come back in one piece.”
There was no safe exit. Taking a deep breath, trying to ignore the unpleasant crawling sensation running up and down my spine, I stepped out into the clearing.
Cain’s eyes landed on me. Hunger flashed in them as he gave a slow, lecherous smile. He rose languidly to his feet and strolled over to me.
“Morgan,” he said, the word a sort of savage purr. “I’ve been so worried about you.”
His hand reached out. I took a large step back, keeping my distance. “I came here to strike a deal,” I said.
“Is that so?” he asked, sounding almost amused as he stepped closer once again.
“Take one more step, and I’ll turn you into a toad,” I said.
He tilted his head, a small smirk playing on his lips. “You’ve gotten a bit of spirit to you since you’ve been away, I see.”
With a fluid motion, he cleared the distance as his hand darted out, grabbing my wrist and yanking me toward him so I all but fell against him. His free hand grabbed the side of my face and forced it roughly upward so I was looking into his face. His thumb stroked my cheek as he held me in place.
“I look forward to breaking it,” he growled.
I tried to pull away, but his grip on my wrist tightened, nearly breaking bone.
“Now, now,” Cain said. His thumb stroked my chin as he pulled me even tighter against him. “There’s no point fighting. You’re here now. You came willingly.”
Glaring, I opened my mouth, preparing to utter an incantation.
“None of that.” He stuffed something rough and woolen into my mouth. “There. That’s better.”
Laughter from his men behind him. As the sound reverberated through the clearing, my hand slipped behind my back, dipping to my waistband and the sheathed knife hidden there. A moment later, I whipped out the blade and tried to drive it into his stomach.
He grabbed my arm inches before the tip of the blade would have pierced his skin. He looked down, almost with curiosity, then glanced up at me with an amused smirk.
He let out a laugh, taking the knife and plucking it from my hand. “You didn’t actually think that would do anything, did you?” he mocked. “I guess that bit of fight you got didn’t come with any more brains.”
I hadn’t expected to kill him. That hadn’t been the goal, but I couldn’t give away the real reason I had come. I had managed to switch the rings, even if I had been caught. The real ring was gone, transported far away into a drawer in the safehouse. Somewhere, Cain would never find it, not until it was too late.
Still holding me tight, Cain’s fingers ran along my neck, gently caressing as he studied it with interest and mild distaste. “You lost your lovely collar,” he said. “We’ll have to fix that.”
He snapped his fingers, and his cronies sprang into action. One of his men wrapped a dull iron collar around my neck and handed the chain to Cain. The instant it closed, I could feel my magic dampening, muted. After several weeks of freedom, the change made me feel almost sick, like I wasn’t whole.
Cain plucked the fabric from my mouth. I spat out the loose threads.
“This will do until we get you a prettier one,” he said, the back of his hand caressing my cheek, sending shivers of revulsion running through me.
I tried to pull away from his touch, but he yanked on the chain, locking me in place. “But at least now you won’t get any more silly ideas about casting more spells.”
“Go to hell, asshole,” I snarled.
His eyes flashed dangerously, narrowing slightly as he let out a growl. He jerked on the chain, bringing me close.
“I would suggest you mind your tone,” he hissed. “In case you haven’t noticed, you aren’t exactly in a position to be mean to me, now are you?”
My lips curled into a sneer as I glowered up at him, but I said nothing. He gave a rough laugh as he looked down on me.
“You’re so cute when you’re angry,” he said. “But I would recommend you learn to behave yourself before the mating ceremony. I don’t want to have to retrain you more than necessary.”
