Page 13 of Wolf Caged
Yet she continued to try, banging against the bars and snarling.
Admirable.
“Everyone, take your seats.” The blond clapped his hands and the males broke apart and filtered away into the shadows, each taking a seat and leaving several empty between them.
The largest gap remained between myself and what appeared to be a vampire. At least I smelled blood on him. No trace of red in his eyes as he glanced at me several times, revealing his nerves.
I kept my expression bored as I studied my opponents, adding more details to my mental catalogue of them, discerning their breeds and strength, in case one of them decided not to take defeat lying down.
Spotlights fell on the cage, all very dramatic and apparently impressive to the eager males who leaned forwards in their seats. A murmur of anticipation ran through the room, but Iremained where I was, still and calm, revealing an unaffected fae king who had seen this kind of thing countless times in my long life, even when it was new to me.
That mask almost slipped as someone pulled on the thick rope attached to the velvet cloth and it lifted to reveal my prize.
My blood thrummed as my eyes landed on the frantic little female and I found myself leaning forwards, pulled towards her as she bashed the cage with her fists and snarled, flashing fangs at the males groping her bare curves with their lustful eyes.
And when she lifted her head, chin tipping up in defiance…
By the Great Mother, the sight of her hit me like a punch in the chest.
This was no mere wolf shifter.
She was beyond beautiful, and had I not known her breed, I could easily have believed she was fae, with her long silver hair and unearthly blue eyes.
I could not tear my gaze from her, but I somehow managed to conceal my shock, carefully schooling my expression into one of indifference as my shadows kept her blind to me.
Her bare breasts swung as she pivoted on a male who had dared to stand and flashed her fangs, hatred burning in her eyes. Such ferocity. Such beauty. Such defiance even when she was on her knees, the cage too small to allow her to stand.
She roused my body and captured my attention as no other had before.
I hid my grimace as I eased back into my seat and lifted one leg to rest my ankle on my knee, concealing her effect on me so the other males would not see it.
Her vicious gaze snapped to me, as if she could see me through the cloak of shadows, the feel of her eyes on me a danger I had not been prepared to face. It threatened to rip at my control. I clamped down on my unruly desires, chaining themand shattering them, and coolly stared at her, revealing nothing to the males now watching me.
Not a shred of interest.
I was not here for what they were.
This female was not destined to warm my bed.
She was a tool, a key that would unlock my vengeance.
And that was all.
She continued to peer at me, the stillest she had been since I had entered the room, but that quiet fierceness remained, bewitching me. I had never imagined such a delicate creature could be so ferocious. So fae like. That glow in her eyes spoke of terrible thoughts.
Dark desires.
If I were to unlock her cage, I had no doubt that she would rip out the throat of the other wolf with her fangs and then she would turn on everyone else.
Even me.
“One hundred thousand.” The possible-vampire raised his hand, gaining the attention of the ringleader of this auction, his bodyguard and the female in the cage.
A paltry sum for what this despicable wolf was selling—the virginity of such a charming creature.
“One fifty.” This from the male who had kept his hood up, concealing his face. He carried the scent of magic.
“Two.” The vampire apparently did not want to be outdone.
