Page 25 of Royal Captive
I tried to look for Annie through the crowd, but didn’t see her.
“This one.” Barthos pounded a massive fist on the second door on the left, despite the key sticking between his fingers. “Open! Why won’t it open?”
He was loud and getting more irate, so I pried the key from his fingers and opened it myself, turning the doorknob. Barthos fell into the room as the door opened, nearly smashing his face on the floor. I shut the door behind us and put my back to it, watching him warily.
“Ooooh,” he groaned, flopping down onto the bed so hard that something cracked. The bed held, though. It wouldn’t surprise me to learn magick was involved. Nothing would surprise me anymore.
“C’mere.” He patted the bed space next to him.
The request was innocuous enough, so, cautiously, I perched myself on the edge of the bed next to him. Hands snatched out and grabbed me, pulling me down into him hard against the planes of his chest. My nose squashed against the fabric of his tunic, rougher than Shyllon’s. He smelled strongly of drink, but not like Ellis. This man smelled of rotting fruit and greed.
“Mmm. It’s been so long since I’ve held a female.” His smell overwhelmed me as he wrapped his arms around me and squeezed. An odd sound left my throat, but then he tucked me into his side and went limp.
And started snoring loudly.
Shocked, I didn’t dare move a muscle. Had I gotten lucky or was this his plan all along? If so, it was a little sad. Part of my heart cracked open as I relaxed.
He must have felt me subconsciously loosen because he lifted his head and nuzzled my neck, then fell back against the bed again. I tensed all over again.
You got fucking lucky. Quit complaining.
I didn’t know the rules or what I was supposed to do next. Was I supposed to stay? Could I leave?
Figuring I could at least beg ignorance if I wasn’t supposed to go, I carefully slid out from under his arms and stood at the side of the bed, watching to see if he noticed.
He kept snoring.
I left the key on the wardrobe next to the door and tiptoed out of the room, easing the door quietly shut behind me.
Out in the hallway, I exhaled a heavy breath. The house was quiet now, though muffled sounds of love-making were heard here and there, mingled with feminine cries and male groans.
I crossed above the stairs and went to the other side, where all the ‘workers’ without partners had gone. A snort left me at the thought. Workers indeed.
The first door on the right opened, and Annie stuck her head out. “Eve!”
“Annie! What—”
“Get in here!” She pulled me into a large, dark room lined with double bunk beds on both sides—enough for ten people. “Are you OK? I was so worried when that brute grabbed you—”
“I was worried about you!” I protested back.
A pillow hit me in the side of the head and I whirled around. “Will you shut it? One night this week I get a fucking break, and of course, the fresh meat comes in. Fucking hate newbies.”
Oh.
“Sorry,” I mumbled.
Annie led me over to the corner of the room where an empty set of bunk beds waited, rough, scratchy sheets lying over a small lump that was supposed to be a pillow.
“I spent the evening running around and learning. By not staying in one place, I don’t think anyone could get a hold of me.” Annie grinned devilishly, and I couldn’t help but return the infectious gesture.
“What did you learn?” I pressed.
“There are thirty women and a dozen men who live here,” she began quickly and quietly. “Cassus has his own suite on the top floor and owns this house. He owns a bunch, I guess.”
I nodded, knowing that already.
“Cassus is rarely here, I guess, but will stay a few nights. It has Giselle in an uproar. That’s the blonde woman in charge,” Annie added, seeing my confusion. “Apparently, he used to havea thing with her and is the reason she got to be in charge, but since he mated, he’s left her alone.”
