Page 10 of Captured By the Scaled Outlaw
Eyes trail from my lips to my chest, then back up to hold my gaze with fully dilated pupils. His nostrils flare with a steady rhythm.
I can’t tell what he’s thinking.
I quickly pull my face back to a neutral position, realizing that he enjoys my torment and hopes for more.
The corners of Lowell’s lips twitch as I awkwardly shift my weight, trying to regain my senses. The fire in his eyes softens to a gentle ember, their previous blaze quelled.
“So, what’ll it be?” He keeps his voice low and growling.
“I don’t think you’ll find anyone who would accept being kidnappedand forced to work, no matter the cause,” I reply.
“It’s a simple question, May,” Lowell counters, his expression impatient. “Accept or refuse, but do so before I get bored. I haven’t had dinner, so if you wait too long, I’ll choose for you.” His expression turns sadistic while his fingers flex stiffly.
The look in his eyes is chilling.
To put it bluntly: My situation is far from ideal. Since Lowell is far from the type to show compassion or understanding — or any complex emotion, really — my life is essentially decided by his current emotions. Emotions that are wild and unpredictable.
Rubbing my fingertips along my chin, I carefully weigh my options. If I accept Lowell’s proposal and am allowed to leave afterward, I can use the intel I gathered as leverage in Nilsan to get my old job back. Alternatively, I can refuse. Lowell will either kill me or release me depending on his mood, and I’ll die or return to Nilsan with nothing more than a story of failure.
A sharp pain tightens in my chest.
Lowell gave me the illusion of choice, really.
Eco-terrorism or not, accepting his terms is my only real option. The outcome could be good for me if I play this correctly. Or I could die, but I suppose that’ll always be a possibility when I’m in proximity with this beast.
At the least, I can help the Sandpits. It’s something to be proud of, despite the terrorism likely involved.
I stare at the ground, averting my gaze. I can’t show even a shred of deceit. “Fine, I won’t fight you,” I reply. “I’ll do what I can to help the Sandpits becauseIwant to. It’s the right thing to do.”
Lowell sighs, a defiant arch to his brow. “You couldn’t fight me even if you wanted to.”
I purse my lips, glaring. “I think I could.”
“Tough words for a human who can’t survive three days withoutwater,” he says, smiling a toothy grin.
Lowell would no doubt rip me in half in under a second, but for a moment, I want him to believe me when I say that I could hurt him. Unfortunately, he’s well-aware of his strength and doesn’t give any room for doubt.
“So, you accept?” he asks, straightening his posture. He tugs on his leather jacket to release the wrinkles, showing off his soft underbelly.
With a grimace, I reply with a softyeah.
Crossing his arms, he nods at me. “Then stand the hell up. We have work to do.”
I follow his orders, brushing the dust and dirt from the metal platform off my pants. “Before we continue, I need to know, can you assure me of what will happen after I’ve fulfilled your expectations?” I ask.
Lowell turns his back and opens the door, the soft diamond pattern on his head revealing itself as a sunbeam spreads over the scales. “Don’t know,” he says, shrugging. “Kill you, eat you, put you to work the rest of your life — I haven’t decided. Just don’t fuck it up, and don’t piss me off.”
When the door opens fully, Lowell motions for Ginny and Guy to collect me. With wide eyes filled with concern, they rush to grab my arms, searching for injuries that are thankfully not there.
As I’m dragged back to my cell, I feel a rush of… exhilaration. The elation is strange, but it’s oddly freeing. Being forced to do something bad feels like it gives mepermissionto indulge in it.
A twinge of guilt forces me to push down the feeling.
My life is on the line, after all.
Chapter 5
Over a week has passed since my abduction. Even if I exceed my sixty-day surveying period while in captivity, Nilsan won’t send a rescue team to search for me until after a multiple-day grace period.
