83

“That’s enough”, Ruarc yelled from where he was seated.

The man between my thighs, paused turning to him. “It’s not yet time my prince.”

“If you fuckers don’t get your hands off her, I will rip you apart, and list your body parts for sale”.

They visibly gulp, walking back to their seats after giving me a sly smirk. I don’t understand the Crown Prince. Just a few hours ago he was being mean and now, he’s saving my ass. It could be the bond, I conclude, adjusting my dress.

Cocci walks back to the podium, and taking the mic, he yells, “So, August, how was your inspection?”

I fight the urge to vomit as August rises to his feet, smiling at me, foul teeth on display. “Fair enough, but I wish I was given more time to examine properly”.

Cocci rolls his eyes. “You had more than enough time August. If you want more time, then win the auction. Go on please”.

“Six hundred!”

“Six twenty!”

‘Six twenty going...”

“Seven hundred!”

I am starting to panic when I don’t hear Massa’s voice among the bidders. Has he suddenly backed out from the plan? Why is he keeping mute?

“Eight hundred”.

Cool, calm, and slippery. I would recognize that voice anywhere. Luwid. I find him in the crowd easily and our eyes locked. I knew he had always wanted me, and he proved that by cursing the auction with his presence and placing a bid on me. He smiles wickedly, taking a sip of his drink. I avert my eyes, looking down at the ground.

Massa, even if you never liked me, please don’t let me be sold to this man. Anyone else, but not Luwid.

Nobody speaks after him, not even Massa, and Cocci is forced to take the microphone again.

“Eight hundred! Going! Going…go...”

“One million”, a cool voice speaks from the crowd. I have heard that voice before, but I can’t put a name to it, because he never disclosed his name. Lifting my eyes from the ground, I scan the crowd for his face. I can’t see him but I know he’s there somewhere, hiding in the shadows.

“Going…”

I exhale softly looking between Massa and Sia. Massa doesn’t move. His face is rigid and devoid of any expression. Sia’s jaw is clenched, fingers tightened around the arm of his chair. He’s holding it in, I can sense it.

“Going…going and gone. Please if you are the highest bidder, kindly make your way to the stage. The royal family has something to say to you”.

I look to the crowd, waiting for him to stand up so that I can appreciate him. He does after a while. He walks to the stage, hands deep into his pockets. He’s not formally dressed like the other bidders, sporting faded blue jeans and a white hoodie. His hood is pulled up, his hair falling in front, covering his eyes. He doesn’t look very fashionable, and I wonder why he’s covering his face from view.

He stands beside me, hood up, and I can feel the power emanating from him. Perhaps he wasn’t lying when he said he was a vampire lord. Hanos frowns in his seat, and so do Thjis and Avetha.

“Vampires are not permitted to be a part of this auction Zikur, so what are you doing here?”, Hanos asks, calmly.

Zikur’s hood is still down as he replies, “I should ask you the same thing, my king”.

“Still the same I see. I should have known that your little trip wouldn’t have done you any good”.

“It did. I learned how to use contacts. Wanna see?”, Zikur asks.

“Hanos, please keep this conversation with your person aside, let the auction continue”, Avetha says, examining her nails.

“The auction is already over Fae. I won. I am the highest bidder, so when does the ceremony start?”

“You’re delusional if you think a ceremony would be held between a werewolf and a vampire lord”, Avetha replies without looking her up.

“But it’s alright for it to hold between a wolf and an Icelander? What happened to the code of conduct you created years ago Fae?”

“Silence!”, Thjis yells. “Zikur, as far as you remain on my lands, you will watch your tongue. You disobeyed my laws by partaking in this event, even when your kind was forbidden. You keep breaking laws…”

“With all due respect, I am only doing what I have witnessed my king do”.

Thjis clenches his jaw. “Hanos, get this leech out of my sight now, before I do something I would regret”.

Hanos glares at the hooded man beside me. “Zikur, leave now”.

“I do not mean to be rude, my king, but I am not leaving until I…”

“Zikur! Leave now!”, Hanos orders, getting up.

“I would leave after I sell my prize.”

“I would buy her”, Massa speaks, rising. “Now leave, before we turn on you”.

“I’m going. I’m going”

He turns to leave, at least that’s what I thought until he pulled me into his arms, pressing a cool blade to my throat. Afraid, I swallow deeply. Oh moon goddess, what the fuck is happening?

Sia jerks to his feet, and so does Ruarc.

“Zikur..”, Hanos warned. “Stop with your games now”.

“I haven’t played games in a hundred years. Spare me some cool now will you?”

He presses the blade in a little, drawing a clear line of blood. He pushes me to Sia, rubbing my blood on his fingertips, inhales it, then sneezes gently. Sia holds me tight in his arms, but I don’t look away from Zikur.

“Hmm, doesn’t taste very nice, stinks of burnt wood and rain, interesting scent if you ask me. In essence, they are coming Crinka, so be ready. My advice? Make more enemies. You’re going to need them, more than your friends”.

Before I could ask him what he meant, he vanished into thin air, leaving a trail of black smoke.

Dogara turns to Hanos. She’s slightly pale. “Why didn’t you tell me Zikur is back?”

“We’ll discuss this later”, Hanos replied. “in private”.

“Okay everyone. The auction is over. Leave quietly please”.

One by one, they leave the room, mumbling among themselves. Now it’s just me, and the royal family. Thjis rises, hooded eyes sweeping me over. “I knew I should have gotten rid of you a long time ago.” And with that, he exited the room, his wife and sons except for Sia following suit. Avetha looks at me snidely before turning to Hanos. “It’s late Hanos. We should leave now. Don’t let Zikur’s appearance spoil your night. Come on, let’s go have a drink”.

Hanos reluctantly agrees, before leaving me alone with Sia.

He spins me around in his arms so that I can look at him. “Are you okay?”, his voice is filled with concern as his eyes roam my body, looking for any scratches. He finds none.

“I’m fine”,

“And your neck? Does it hurt?”

“It has healed Sia, stop asking. I just want to rest from all this drama”.

He sighs and takes a bronze key out of his pocket before handing it to me. I take it from him, enclosing it in my palm.

“This is the key to my room. Lock it once you’re in and don’t open the door to anyone other than me”.

I bumped into the royal concubines on my way to the south wing, which is weird because they’ve got their palace. I move to the side to let their bubbling horde pass, but they don’t move, and one dares to walk up to me. She’s a brunette, with big doe eyes.

“Hello Crinka, I was thinking, how about you join us for a drink? You just joined the fold of royal baby makers and I think we should celebrate it. What do you say?”

I look past her to her followers. Their smiles are convincing enough, but I am not in the mood for partying.

“Sorry, but I am really tired. Maybe some other time”.

“We have bourbon!”, one yelled from the crowd.

Bourbon. Any other thing, but bourbon? That’s what I need right now.

“One drink, then I’m out”.

The brunette smiles. “This way then”.