My vision turned blurry, but I could still distinguish a pair of sapphire eyes looking down at me. My breath had become labored, and the voice inside me whispered that it was over. The poisonous silver drifted into my bloodstream, and the pain I felt would soon turn into agony.
The Shadow held me gently, trying not to press the skin around the arrow protruding from my back. He pulled me close, but not forcefully, just enough for my trembling feet to remain on the ground. His fingers stroked the bare skin on my back, and I cursed myself for not being able to move on my own or push him away. Should I try, I would fall in an instant.
A desperate plea formed at the tip of my tongue, but I refused to let it slip. Not again. Because I now knew that beneath the stunning glow of his eyes lay a thick layer of cruelty. I might not know what he was doing here, but I was certain he was not my savior.
I heard the guards‘ stomping feet as they stormed through the gate, surrounding us. “Alpha Koen?” one of them choked out, and every fiber within me froze.
“You’re… Alpha Koen?” I breathed as a new surge of fear washed over my senses.
He ignored me and shifted his attention to the guard. “I want to know who shot her.” The iciness in his tone froze the air in my lungs.
The guard stepped back and cleared his throat. “That…” He pointed at the arrow. “She was getting away, so we
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“I asked you who shot her,” he repeated, his voice soaked in a promise of violence.
The guard visibly swallowed. “I… I will find out.”
“Good.” A dark smirk curved Alpha Koen’s lips. “Bring him to Callidus’s office.”
The guard’s lips formed a thin line, but still, he nodded. “Certainly, Alpha Koen.” Then he pointed at me. “What about the girl?”
Alpha’s gaze dropped to me, as if to savor the fear in my eyes. “I’ll take her there myself.”
My stomach dropped to my knees. “No,” I croaked. I knew I had promised myself not to beg, and yet, my head began to shake, and a trickle of tears trailed down my cheeks.
“Try not to move,” he said as his hand drifted between my shoulder blades, where the arrow was. “It will hurt like hell, but you won’t heal otherwise.”
I barely drew another breath as he ripped the arrow from my flesh. A hoarse cry tore through my throat, and then I felt it–the raw agony. Someone must have sent me to the pit of hell because my body was on fire. I could feel it. I could taste it. My eyes landed on Alpha Koen and saw the bastard smiling. “I warned you.”
His breathy laugh was the last thing I heard.
***
Chapter 10
EL 55 vouchers
A blur of incomprehensible voices pulled my mind from the depths of sleep, and as soon as I reached the surface, I was flooded by a wave of pain. A weak groan slipped through my lips as other senses came alive.
I was lying on my stomach, with my face turned to the side. My back must have been healing, because the previous agony had faded, giving way to a pulsing ache. Slowly, I filled my lungs with air, trying to survey my surroundings. I was inside a luxurious chamber with golden ornaments embellishing every wall. The thing I was lying on seemed much narrower than a usual bed or cot. Could it be a settee? I noticed a row of bookshelves, a cabinet, and a massive, wooden desk. Then I recalled that I was supposed to be brought to the merchant’s office. That must have been it, right? I blinked a few times, hoping to restore my focus as the two male voices sounded.
“I don’t appreciate you ordering me around. Who gave you the right to annul my auction?”
“Don’t you know that my word is the law?” a cold purr sounded. “You mess with me, you’re messing with the King himself.”
I recognized those voices. I blinked again and saw Kester Callidus and Alpha Koen sitting on two armchairs with a coffee table between them. The merchant’s face was red with anger while Alpha Koen’s betrayed merely cold amusement.
Somehow, my stubborn eyes were determined to study every inch of Alpha Koen’s features. I hadn’t had a chance to truly look at him before. Only now did I notice the fine, high leather boots, his carefully crafted pants, his silk shirt, and his jacquard jacket. Had it not been for his scent and eyes, I might have mistaken him for someone else. The mysterious assassin and the King’s relative… That surely was a peculiar combination. But had I heard him correctly? Had he annulled the auction?!
“Your… laws are bad for my business,” Callidus hissed.
Alpha Koen leaned forward, a dark grin stretching across his face. “I’m the reason your business exists at all. Have I not paid you generously until now?”
The merchant worked his jaw. “You have, but tonight’s auction-”
“You don’t need to worry.” Alpha Koen leaned back in his seat and nonchalantly waved his hand. “I will buy them all.”
It was a struggle to suppress a shudder, but drawing attention was the last thing I wanted. I figured it would be better to pretend to be unconscious; otherwise, I might not find out what they would decide about my fate. I kept my eyes squinted and tried not to move as I noted every word and gesture.
The merchant slammed the table with his fist. “Like three hells you will! Even the starting price was far above what you usually pay me!”
Alpha Koen’s expression remained blank, while his eyes blazed. “Careful, merchant. Your mansion was built with the money I gave you.” He looked around as his claws slowly extended, turning into sharp, gleaming blades. “You shouldn’t get too greedy. Who knows what you might lose if you defy me?”
The merchant’s throat worked on a swallow, and honestly, so did mine. The threat rang in Alpha Koen’s every note, and one would have been a fool not to fear him.
Callidus sucked in a sharp breath, then grabbed a chalice standing on the table and downed whatever was in it in large gulps. “So… about the price… What is your offer?” A nervous smile curved his lips.
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Alpha Koen huffed out a laugh. “You know what? I’ve changed my mind. You will give them to me as a sign of your goodwill.”
Callidus blinked, most likely wondering if he heard him correctly. “You… You won’t pay me at all?”
A sly smirk curled up Alpha Koen’s lips. “That is what goodwill means, right?”
Callidus worked his jaw, then his eyes landed on me. “Except her. I’ll give you all the other women except
her.”
I stopped breathing as Alpha Koen rose from his seat and slowly walked toward me. “One of your men shot her,” he said icily. “That means you do not truly care whether she lives or dies.”
Callidus fisted his hands. “I do care. That arrow… That was a mistake,” he gritted out.
“Was it? I don’t tolerate mistakes,” Alpha Koen purred. “I believe I told your men I wanted to know the one who shot her. That shouldn’t take that long, should it?”
“Mandel!” Callidus shouted, and the guard walked into the room. I could see the fury twisting the merchant’s face as he hissed, “Bring him.”
The guard bowed and left. Alpha Koen watched him disappear behind the door, and a dark smile formed on his lips. Then he stepped toward my settee. “Fortunately, her back is healing.” I remained still as his fingers gently brushed against the dressing of the wound on my back. “But a scar will taint her skin.”
Callidus nervously scratched his beard. “Well… she was trying to escape, so-”
“I heard she killed an alpha.” Bastard. He knew very well what had happened in Alpha Varian’s room that night. The lies slipped through his lips way too easily. “It would have been wise to keep that in mind and not underestimate her,” he crooned darkly.
The merchant took a deep breath. “Well… she was well guarded-”
A low growl rumbled in Alpha Koen’s chest. “Not well enough.”
The door opened, and the guard from before, Mandel, entered. “Um… I brought Ismet with me.”
The merchant’s lips twitched into an uncomfortable grimace as he muttered, “Bring him in.”
A tall man with nearly white hair walked into the room, a sneer curving his lips, Mandel bowed down and rushed outside. Alpha Koen waited for the door behind the guard to close. Then he stepped toward Ismet, assessing him like a predator seconds before the attack. “Were you the one who shot her with an arrow?”
The man chuckled. “Well, yeah. The bitch deserved it, though.”
Alpha Koen turned to Callidus, a bone–chilling smile forming. “Didn’t you inform your men that I’m interested in this one?” His hand landed on my bare back again.
“Well… um…” Callidus cleared his throat. “Yes, I did.”
Alpha Koen nodded before shifting his eyes to Ismet. “Do you know what that means?” He inched toward
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Chapter 10
him. “That means you touched something that belongs to me.”
Ismet’s face turned pale. “Alpha Koen… please! I didn’t know-”
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Alpha Koen’s clawed hand crushed through Ismet’s ribcage, tearing his heart out. It was a struggle not to scream when I saw it still beating in Alpha Koen’s fist. The warrior’s lifeless body fell to the ground. His killer watched his bloodied corpse with a grim smirk on his face. Then he tossed his heart on top of the body and nonchalantly wiped his hands with a tissue.
I squeezed my eyes, regretting that I had seen the horrific scene, which would probably haunt me for days… if I lived that long.
A long sigh escaped Alpha Koen’s lips. “I do apologize for staining your office with blood… again.”
“That’s… That’s all right,” Callidus choked out. “Now… about the girl.”
“I thought I made myself clear.” His icy one echoed through the room, and my eyes flew open. His mine in an instant, and a wicked smirk curved his lips. “She’s coming with me.”
eyes found
