“Safe is not the word I’d use.” She takes one look at my face and lifts an eyebrow. “Are you having an attack of conscience?”
“No, of course not.” It’s almost the truth. We’ve worked long months to get this into place, to irk Triton even as we pave the way for me to pay of the remainder of my bargain with Hades. If Zuri is the one to ultimately pay the price? Well, the worst she’ll deal with is a blow to her fragile heart. Really, I’m doing her a favor. Anyone else would throw her to the wolves for their freedom instead of ensuring the auction has the proper end result.
Or at least that’s the narrative I’ve spun.
I’ve always been good at lying to myself to get what I want.
Still. I swallow down the uncomfortable feeling in my throat. “She’s an innocent.”
“Please. She’s from Olympus. Her father might not be one of the Thirteen, but he’s close enough. Or do I have to remind you what he’s done to both of us?”
“You don’t have to remind me.” Triton would have killed me if I wasn’t able to pay that debt, and he wouldn’t have lost any sleep over it. Fucking his favorite daughter is the least I could do for revenge. “She’s a good girl.”
“Mmhmm.” Ursa taps my under the chin with one blood-red nail. “And after the auction, she’ll be our good girl.”
Heat surges through me at the thought of Zuri here, in bed with us. If I was a better man, I’d have found another way. I’m not. I want my freedom. I want Ursa. And, yeah, I want Zuri, too. Not forever, but the idea of playing with her hot little body? I’m selfish enough to want it all. “You really think she’ll be into it?” The Zuri I spent time with in Olympus was painfully sweet. I can’t imagine her wanting what’s coming. I’m not sure what it says about me that I’m not sure if I care. She’s agreeing to it. That’s enough.
“I think you underestimate her, but then you’re a man. Of course you do.” She taps my chin one last time and stands. Even as I tell myself not to, I watch her get dressed. I love these moments when I get to see her like few other people do. It feels like a secret, and there’s nothing so addicting as a vulnerable moment shared with someone who is otherwise so fucking untouchable.
Ursa finishes pulling on her dress and smooths down the skirt. She catches me watching and shakes her head. “Stop that. We don’t have time for another round.”
“You sure about that?”
“Alaric.” Even after several years, I still can’t quite tell if the fondness in her voice when she says my name is feigned or truth. I kind of enjoy that I can’t tell.
I stand and give her a mocking bow. “Yes, Mistress.”
Ursa shakes her head and moves to the door. “She’ll be in the Underworld until the auction tomorrow night. Do what you need to do.” She’s gone before her words fully penetrate.
When they do, I sink back onto the bed.
She’s in the Underworld.
Zuri is here.
She’ll be here until the auction. In the same building I live in.
If I’m smart, I’ll stay away from her. One conversation, that’s all it will take to cement her motivation to go through with this. Seeing her more than that is tempting fate—tempting my self-control. No matter what Zuri thinks, I’m no Prince Charming. I want her. I’ve wanted her since I set eyes on her, wearing that cute little sundress and walking through the gardens like she’d never seen anything so beautiful as flowers. I didn’t realize then that she looks at all new experiences that way, soaking them in and memorizing them as if she’ll never get another chance.
Will she look at sex the same way?
I’m dying to find out.
And that’s the crux of the matter. If I were any less selfish, I’d get Zuri out and find a different way to enact my vengeance. But I want her, and Ursa has paved the way for me to have her. For both of us to have her.
I manage to keep my shit locked down for the rest of the night, spending most of my time in the lounge with a short reprieve to play out a scene with Hook and Tink.
As much as I want my freedom, I really do love my job. Who wouldn’t? I get to fuck and scene with the most powerful people in Carver City. It’s a dream—or it would be if I didn’t have my debt to Hades hanging over my head. The man might not ever force me to do something I don’t want to do, but knowing that I owe him is a festering wound I can’t treat until I’m free of it.
By the time the club closes and it’s time for our nightly round up, I’m weaving on my feet. I peel off my slacks in the employee locker room and take my third shower of the night. Around me, the rest of the employees on shift are doing the same. As I dry off and pull on jeans and a T-shirt, it strikes me that most of the faces are new. Aurora is the only employee who’s been here as long as me—longer, even. She’s also the only one with a deal with Hades that hasn’t wrapped up yet. The rest of them are actual employees, people who came here for a job and go home at the end of their shifts.
We gather in the room off the locker room and rattle off any interesting information we picked up while Aurora takes notes. There’s been plenty of power shifts in Carver City in the last couple years, but it seems to have stabilized a bit recently. There’s nothing of note, with the exception of the rumor of another auction coming in a few days. A virginity auction.
But then, I already knew that.
Aurora finishes her last note and looks up. “That’s everything. Good work tonight.” She beams at us. I don’t know the terms of her bargain any more than she knows mine, but I don’t have to in order to recognize that it’s different. Rumor has it that Aurora came to the Underworld seeking safety for herself and protection for her comatose mother. Regardless of what price Hades asked of her, it’s different than my situation.
My bargain isn’t driven by anything as noble as keeping someone I love safe.
No, it was pure selfish greed that drove me to be one hell of a thief in Olympus, and it was an equally selfish need to keep my skin intact that had me bargaining with Hades. Now, it will be selfish desire that drags Zuri down into the depths with me.
I’m nothing if not consistent.
Chapter 5
Zurielle
I don’t expect to sleep once Hercules sets me up in a suite a few floors down from the club, but the next thing I know, I’m opening my eyes to a pounding on my door. I stumble out of bed and shove my hair from my eyes, still discombobulated from strange dreams. Reality hits me in the ten feet between my bed and the door.
I’m in the Underworld.
I’m going to auction off myself tomorrow night.
It still hasn’t quite sunk in as I open the door to find Hercules standing there. He gives me a soft smile. “You managed to get some sleep last night. Good.”
“Yes.” I’m relieved it’s him who seems to be in charge of handling this whole thing, though a small part of me wishes Ursa hadn’t abandoned me. It doesn’t seem like she had much choice, but as disconcerting as I find her presence, it’s reassuring all the same. She has a vested interest in seeing me follow through on this, so she’ll protect me in the meantime. Or she would if she were here.
It’s getting all tangled up in my head.
I can’t trust her. I know I can’t trust her. But that doesn’t stop the flicker of disappointment I can’t quite extinguish.
I step back and let Hercules into the room. It’s so strange. This isn’t my room. Not really. I suspect he has a key to it just like he seems to have a key to every other door in this place. For all that I slept here last night, I’m not the host; he is.
He stops in the middle of the room and turns to me. “I know it might be a little weird, but there’s a protocol for this. Think of it like a very niche spa package.”
I try for a smile but can’t quite manage it. “Have to get the product looking as expensive as possible.”
“Something like that.” He sighs. “I don’t suppose you’ve changed your mind?”
“No.” That, at least, I’m sure of. I tilt my head t
o the side. “Why are you so determined to talk me out of this? I’m sure you’re being paid for your time.”
Hercules waves that away. “I get a percentage of the final total, but I don’t care about the money.”
It strikes me that money is something I’m going to have to care about, and soon. I’ve never had a job. One of Triton’s daughters working? Unthinkable. My trust fund is enough money to keep me for the rest of my life if I’m not foolish, but I won’t have access to it for another seven years.
Gods, what am I going to do?
“Zuri?” Hercules takes a step forward, his hands outstretched like he’s going to catch me. “Are you okay?”
I shake my head. “It’s nothing.” I’ll figure it out one way or another. Better yet, once Alaric is free, we’ll figure it out together. Right now, I just need to focus on getting through the next few days, the auction, and the resulting sex. That’s it. “I’m not changing my mind.”
“I figured you’d say that.” He huffs out a breath. “In that case, let’s get started.”
I’m not sure what I expected, but it’s almost exactly as Hercules said; a spa day. I’m waxed and moisturized. And then it’s on to manicures, pedicures, and my hair. I almost ask for brightly colored hair, Ursa’s red lingering in my mind, but chicken out at last moment. Instead, they refresh my deeper auburn and give me a trim. My clothes disappear during my skin treatments, and I’m given a robe that feels so decadent, it has to be astronomically expensive.
Hercules leads me several floors up. I don’t realize where we’re headed until he opens a door and I see the lounge I only got a glimpse of last night. There are no windows in this room, so it might be any hour of the day or night, but the lights are a little brighter than they were when Ursa hustled me through this room. The only testament to the Underworld being closed, aside from the obvious lack of people.
“I’m going to walk you through how it’ll go tonight. All business of this sort is set up in the public playroom because it’s the only space big enough to pull it off.” He opens the door on the other side of the lounge and motions for me to precede him.
The room is as large as our ballroom back home. There are a number of couches and chairs arranged for people to congregate in small groups, with plenty of room around them for walking with ease. There are also…things. I move toward one, Hercules silently shadowing my steps.
He speaks as I stop before it. “That’s a St. Andrew’s Cross.”
“I’m familiar with it.” Even if I hadn’t done some research once I realized the role Alaric plays in the Underworld, I’d be able to understand its purpose from the straps at the top and bottom of each part of the skinny X shape. Someone is strapped to it. I turn and look out at the room.
Someone is strapped to it in front of an audience.
A fissure of heat goes through me at the realization. I move from piece to piece, and let Hercules explain them despite my research. There’s no telling what new information I could pick up, but everything he says lines up with what I expect. I think he’s trying to scare me into changing my mind. It’s only partially working. I am scared. But the longer the knowledge of what comes next has to settle, the more a deep, dark part of me is almost looking forward to it.
I have been cosseted and protected and smothered my entire life, living by rules that aren’t my making. My sisters would expire on the spot if they knew I was going to have sex for money. The thought sends a delicious thrill through me. Dangerous to give in to that impulse. Following the tug in my stomach only leads to disappointing my father and hurting those I love.
I don’t care.
“Where will the stage be?”
Hercules’s jaw tightens, but he leads me to the center of the room. “We’ll move the furniture around to accommodate it so everyone can get a good view.”
A good view of me.
I turn slowly in place, my bare feet on the cool floor, and try to picture it. “Lights?” He points up. There are lines on the ceiling that seem to indicate part of it can shift open. “Clever.”
“Only the best in the Underworld.” He gives a grim smile. “Someone will act as auctioneer, and another will assist them and help you display yourself to the best advantage. Do you have a preference on whether it’s a man or woman?”
I frown. “No. Why would that matter?”
“Because they’re going to touch you, Zuri.” He says it almost gently. “You’ll stand there naked, and they’ll expose you and touch you and do what it takes to rile up the crowd to get the price going.”
The blood rushes from my head, and I weave on my feet a little. “Oh.”
Hercules shakes his head. “That’s it. I’m calling this off. This is a fucking mistake.”
“It’s fine,” I manage. “Even with the touching, I don’t have a preference on men or women. I like both.”
“That doesn’t change the fact that you’re clutching your robe to your chest like it’s a shield and I’m the only one standing here. What are you going to do when the room is filled?”
“I can do this.”
“No, you can’t.”
“Yes, I can!” I don’t know what possesses me to drop my robe. I don’t know what I’m trying to prove. I just react, letting the silky fabric slide from my shoulders and pool at my feet. “I’m not shy, and I have to do this.”
“That’s not a good enough reason.” Hercules glances at my body as if he can’t help himself and then jerks his gaze back to my face. “Your first time should be—”
“Don’t you dare spout that virginity nonsense at me, Hercules. It’s just sex, and people have sex for a lot crappier reasons than money, so you really don’t get to take that high-and-mighty tone with me. I’m choosing this, which is more than some people are able to do. It’s only as important as I let it be.”
I don’t realize we’re not alone until Hercules looks over my shoulder and his eyebrows rise. “Hello, Alaric.”
Oh gods.
I knew I’d have to face him eventually, but this is the worst case scenario—with the possible exception of seeing him tonight during the auction. Pride and frustration have gotten me this far. If I scramble to pick up my robe, I’ll just be proving Hercules right that I’m not ready to do this. So I brace myself, lift my chin, and turn to face the man I’m doing this for.
It’s been months since I’ve seen him. Somehow he looks better than ever. He’s wearing slacks and a gray button-down shirt, and his black hair is a little longer than when I saw him last. But those blue eyes are the same, hot and hungry and ready to devour me whole.
Alaric stalks across the room, and I’m helpless to do anything but watch him approach. He snatches up my robe and yanks it around me. “What are you doing here, Zuri?”
“Exactly what it looks like.” For the first time since I arrived here, Hercules sounds downright amused. “Zuri is going to auction herself off tomorrow night.”
Alaric flinches, but he drops his eyes before I can read the emotion in them. He glances at Hercules. “Can we have a minute?”
“No, I don’t think you can.” Hercules gives Alaric’s hands, still fisted in the front of my robe, a significant look. “If you want to talk, I’m going to walk over there and wait.” His expression goes hard. “But you manhandle her again, and we’re going to have a long fucking talk.”
Alaric slowly releases my robe. I have to grab the slick fabric to keep it from falling off my shoulders again. We both watch Hercules walk to the next group of couches over and sit down. It’s not quite far enough to be out of hearing range, but he’s affording us the illusion of privacy, which is better than I expected. I waste no time righting the robe and getting my arms into the appropriate places. “Hello, Alaric.”
“Hello, Alaric? That’s all you have to say to me right now?”
No, I have a whole lot more than that, but as sheltered as I’ve been, I don’t think declaring my love and then promptly selling my virginity to someone else is the best route for
ward. I tighten the belt at my waist. “I’m going to help you. I said I would, and now I’m here.”
He clenches his jaw. “You don’t have to do this.”
“Yes, everyone keeps insisting on telling me that.” Even Ursa, though at least she only said it once. I appreciate that she actually took me at my word instead of questioning me every step of the way.
“You’re never going to forgive me if you do this.”
That surprises a laugh out of me. It sounds nothing like my usual laugh, bitterness coloring the tones. “I could say the same to you.” I hold up my hand before he can speak. “I’m doing it. If it means I lose you, at least you’ll be free. What’s one night compared to that?”
His dark brows draw together. “One night? They didn’t tell you?”
Something like fear opens up in the pit of my stomach. “They didn’t tell me what?”
“The contract you’ll sign is for seven days.”
Seven days.
I steel myself even as I’m reeling internally. I thought I read the sample contract so closely, but apparently I missed that little bit in the midst of my exhaustion. “Fine. What’s your freedom compared to a week? Even a month? It will be okay, Alaric. I’ve completed the list, and Hercules has assured me it will be honored.”
He doesn’t look reassured in the least. There’s still that strange look in his eye, but I can’t quite define it. Finally, he looks away. “Are you sure this is what you want to do?”
Frustration boils up. I’ll admit that this situation is hardly ideal, but this is the first conversation we’ve had in months and it’s not going anything like I’ve imagined. “Hi, Alaric. Yes, it’s so good to see you again. I’ve missed you terribly. I’m so happy I was able to slip my father’s leash and come here. You’re so incredibly welcome that you’ll be free in a little over a week.”
The Sea Witch: A Wicked Villains Novel Page 4