by J. E. Cluney
“So, Lucy tells me you’re interested in being one of the lucky few who don’t live in the cages,” the Collector said as he circled around his desk to perch on the front of it.
Only a few feet from me.
“Well, if I’m stuck here, why not take the better of the two worlds?” I said sweetly, when internally I wanted to beat the shit out of this freak.
“True, that’s true,” he nodded, his unique blue eyes lighting up as he smiled at me.
Too bad it reminded me of the way a cat stares at you right before it pounces.
He removed his monocle and cleaned it with a tissue from the box on his sleek, black timber desk.
“So, can you dance?” he asked, as he stuck the small glass object in his pocket and leaned back on his desk.
I hated the way he was looking at me, like I was an animal already in a cage, like he was dissecting me with his very eyes.
“Yes,” I breathed, forcing myself not to fist my hands that were cuffed before me.
The fact that I was standing before him in only my bra and panties was starting to infuriate me. But at least his looks weren’t suggestive.
“And you can quite clearly fight,” he stated as he cocked his head at me. “But my inner circle like… sultry women. They like a woman who can make them feel wanted.” Okay, now the once over he was giving me had become more sexual.
And despite how I’d always loved sex, I had no desire to do it with this creep. Hell, ever since being mated, my desire for outside sex had died.
“I’m your girl,” I said huskily as I started forward. When he made no move to stop me, I continued.
Maybe this would be easy.
“Prove it,” he said with a sly smile.
As you wish.
I sashayed up to him, trying to make the cuffs work in my favor as I raised my arms up like I was belly dancing. I’d wait for my chance. I didn’t need my kitsune power to kill a man. I was trained from childhood to kill.
I danced slowly before him, swirling my hips and giving him my most sultry expressions as I twirled. Then I backed up to him, ever so slowly, shivering with disgust when his hand stroked down my side. Hopefully he saw it as excitement.
I moved to face him, gripping the front of his suit and leaning him back on his desk as I bit my lip seductively.
“I can show you an amazing time, I can make you beg for it,” I purred huskily as I climbed onto the desk to straddle him.
I sat up, running my cuffed hands down the front of him and teasing along his waistband.
Through hooded eyes I searched his desk for a weapon.
My eyes fell on the pen.
Right to the carotid artery and he was gone.
I was fast, I had a chance.
The Collector sat up, groaning as he kissed my neck and then pulled back to stare at me.
“Such a deadly beauty,” he murmured as he caught my chin in his thumb and forefinger.
“You have no idea,” I smiled sweetly.
“But I do,” he sighed as he leaned in to stare me square in the eyes.
I yelped as I flew off the desk as he waved his other hand, my back slamming against the door as I was pinned there by magic. The hard wood had hurt like a bitch, but now the anger creeping through me was deadly.
“You know how to use your charms, I’ll give you that,” he said as he straightened his suit and gave me an intrigued look.
“Was I not good enough?” I pouted, maybe I could salvage this. I needed to find a way to use this situation.
“Good enough, yes. But too deadly? That’s the problem,” he grinned. “I know just who you are, Savage Harlow. Although I hear you’re going by Dorian now. Just as deadly,” he mused.
My heart plummeted as I scowled at him.
“Did you really think I wouldn’t know your play here? Suck up to me, get a way into the mansion more permanently and find your escape? I’m not stupid, child. I’ve been around far longer than you know,” he stated.
Was he a witch? His aura was too intense for any witch I’d ever come across. But the magic seemed like it.
“There’s no escaping here, this is my home. My rules,” he sighed as he stood up and fixed his tie again.
“What makes Lucy so special?” I growled.
“Lucy is… well, satisfied with basics. Her mates died long ago due to the Order. She gets taken care of here, her needs met. She’s become a valuable creature, satisfying my male kitsunes when needed. She’s bore me a few children from my selected males, and she’s happy with this way of life. She’s mine,” he said it like she was simply a pet to him.
Hell, she probably was. He didn’t care for her, but she was doing everything he desired. So he was rewarding her, keeping her happy while getting everything he wanted.
“But you, you are not as easily broken, I know that. But you will not play anyone here. Lucy knew what you were up to, and she told me. She’s been trying to bend that new kitsune for me, but she’s a fighter too. Guess I’ll keep her out of the cages now that we know you’re both a lost cause in regards to using for display. But for the fights, you’ll be a good one. I’m wondering if you’ll be able to beat all my males. Some of them come from strong lines too. Trained fighters as well. Those will be matches I’d love to see,” he mused.
“What are you?” I growled, not caring what he was saying. I’d fight for my freedom here, no matter what.
“Oh sweetie, I’m a Warlock.”
13
Leon.
I sat on the couch with Wesley, anxious and on edge as Melinda worked on lifting the magic on Dominic. We’d gathered all the ingredients she needed, and now it was just patience while she worked.
Like my brother, patience was not my strong point. Hell, none of us were very patient with the fact that Sav was gone.
“Kitsunes are rare, everyone wants one,” Dominic laughed, his glassy eyes filling with tears.
He’d lost the goddamn plot since Melinda had started this spell, raving on about anything and everything.
“Even Tristan. Tristan wants the kitsune,” Dominic’s face dropped as Melinda murmured and waved her hands over him. “She stole him.”
“They’re mated, dumbass,” Damien growled, while Wes was just grinning. He was finding Dom’s raving utterly hilarious. At least he was able to use the moment to get his mind off his equal worries about Sav.
Mr Oxley still hadn’t returned, and I was contemplating going out to find him. I knew he was working on something about Tristan.
“But Tristan was my boo,” Dominic croaked, tears spilling out as he stared up at the ceiling with unseeing eyes.
Damn, this spell was really doing a number on him.
Wesley snorted at this, and Damien just sighed and shook his head in annoyance.
“He still sleeps with you, Sav doesn’t care. You need to accept they’re mated and neither of them had control over it. She’s happy for you two to still be together though. Either suck it up or find someone else. She didn’t steal him by choice, shit happens,” Damien grumbled.
Dominic frowned at this, staring hard at nothing.
“We all know she’s okay with it, we’re all in each other’s heads. Tristan is glad he can have you both and that Sav doesn’t mind,” Wesley added his two cents worth.
“So we can stay together?” Dominic murmured.
I just rolled my eyes. It was sad seeing him so torn open like this while Melinda put all the magic together right to fix him. He was not himself at all, more like a lost child. He’d been questioning his usefulness to us, then spouting nonsense about a bunch of other things.
We’d gathered from his nonsense that a Collector was most definitely involved.
I sighed as I stood up and wiped my sweaty palms on my jeans. This was nerve-wracking, and I needed some silence.
The worries of Damien trickling into my mind were dragging me down more, at least Wes was focusing on Dom to keep his mind from straying.
I headed out of the ro
om and into the hall to take a few breaths.
I found myself wandering through the mansion as I tried not to stress over Sav. It was no use, being split from my new mate was killing me, the worry was ripping me apart.
Where was she? Was she hurt? Was she being used? So many horrible thoughts slipped into my mind of her being raped or tortured, but I pushed them away. I needed to stay positive. Besides, Sav could take care of herself. She was a huntress still, and a damn good one.
I found myself heading towards Mr Oxley’s room, the heavy wooden door with cast iron hinges and the heavy lock up ahead.
I flinched when it pushed open and Mr Oxley exited.
He gave me a brief glance before turning back and locking his room behind him.
“Any luck lifting the magic?” he asked as he pocketed the key.
We’d never been into his room before, but despite our curiosity, we’d respected his wishes of us staying out.
“Not yet, he’s spouting crap and getting all emotional,” I sighed.
“Strong magic if it’s pulling him apart like that. Melinda will get through it,” he said firmly. “But, I was able to locate Tristan. He was being held by hunters, but he has escaped now. We’ll be hearing from him soon,” he said, his smooth, quiet voice emanating with a respectful strength. I believed him fully.
“Great, that’s good to know. We should let the others know. Dom did bring him up a few times. I think he’s worried about him but is too trapped to say much about it.”
“He’s strong, he’ll pull through this,” Mr Oxley stated.
“I guess so,” I shrugged. Dominic had always been a part of our lives, but not like a brother like the rest of us. Only Tristan saw the other side of him, he kept most things professional with the rest of us.
“Let’s tell the others about Tristan,” he suggested, and I nodded sullenly as I turned back up the hall.
“Savage is strong, she will be fine, wherever she is. And we will get her back. You have my word on that,” Mr Oxley assured me as his cane clicked on the flooring as we made our way back.
“A Collector. What would one do to her?” I asked.
“Each Collector is different, but majority like to show them off mostly. They have their own secret community of like-minded supes. Others who’ve not met many of the rarer specimens of our kind,” Mr Oxley said as he pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose.
“I’ve heard some of them break their victims, then use them to pimp out,” I growled. It was something I’d heard some time back from Tristan.
“Some do,” Mr Oxley didn’t try to sugar coat it.
“Sav would never allow herself to be pimped out, sure, she’s very… promiscuous, but wouldn’t be used like that,” I growled, anger boiling inside me and making me flex my hands. God, I wanted to punch someone and get her back.
Mr Oxley just nodded but didn’t say anything, and that only unsettled me more. There was so much he knew, and I felt like he was hiding something from us.
“Tristan is fine?” Dominic’s face lit up when I informed the others of the news.
“Yes, he’ll be home sometime soon,” Mr Oxley nodded as he clasped his cane with both hands.
“That’s good,” Dominic sighed.
Melinda looked worn out, sweat beading on her brow as she continued chanting softly and waving her hands over him.
“Be good if we could know about Savage,” Damien growled in frustration.
“I cannot see her, I’m sorry,” Mr Oxley frowned.
See. Something he’d said many times before. We all believed he had a crystal ball or something in his room, but his ability of sight was strange. Like how he needed the address for Tristan, but he’d seen us. From my understanding, some supes were blocked from him, but he could see certain addresses if he wanted to. He couldn’t see kitsunes either, something I’d caught from Sav’s mind from a conversation with him. We’d spent days trying to figure out what he was once, but the gift of this unique sight was strange, and we’d not found anything. He’d never told us what he was either.
My mind moved back to Sav as I watched Melinda work. So many scenarios and bad thoughts swirling around her. My gut twisted, and I knew deep down that something was wrong with her. We needed to find her, and soon.
14
I shouted as baldy shoved me back into my cell, and I kicked him in the shin hard before he locked me in. Too bad the Collector had used his magic to restrain me more, or I would’ve snapped his goddamn neck.
“Sav! What’s wrong?” Izzy flew to my side instantly as baldy tossed me the keys through the bars to remove my cuffs.
I snarled at him as I got them off quickly, and I hurled them at him with full force.
He ducked and rolled his eyes at me before picking them up off the floor.
“He knew I wanted to use the chance to escape,” I growled softly as she led me over to the bed.
“That was your plan all along,” she sighed as it clicked inside her mind. Finally.
“He knew though. Knew I was going to try to win him over to escape,” I sighed as I pulled the blanket up around me. I was drained and tired, but I was unwilling to sleep. We needed to get out of here.
“You best rest, I hear there’s some fights planned for the morning,” baldy called out as he reached the door.
“Great, I can’t win another fight,” Izzy’s large chocolate eyes widened in fear.
“It’s probably just for me. The Collector said he wanted to see me in more fights,” I groaned as I rubbed my head.
Tomorrow. How many hours did we even have until then? How long had I been here? With no windows, I had no idea if it was early night or if dawn was coming.
“How’d they get you?” Izzy asked as she sat on the bed with me and pulled the blanket around herself.
“When hunters were after me,” I shrugged. No need to explain that whole story at length.
“The golem found me while I was visiting friends,” Izzy murmured. “I’d just had my pendant break, my warding one, and was getting it fixed by the local jeweler. It’s all it took to have my location found.”
“A golem?” I gave her a confused look. What the hell was a golem?
“A creature that Collectors have, the Collectors who are either powerful witches or have friends in high places. A servant made of clay or stone. Almost impossible to kill,” she muttered.
Was that what grabbed me from the truck? Maybe. I hadn’t really seen it, but it was big. I’d been tranquilized with something potent immediately.
“Guess I got careless. I feel so guilty, Samson and I were trying so hard for a baby,” she said softly. “We wanted to have a kitsune child first, then I’d try for more with my other mates.”
I frowned at her. Children? Really?
I mean, I guess everyone had things they wanted in life. Children were not what I wanted at all.
“So what now?” Izzy whispered as she pulled the blanket tighter around her.
“I keep trying,” I stated, like it was obvious.
“You need sleep. Especially if there’s a fight in the morning,” she said softly as she touched my arm.
As if I could sleep while locked in a cage.
“You rest, I need to think,” I murmured. I needed to figure out a way out. There had to be a way out. Somehow. Maybe in the pits? That chained net? Maybe I could escape through it? I’d need my aura at its best for something like that. And I’d need some rest for that.
Ugh. Izzy was right. Too bad sleep was not on my mind at all.
I’d barely drifted off before the clang of the far door sliding into the ceiling woke me.
Izzy hissed as someone came to our cell, and I leaped off the bed and into a defensive position.
“First fight is for Isabella Walter,” baldy droned.
“No,” I growled. There was no way I was letting her go out there.
“Not your call,” he said as he clicked his tongue.
“I won’t let you take her,” I sn
apped.
Baldy sighed and looked at one of the cameras as he spoke into the radio on his shoulder.
“Savage is refusing to allow Isabella out,” he said, his tone displeased and bored.
I gasped as the air was knocked from me and I collapsed to the floor.
The magic surging through me felt just like the magic the Collector had used on me.
And it hurt like a goddamn bitch.
Baldy unlocked the cage and strode past me, ignoring my cursing and snarls as he moved in on Izzy. She shrieked and tried to get away from him, but he cornered her and hefted her over his shoulder as she fought at him. I could tell the Collector was using magic to stop her from shifting, I could see the air around her vibrating with it, and when I looked into her aura, the purple was blocking it.
I fought against the magic pinning me down, my hand clawing slowly at baldy as he neared. He watched with mild fascination as I growled and fought with everything I had.
“Relax, you’ll get the next fight,” he stated as Izzy cried out and reached for me.
The look of sheer terror etched into her face made fury course through me.
Why couldn’t I fight this magic?!
I screamed as I reached out, but the magic forced me down, the air being sucked from my lungs and the scream dying as I gasped for air.
My body felt like it was being crushed by an unseen force, my bones groaning and pain shooting through me.
All I could do was watch Izzy be carried over to the door I’d emerged from the first time I’d set foot in here.
He tossed her through the open door, and it slid down quickly.
I only got the briefest chance to see her frightened face staring back at me.
And then the door was slammed down, and she was gone.
15
Wesley.
I bounced my foot as I sat on the couch, Melinda having finally broken the spell. But Dominic wasn’t out of the woods yet. Apparently he needed to find his own way out of his mind now, since she’d had to pull him apart a bit in order to lift the magic.
Mr Oxley was quite perplexed at the level of magic required for such a powerful spell to be cast on our witch. I could see it in those golden eyes as he frowned at Dominic on the couch.