jaw, resting in waves on her shoulders. The longer I look at her, the more quickly a sickened feeling churns in my gut. The madam is going to sell her to some sick pervert who’s most likely going to use and abuse her before ending her life. My chest heaves with a breath that’s hot with anger and impending violence. But there’s something else woven into the tumultuous energy coursing through me. And if I had to put a name to it, I’d say it is sexual awareness.
I guess if there’s a pervert who’s going to purchase her, that pervert is going to be me.
“I think I will go with the auction,” I say, keeping my voice calm.
“Excellent choice,” the blue female says. “I’m going to need your information to create a bidding profile, but of course we will not require your real identity, just your real money.”
I widen my smile and then wink at her. “Of course.”
She hands me a tablet and asks me to read the institution’s regulations and sign at the bottom if I agree to abide by them. When my gaze lands on the minimum bid, I almost lose my carefully maintained composure at the ludicrous amount. It’s a good thing that Blaze hacked the Master’s account and dispersed the funds or I would not be able to secure Jade’s freedom.
But even with what I have available, that might be a problem.
“Please continue the setup,” I say, handing her the chipped card that holds my credits. “Excuse me for a moment.”
Without waiting for her to respond, I walk to the furthest corner and immediately contact Blaze. The transmission connects, and as soon as I hear the Fireblood’s voice, I grind my teeth.
“Castien! What a pleasant fucking surprise.”
I close my eyes briefly, reining in my temper. “Blaze, I require more credits.”
The male clicks his tongue at me, and the admonishment nearly has me wanting to disconnect the call. “My dear Darkblood. Can it be that you spent all your currency already?” A series of beeps sounds in the background, followed by a chuckle from Blaze. “The slave planet Lixis, huh? Don’t tell me the most sought-after male in all of Koraxia is having to pay in order to get laid. I can see you’re registered for an auction, but that’s a hefty sum for one cunt.”
“I need the funds to maintain my facade as a buyer and to purchase the human’s freedom. That is all.” Even as the words leave my mouth, I know them to be a partial truth. I have a deep, urgent need to do more than rescue Jade.
“Is she your mate?”
“For the love of dark,” I growl, “will you help me or not?”
“It’s already done. And Castien? When you finally find your mate, be sure to disclose how much of a whore you’ve been all these years because honesty is the best policy.”
I end the call, silencing Blaze’s laughter. What I wouldn’t give to throttle him.
The receptionist smiles when I approach the counter and hands me a small tablet. “Your profile is set up and linked to your credit account. The inspection is taking place on the ground floor, and you will find a map on the device that will guide you. And lastly, leave behind any and all weapons please. This is to protect our customers.”
Little does this creature realize that my hands are weapons in and of themselves. Nor will I be parting with every knife on my person. However, to play my role, I do surrender two of them. But when a security guard that stands eight feet in height and has legs the size of my torso places himself beside me and folds his arms, I relinquish two more knives.
I hold up my hands in an effort to convey I’m in compliance. “That is all of them.”
The mammoth roves his gaze over me, and I open my coat to offer reassurance. Finally, he grunts and retreats back to the room he came from.
“Thank you, Mr. Dark Knight,” the female says with a grin. “I wish you the best of luck.”
There will be no need for that in this situation because I will have Jade.
If the madam, or anyone else, gets in my way, they better hope they have more than luck on their side when I come for them.
Jade
I’m getting probed.
One, two, three, four, five…six times.
“Everything appears to be functioning properly. Computer, send diagnostics to Madam Pim for approval.”
Madam Pim? As in pimento or Pimm’s, the alcoholic beverage?
I try