Wolf's Pack (Wolves Next Door #3) - Auryn Hadley Page 0,215

asked, making the title sound like a joke.

The Jackal made a dismissive gesture. "Revenge. Let him see what it's like to be cruel, then show him the other ways. Go as far with him as you want, but make sure he learns something. At least he's pretty enough."

Treb nodded and moved toward Adar. The Jackal, however, gestured to the last two men. One was dismissed for Jaeda's lack of recognition, but the other stayed. That left a group of twelve. Twelve men she'd had to lie with to keep a roof over her head. Adar was escorted to the side, leaving eleven.

"Come," the mage whispered, taking her hand. "Sit with me while we prepare."

He meant that literally, leading her to the throne. Dropping into it like the gold was the softest cushions, he pulled her into his lap. As he kissed the back of her neck, he shifted her so she could see the proceedings, pressing his thigh between her knees. His mouth moved behind her ear then back toward her shoulder, and he gently, slowly, leaned her back until she rested against his solid chest.

"Relax," he whispered. "You're the guest of honor."

"Why are you doing this?"

She heard the sigh. It sounded almost sad, but he spoke before it made a statement of its own. "I have to."

"You're a dark mage - you don't have to do anything!"

"Shh," he soothed. "The world isn't that simple, Orchid. I have two options. Burn myself out and die, or this. I choose this."

She watched Treb guide the large man toward the wall. The Jackal flicked a hand and thick gold chains appeared, dangling from the ceiling. As if he'd expected them, Treb reached for the first, securing it around Adar's wrist.

"What do you mean by 'this'?" she asked.

"Lust. Most mages would kill you for asking about our powers, so do not make a habit of it."

"I understand, my lord."

He kissed her neck again. "I mean to another mage. At the dawn of magic, some of us were cursed to live on emotion. That was more than two decades ago. Well, we didn't get to choose. If we drink it in - and it's almost impossible not to as children - then we become addicts. We crave it. We live on it." His hands slid down her thighs. "We need it to survive."

"But this spell you cast?"

"Spell?" His hands found the sensitive skin on the inside of her knees and moved back up. "No. Spells take words. Your pretty little collar is from a spell. My effect on those around me? It's my nature. I've learned to use it to my advantage."

"Treb's immune."

"So you're not just beautiful, you're observant. You also don't hate him. That's good." He pointed toward Adar. "Watch and learn. If you're wise, you might even understand."

Treb, who was honestly a beautiful man, had Adar secured against the wall. He paced before him like a lion, judging the man's reactions, then reached over and caressed him. It wasn't a sweet touch. It wasn't proper. No, the Jackal's assistant grabbed Adar's balls and slid his hand up the man's shaft. Adar's knees softened, and he lowered into the grip, proving just how much he wanted it.

And the heat of the Jackal's mouth found her neck one more time. "Lean back, Orchid. Relax. We have all night."

She was a whore, and she was here because she was supposed to please him, so she obeyed. If she was lucky, he'd shower her with jewels. It wouldn't take much to support her for the rest of her life, and she'd never have to worry about what others thought again. Jaeda closed her eyes and let her head fall back against his shoulder while his hands played across her skin.

"Watch," he said again.

It was hard to pay attention to anything but him. The tips of his fingers teased her stomach and legs, moving slowly up and down, but Treb was doing the same to Adar. Then he kissed the brute. Jaeda had never seen two men kiss before. It wasn't accepted, but that didn't mean it wasn't erotic. Watching them perform something so taboo with a line of witnesses made it even more so.

With his arms chained above him, Adar submitted completely, his dick bouncing upward with excitement, catching the hem of Treb's shendyt. Bare skin flashed. Treb's flesh didn't fade beneath the cloth. He was the same burnished color even in his most private areas.

"I think you like him," the Jackal breathed in her ear.