array of hard, cut muscles which rippled and glistened with sweat. And there was something dreadfully familiar about the way the male moved. Something stirred inside me; a memory that I didn’t want, one that woke my Fire. I ripped my gaze from his impressive body, not liking where the sight of it took my mind, and turned my attention fully on grey eyes. He inhaled sharply. His eyes widened, and his generous mouth dropped open before he seemed to recover, and his mouth curled into a smirk.
I didn’t have time to wonder about his reaction, not when the fucker was going to make me work for what I wanted.
He looked over his shoulder at the big male then back at me before he cocked a brow. “You got a pack mark, sweetheart?”
Shit, I didn’t think of that. Swallowing my nerves, I forced a smile and mirrored his raised brow. “New meat, sweetheart. Why? You want to keep me?”
“Not bloody likely. I’d like to keep my head.” His muttered words confused me, but before I could make sense of them he continued, his voice louder. “So you’re the Prime’s entertainment for the day? A bit early even for him, isn’t it?”
I pouted and jutted my hip sideways, my hands on my hips. “Nah, he took one look and wanted to play.”
“Is that so?” He looked over his shoulder into the hall, and pressed his lips into a thin line. “Okay, well it’s your choice. This should be an interesting date.”
I shrugged like it was no big deal. It was pretty obvious he didn’t believe a word of my lie, but he sauntered forward and brushed his fingers over my hand. I tensed, my fight or flight instinct flaring. Surely, if I had to run, I’d be able to lose myself in the hundreds of people in gen pop?
Grey eyes met Korea’s gaze and some kind of communication took place. Korea walked into the hall, his face stoney, his path taking him directly towards the huge male.
Shit! Shit! Shit! I hadn’t planned on that big motherfucker beating the hell out of the bag being the bloody Prime, or being escorted right to him! I’d just wanted to get into the hall. Dammit! I needed to get away. I stepped back just as grey eyes grabbed my wrist.
“Aw, now, hold on there, treasure. You’ve got a date with my boss, haven’t you?” He smiled pleasantly, but his eyes were suddenly hard. “How about I take you to him, and you can explain who you really are? ‘Cause I doubt he’ll be too happy about seeing a ghost.”
I couldn’t think straight, not when he pulled me along so quickly behind him. The bugger was nearly a foot taller than me, and I had to run to keep up with his long strides. My instincts screamed something was wrong here. I wanted to change my mind, to run as quickly as I could back out of that door, but I curbed my desire to drop him on his arse and tried instead to take in everything about the hall.
I noted two different entrances; the one we’d used from gen pop and another one across the far side. That one was also guarded by males who were big enough to keep people from trying to sneak in. But perhaps it would be a way out for me if the Prime got too angry with my lies. I surreptitiously eyed the pairs fighting in the rings. Their interactions did not appear fun or gentle, so maybe I was the only one stupid enough to actually want to get in here.
I stumbled over one of the dumbbells that had been chucked haphazardly on the floor. I cursed, but grey eyes ignored me. My sense of dread got worse, my skin prickling. We marched past a metal lock-up cupboard. The doors were open and I could see an array of weapons; training swords, knives, stakes, poles and shields. Shields? Seriously? What the hell were weapons out of some medieval fantasy film doing in a prison? They were wooden, but talk about temptation! I’d still be able to inflict serious damage, maybe even kill with them. I hid my relief and pretended I hadn’t seen the cupboard.
Instead, I fixed my attention on Korea, who was talking to the big guy. The Prime was so tall, just like Connor had been. Korea had to look up to talk to him. Thinking of Connor caused pain to squeeze my heart, and