IA

on kept

ned where the arrow had struck. Black lines of poison still crawled under my skin. Every brea

breathing. Th

to my paren

y father spoke to someone at the door about moving the transfer forward because "the goods" had been damaged. They cleaned me with rough

n veil in place. "Minister Varkas is attending the wedding banquet

ame too

ter floated through the corridors. I was led in through a side door and made to stand near the e

over me the way a man inspects livestock. He spoke quietly with my father. I caught pieces o

loor to open a

r in the ha

emperature drops before a storm. Conversations faltered. Several ranked wolv

alm, almost expressionless, but the weight of his presence pressed against the room. N

the hall once a

ss, the way I was being displayed. Something cold and sharp settled behind

e was quiet, but it carried through

ng. "She is already promised t

ion. He only looked at the minister t

Your.

s all i

other followed. Within moments the banquet had turned into an open auction.

urned toward Patrick

nough to be heard. His vo

efore I rejected her. Return her to me. She can ser

people laughed under their breath. My face b

ack did not look a

y raised

tone never changed. He never argued. He never threatened. He only topped every price that wa

y thou

rty-

if

ty-f

ed furious but did not speak again. Patrick's jaw was tight, y

nger gave was high enough

ttled over

turn slightly so his v

with me tonight as a Healer." He paused, letting the words stand, before he finally gave them the truth

ct was i

t a minor pack. Their military strength and independence were well known. An Alpha who had jus

challen

apers would be signed. I was being sold again - only this time the man

se a staff member held my elbow

le. He did not soften. He simply studied me

ed, voice low enough t

ed a si

felt the weight of every eye in the hall. Some he

ce now - the expression of a man who had thrown something away and only

closed b

ly had sold her twice. But the man walking beside me had just bent an entire room of p

ngle word as he le