Chapter 5
Kirion
When I heard Tane say I would have my own suite on another floor, something in my chest let go. Since leaving my father’s castle, I could finally breathe deep again.
The disaster that had seemed so immediate—Tane giving me to his son to have as he pleased—had passed. I was safe. At least, for tonight.
Malin showed no interest in me. Good. I was going to do whatever it took to keep it that way. Make him not want me.
I didn’t trust dragons. This was the best scenario I could hope for.
Maybe down the line it would mean I’d be re-sold, but for now, this situation was survivable. I wasn’t going to be brood stock. I wasn’t going to be raped. That was all I cared about.
Malin was a typical brat. I’d met a hundred like him in boarding school. Self-absorbed. Embarrassed by his father. Rude. Even I’d been that way sometimes, especially when I was younger and still in school.
Malin was no one I ever would have looked at twice. Not as tall as his dad. Plain in the face. Hair hanging in his eyes. I’d be avoiding him for as long as I could.
He vanished back to the game room leaving me and Tane alone again.
Tane rubbed his palms together and faced me. “He’ll come round. I shouldn’t have surprised him like this.”
Weird that he was excusing his son’s behavior and taking the blame. But again, how well I knew father/son relationships could be weird.
“I can show you to your rooms now,” Tane said, voice gruff.
I could tell he was disappointed. He had wealth, power and wore a suit that had to have cost a fortune, yet his body communicated an exhaustion that confused me.
We climbed another set of stairs. Slowly, I followed. The voices faded away as we came to the third floor. Everything was quiet up here, almost sterile.
Tane opened the first door to the right.
We stepped into a foyer with a small couch and a coffee table set with flowers and a couple of brand-new unlit candles.
Open double doors led to a huge bedroom.
The bed was on a raised dais and covered with the fluffiest comforter I’d ever seen.
The décor was soft blues and greens, like being underwater.
This room was so huge it had a couch with a coffee table, a fireplace, a desk, and a small dining table by a huge window that took up an entire wall.
Tane walked to two closed doors. He opened one. “This is the closet.”
Inside, a light automatically clicked on and I saw a huge walk-in with empty racks and drawers and shelves.
Tane walked to the second door. “This is the bathroom.”
It, too, looked huge. I could see two sinks, a shower, and a private alcove for the toilet.
“If you want more space, the room next door is vacant. It could be used as an office or den or whatever you wish.”
I cleared my throat. “Um, this is huge. I don’t have a lot of stuff.”
“It’s all been delivered and in your closet.
I didn’t have anyone unpack for you. I figured you’d want to do it yourself.
” Tane held up his hand. “That reminds me.” He dug into his pocket and pulled out two cards.
He laid them on the desk. “Shop online for whatever you need. These two cards should be plenty for whatever you need. But if not, see me. I’ll have more money wired to them. Did you bring a laptop?”
“Yes.”
“Your phone?”
“Yes. But I figured you’d take them.”
“Why?”
“I thought I wouldn’t have access. I mean, you know, like outside access.”
He raised a dark eyebrow. “Why? Planning a rescue?”
I shook my head. There was nowhere to run. No one who would want me. Not in wolf country or any other.
“Then why would I cut you off?”
I shrugged. This was nothing like being a captive. Though technically that was what I was.
“The Wi-Fi password is greenblueyellow. All one word.”
I nodded.
Tane stood uncomfortably for a few seconds. Finally, he said, “Well, I’ll leave you to unpack, then.”
He closed the door as he left.
The first thing I did was peek into the closet. I saw my one suitcase and some bags on the floor. I began to hang up the few clothes I’d brought.
As I worked, my mind relaxed and a ton of questions piled up again. What was expected of me? Would I have free reign of the house? Would I be allowed outside? What about meals?
I definitely didn’t want to go down to the game room and ask Malin. It was best to stay away from him if he didn’t want anything to do with me.
I wondered what Tane was doing. He was not a happy man, that was for sure.
In the bedroom, I saw the cards sitting on the table. I couldn’t believe it. Tane had given me the means to set up this place for myself. Not Malin. Tane.
I opened my laptop and thought about what I might need.
Nothing. So far. This room had everything.
I spent the next couple of hours syncing my computer to the system on the wall so I could watch my favorite channels and play my favorite games only to realize the TV had everything on it already. It was jam-packed with apps.
I went to the window and looked out. The sun was setting over a range of mountains. Faraway, my old home still existed. Despite being well-known in that city, I wouldn’t be missed. No missed set omegas.
Sometimes I felt sorry for myself. I realized it accomplished nothing, but I couldn’t help it.
A set omega’s world was a cage. Even if mine was trimmed in gold, it offered nothing.
Opportunities and dreams were slashed from my life.
There might not be blood but the pain was still real.
Worse, in fact. My pain wasn’t going to heal.
I let myself mope. I curled up on the big soft bed and yelled into the pillows.
I punched them over and over. I was worthless.
Well, not completely. I could have babies.
That was it. That was my value. I wondered what happened to set omegas who were infertile.
I’d never actually researched it because I honestly didn’t want to know.
I forced myself to relax, listening to my own breaths slow before falling asleep.
When I woke, the room was dark. I sat up, mouth dry, trying to remember where I was. I felt cold. For a second, I was nowhere floating through space.
My vest had twisted. I sat up and straightened it. I still had my boots on and all my good clothes I’d worn for the auction.
I reached for a lamp and it turned on with a touch.
The room’s hugeness engulfed me. Much bigger than my old castle room.
The silence made me nervous. I was used to servants bugging me.
I always had a TV chattering at me. I’d been lonely before—who wanted to be friends with a set? But never alone like this.
My chest tightened.
Checking the time on my phone, I was surprised to see it said 1:42 a.m.
My stomach grumbled.
No one had come for me. No one had even checked on me. Could I be truly on my own?
I got up and looked for a glass. I needed water.
I found a light switch and the room lit up.
Glassware sparkled on a bar top by the far wall.
Behind it, I discovered a fridge with sodas and water.
There was also fresh fruit and a covered plate of sandwiches.
Someone had thought of me before I got here.
Since Malin hadn’t known I was coming, it had to be Tane.
I took all the food out and sat down at a table by the window to eat.
Okay, so maybe I could get by with minimal fuss, make this space like my own apartment. Even order my own food deliveries. I wouldn’t ever have to leave. Unless Malin asked for me.
A shiver went down my back.
I flipped through channels on the TV. Nothing grabbed my focus.
I was still disoriented. I kept imagining Tane and what he might be doing. Would I see him again? Or would I just wait like the captive I was for Malin to grow up and do what his father seemed to want… marry and breed me.
I’d done research on dragons before I’d been auctioned.
There were plenty of horror stories about sets being abused, turned into brood-mares, sold to farms. I kept telling myself I had it good.
The best of horrific circumstances. I was still unharmed.
I had luxurious surroundings. I had WIFI and money.
Eventually, I fell back to sleep still wearing my good clothes.