Chapter 21 - Selma
Selma
The Governor’s mansion was a lavish, old plantation-style building somewhere on the southeastern coast. The Agents wouldn’t tell her which state they’d brought her to, but the Spanish moss drooping from the sycamore trees lining the long, winding drive to the mansion tattled on the general geography of their location.
“It would be wise not to mention anything about contracts to the Governor,” the leader said as they parked in front of the whitewashed mansion.
He’d spent the drive by her side in the backseat of the Jeep, never so much as closing an eye despite them not even stopping for the night and a golden chain keeping her tied to him by the wrist at all times.
“Nor whichever Lord claims you as his mate.”
“You mean so your friend doesn’t get into trouble for trying to poach one of your so-called Pure Breeders?” she bit.
He smiled a half-smile, tugging gently on her chain to make her follow him out of the car.
“It would certainly look problematic for him, but Marathin is very old. Demons his age always find loopholes—that’s why they get to live as long as they do.
There is every chance you’d find yourself as his breeding slave in the end.
And trust me when I tell you I’ve known him long enough to say that you would not enjoy returning to him after he’d taken whatever punishment would befall him for his misdeeds. ”
“And if I stay silent, he will just give up and let me go?” She snorted as they climbed the stairs, a silent guard opening the door for them. “Somehow I doubt that.”
“He will.” He gave her a hard look. “As I said, he’s very old. He’s not dumb enough to throw his life away pursuing a piece of pussy so long as giving you up saves his own skin. Even one as sweetly scented as yours.”
“How comforting,” she muttered, coming to a sharp stop when he jerked the chain again.
The Agent otherwise ignored her, focusing instead on the demon crossing the grand entry hall, an expectant smile on his ageless face as he looked her over.
“Agent Azir, welcome. And is this the Pure Breeder we were notified of? The Governor’s house has been all aflutter with the news of your arrival, precious one.”
“Indeed it is, Nemar. I have orders to bring her straight to the Governor. Please let him know we’ve arrived.” The Agent gave the other demon a stern look, breaking the other’s trance-like stare at her.
“Oh. Of course. Please, bring her to the second reception room—it’s been secured in anticipation of your arrival.” The demon gave Selma another look before he turned on his heel and disappeared farther into the mansion.
The Governor was a demon the size of Kain, his power more than evident despite his human disguise. He was a Lord, Selma was sure. He was only the second of his kind she’d ever seen, and the reminder of the man who’d given her up sent a stab through her chest.
She knew she’d deceived him by not disclosing what she was, but his betrayal had still stunned her. He’d told her he didn’t want a mate, yet knowing she was a Pure Breeder had made him turn his back on her in the blink of an eye, sealing her fate.
“Miss Selma Lehmann,” the Governor said, a wide smile pulling at his lips as he spread his arms in a welcoming gesture. “My dear, we are so very pleased to have you join us. Come, child. You must be weary from your travels.”
Selma raised both eyebrows at him. Did he really think she’d come of her own free will? She raised the hand tethered to Azir’s, rattling the chain.
“Yeah. Hi. I’d shake your hand, but—I’m a bit tied up.”
The demon Lord turned his disturbing gaze to the Agent, who tensed under his attention.
“Agent Azir, one day you must tell me how a group of the Agency’s best happened across the first Pure Breeder we’ve seen in over thirty years—but for now, I hope you’ll excuse my lack of hospitality.
I am locking down the property until the auction and no unauthorized personnel can be present. ”
“Of course, Your Excellency.” The Agent gave a half-bow and unhooked the chain around Selma’s wrist. “I will take my leave.”
It wasn’t that Selma was sad to see the back of the man who’d forced her to the auction, but when she was alone with the Governor, a new level of unease crawled up along her spine.
She stared up at the huge male, digging her nails into her palms to force herself not to cower in his presence. Whatever it’d been about Kain that had made her relax around him, this demon Lord didn’t possess it.
“You have nothing to fear from me, my dear,” he said, fixing her with another unsettling smile. “Your scent betrays your anxiety. Has it been a tough few days?”
Was he really asking her about her state of mind?
“Yeah. I guess getting kidnapped can be kind of stressful.” She set her jaw.
“I know it doesn’t matter to any of you, but I want you to know that I don’t want this—any of this.
You can all act as if it’s some great honor you’re bestowing upon me, but we both know that all you’ve got planned for me is rape. ”
His eyes sparked and he let out an amused chuckle. “Oh, my dear girl! Such lip. My own Valarina is from a time when human women were gentler, but I’ll wager whichever Lord wins your companionship will have fun taming you.”
He reached out a hand, offering it to her palm-up. “Come, precious one. Let me bring you to your room.”
Selma debated not taking his hand, but despite the Governor’s friendly facade, she felt the dark steel behind it as clearly as she did the heat emanating from his skin. And something about that outstretched hand very much seemed like a test—one she wouldn’t enjoy failing.
His smile turned a little sharper when she gingerly placed her palm against his.
“Very good,” he murmured, brushing his lips against the back of her hand. “You’ll find the process much easier this way.”
He led her up the grand staircase and down a series of wide hallways decorated with lush runners and beautiful paintings.
At the end of one such corridor, he fished out an iron key from his pocket and stopped by a heavy door.
It had been painted white like the others they’d passed, but was obviously much sturdier.
The Governor laid his hand against the wood and murmured some words in a language she didn’t understand. Black light flickered around his fingers before he stuck the key in the keyhole, twisted it, and opened the door.
The suite on the other side had been done up in a style that spoke of centuries past. A large bed dominated the room, but there was also a pretty white sofa set over by a dead fireplace. Two doors led from the main bedroom—and steel bars covered the windows.
“Your bathroom and dressing room,” the Governor said, nodding at the two doors.
Selma hesitated, her eyes sliding from the bars to the bed. “What… What happens now?”
The demon chuckled, releasing her hand to rest his on top of her shoulder. She felt so small and vulnerable as she stared at the bed, trying her best to prepare for what came next.
“I smell your fear, precious one,” he rumbled, petting her hair as if she were a treasured cat.
“But I only have desires for my mate. You will not be penetrated before your auction. I will set it for three weeks from now to allow the Lords interested in claiming a mate to get their affairs in order. Until then, you will spend your time in this room, resting as you prepare to be claimed by the Lord who places the winning bid. Worry not—you will be well-cared for.”
Finding strength at his assurance he wasn’t going to force himself on her, she turned to look at him. “Will I have any say in who claims me?”
He smiled as if amused by the notion that she wanted any agency over her own fate. “Your mate will be the Lord willing to sacrifice the most and fight the hardest for you. Were you hoping for love, little Breeder?”
She flushed and looked down, angry at the flicker of Kain that danced before her inner eye at that word. It hadn’t been love—but being with him was the first time she’d ever felt safe, and she knew whoever claimed her in three weeks…
Well, she was unlikely to feel anything but terror for them for a very long time to come.
“Most mates find contentment in their lot,” the Governor said, nudging her chin up with a finger. “Eventually.”
“And if I don’t?” she asked through gritted teeth.
“Best not to worry your pretty head with such dark thoughts, dearest girl.” He removed his hand from her chin, but her relief was short-lived. “Now if you would please undress for me.”
She started, her heart slamming into overdrive as she automatically drew a step back. “W-What? You said—”
“I said you won’t be penetrated. You will, however, need to be prepared for your claiming. Now don’t make a fuss, hmm? It’s in your best interest as well.”
“How is it in my best interest?” she hissed, withdrawing several more steps until the large bed was between them. “You want to make me more pliant—to make it seem like I’m willingly submitting. I won’t. I will never submit to any of your kind.”
The large demon didn’t move, but the air around him seemed to darken and she dug her nails into her palms at the crackle of his power. When he spoke, his voice was soft, but deadly.
“It is in your best interest, Breeder, because there is going to be more than a hundred and fifty demon Lords fighting for the right to seed you. Women have died during their claiming, ripped apart from within as they screamed underneath their new mates. The more pliant you are, the better chance you’ll survive.
“I am not about to let you face your auction with anything but the best preparation, so either you strip for me of your own volition, or I will do it for you. But Selma—before I leave this room, one way or another, you will yield.”