"This close, you're even more mesmerizing, Bella," says the man who's replacing Mr. Bulldog's choker from around my neck with a bigger one. The choker that he places around my throat definitely feels heavier and the diamonds shine brighter. My inner vanity preens amidst the feeling of relief. Maybe I don't have to commit murder tonight after all.

He's a handsome man in his mid-forties and he introduced himself as Antonio De Luca earlier on. The only Tony De Luca that I've heard of is the head of a criminal family, a dangerous man. But I'd much rather go home with him than the old bulldog.

His touch feels warm on the back of my neck but still, he's not the man that I want. The man that occupies my mind is currently still on the dance floor, all wrapped up with my sister. Their faces are close together, a breath away from kissing.

Tony De Luca places his finger under my chin to angle my face up, directing my gaze that wanders to Sacha Gauthier and Dimitra on the dance floor back to him.

His dark brown eyes are hard and his jaw and upper lip are covered with a thin layer of dark hair. He has two permanent lines between his eyebrows and he looks old enough to be my father but he's a lot better looking than the bulldog. He's also elegant and I quite like his salt and pepper hair. "Something so innocent, pure, and beautiful should not be touched by Pappalardo," he says.

Innocent and pure? If he's a human, he wouldn't know what my father truly is. "Thank you," I tell him softly, smiling up to him.

He kisses the back of my hand. "You certainly are different from your brothers and sisters," he says before he retreats.

That's where he's wrong. I am not that much different from all my siblings. We do what we need to do to survive.

My relief is short-lived because Mr. Pappalardo the bulldog approaches me again with an even bigger choker just five minutes after Tony De Luca left.

Tony De Luca puts another bid in soon after, followed by another man but the bulldog keeps outbidding everyone. Again and again. By my calculation, I will now have to spend the next six months in his dreaded company. At this rate, I don't know if I want anyone to keep bidding or to stop before I have to spend eternity with him.

So far this evening, I haven't a moment of peace. Deedee stays by my side and I lost sight of Juniper on the dancefloor. Juniper has a couple of bids going for her and she has a choker glittering around her pretty throat. She couldn't be happier and I'm glad for her but those men could've had her for free.

"I've never seen such a bidding war over anyone before," says Dante who suddenly appears beside Deedee and me. "It must be your innocent, virginal look. You must be proud of yourself." No, I'm not. At least not tonight when the one that I really want is pouring all his attention to my sister and acting like I didn't exist.

The other Nephilims don't look too happy watching them on the dancefloor either, especially Marina and Olivier. They all look relieved when the song ends and their prince returns to their midst. Dimitra is dancing with another man now, but her eyes seem glued on Sacha.

Dante nudges my side to get my attention. "Dimitra is barking up a wrong tree. The Nephilim prince is here to spy on us, not to bid on a demon's spawn. I bet his father sent him over so that he can scope us out before he's crowned the leader."

I look at my brother before my eyes slide back toward the Nephilims. They land and locked with Sacha Gauthier's across the room.

It takes me a while to realize that he's striding toward us and that a man holding a velvet case is walking beside him. A hushed silence falls over the ballroom.

A few seconds later, the Nephilim prince is facing me, standing not two feet away from me. My heart is pounding so hard in my chest that I wonder if everybody could hear it.

Up close, he looks so much better. So much more intimidating. His eyes are hazel- moss green with a burst of golden brown center. They are surrounded by thick, long, dark eyelashes that should be illegal on a man. His lips are firm with a surprisingly generous and sexy lower lip.

"Danica Saint?" His deep velvety voice jolts me out of my stupor. "My name is Alexander Gauthier. Pleased to meet you," he says. By the tone of his voice, he sounds anything but pleased. The way his eyes roam my face and eventually fall on the string of diamonds circling my neck seems cold and rather ornery.

The man with the velvet case steps forward and that's when I notice that the case is red rather than black or dark blue like all the other cases I've seen so far.

My knees feel weak and my stomach clenches when he goes to stand behind me. The air between us feels thick and charged. Electrified. My senses heightened and I can feel the warmth of his breath on the back of my head and on my naked back.

He works on unlatching Pappalardo's choker off me. The touch of his fingers on the back of my neck burns and sends a jolt of electricity down my spine. It's like I've been seared and marked right to my soul...like I had a soul. His movement pauses for friction as though he felt it too before he continues. I certainly can feel the weight of the new choker that he places over my throat.

*****

Never have I experienced having so many hostile looks thrown my way until I have the Nephilim prince's heavy choker around my neck. The choker with no end date.

But that doesn't stop Mr. Pappalardo from approaching me once more. His eyes are glittering hard and his mouth curve even lower around the corners. He leans in close and growls, "When he's done with you, I'll be waiting, little girl."

Dimitra keeps giving me hateful glares. The other Nephilims seem pretty upset as well. All of them keep their mouth shut, however, except for Olivier.

"We're not here to bid on a half-demon child, Sacha. What are you going to do with Astaroth's bastard?" he asks.

"I know what I'm doing, Olivier," Sacha snaps.

"Do you? You just spent millions of dollars on a demon's spawn. This is not what we're here for. If you want a company of a beautiful woman, you could just..."

"Quiet!" he growls. "You're my best friend, that's why you're still standing. But know your place, Olivier. Stop questioning me." And that seems to be the end of the discussion.

Sacha Gauthier must have felt it too. Our connection. He wouldn't have spent all that money on me if he didn't, right?

*****

Two men approach me at the end of the event. One of them is carrying a square red velvet box similar to the one which held the choker earlier. "Here is the case for the jewelry and the rest of the set," says one of the men. The other man opens the box to reveal a pair of matching diamond earrings. He lets me admire the glittering diamonds before he carefully closes the case and presents it to me.

"What about the bracelet? Aren't you going to take it off me?" I really don't want to be wearing it anymore knowing that it has a tracker.

"I'm afraid the tracker for it now belongs to your bidder and it will stay on you until your contract is over."

"Wait!" I call out when they're about to take off. "What do I do now? Am I supposed to go home with the guy who won the bid or what?"

"Your bidder will not be claiming you tonight," he says.

"When will he..." I start to ask, but they're already walking away.

When I look around me, the ballroom is already deserted. The guests are mostly gone. Did everyone just leave? The staff is working on cleaning and clearing everything up. Even Juniper is gone. So, I wander out, feeling oddly lost, empty, and a little confused.

He's not claiming me tonight? When will he be claiming me? Did he leave without saying goodbye?

One of my father's bodyguards meets me in the lobby. He leads me to the limo where Deedee and Dimitra are already waiting at the back.

Even as I stand there, my eyes wander around to seek him out.

"Just get in! What took you so long?" snaps Dimitra.

*******************************************************

Hey ya, dear readers!

My next update is on Friday evening (est). If you want to read three chapters ahead, go to Inkitt:

https://Inkitt/apps/link/RA_NicoleRidd3y

Have a wonderful week and stay safe!

XOXOXO

Nicole♥