"Thane wanted to broker peace with us and set me a task. I had to prove my willingness by freeing you from Azera's grasp and treating you decently. She didn't want to let you go until I could offer something she wanted or needed," the satisfaction in those last words reminded her a little of Azera when at her most conniving.

"Being the dark fae queen, she had some high demands." He sounded peeved, and she suspected he had to agree to something he didn't approve of but could not avoid.

Trepidation churned in the pit of her stomach.

"I may not sell you, give you away, or get rid of you. The lady probably feared I would hand you to your father, but..." He grew quiet, and a self-deprecating smile touched her lips.

"He does not want me," she stated as a fact, and he didn't like that she knew, nor did he approve of her father's choice. It was almost amusing.

Kay once had a real father, even if he was not biologically related to her, and she did not need Thane.

***

Marcus motioned for her to sit down, and when she did, he walked over to his desk and seated himself. He looked more intimidating behind that expanse of mahogany, and power radiated from him like a presence.

This was a man of power.

"She demanded that I either claim you as my concubine or give you to one of my men," Marcus' measured words caught her attention as he gauged her reaction, but she had long since learned to keep her thoughts to herself, her expression remaining impassive. Only extreme duress drove her to lose her cool.

"That would be an unwise course of action, sir," she said, and he frowned, waiting for her to explain her words. "I am almost a pure blood, and my mistress refused to have me bedded, despite numerous offers of money and favors. Why do you think that is?" she asked, and he leaned back in his comfortable, leather-padded chair, waiting for her to share her theory with him as if she were his equal and not a new piece of property.

"Do not call that woman your mistress again; she has lost her hold on you," he bit out, and this intrigued her.

"Akira is my sister, and Thane is my father. What do you think would happen, sir?'

She watched the gears in his head turn as his face became colder, harder.

"They mentioned the word succubus and the fact that my diet would change accordingly," she prompted, and he leaned forward, realizing he got taken for a fool by both Thane and Azera.

"Kanye did not change," he denied, and she did not flinch before the power of his challenge.

"They told me that she is not as pure as I am, but it may be a lie, and since I did not grow up around these people or in your world, I cannot speak for its truth."

It was the most she had spoken in years, and it felt odd.

"Then I cannot give you to Duncan," Marcus' anger pulsed against her skin.

For once, she was not the one being manipulated and thwarted.

"I have a fiance, and we are about to get married."

Someone knocked, and he frowned, but before he could speak, a woman entered.

Tall with dark blond hair and dressed casually in designer jeans paired with a beautiful red blouse, she gave off the same aura of power as he did.

"Am I interrupting?" She asked, and he stared at her for a moment.

"No, Claudia, please come in. I think you should hear this," Marcus invited.

She entered and kissed him on the cheek, but it was a chaste gesture. No jealousy stirred in her eyes, although the ring on her hand marked her as his fiance.

They made a handsome couple and would make lovely babies—if vampires could have offspring in that sense.

"You were right. Azera was too cool about this. She screwed us, or our wedding, to be precise." A muscle twitched in his cheek as she stared calmly at him.

Claudia pulled a footstool from beneath the table and sat beside him, even though it placed her slightly lower than he was.

"Meaning?" She asked, and her cool momentarily seemed to annoy him.

"Kay isn't like Kanye, and she is a near pure blood," he stated through gritted teeth, and she turned to study Kay, her expression calm but not cold.

"So the weapon to Thane's demise bought us a succubus," she concluded.

He frowned at how easily she came to that conclusion, not realizing his reluctance hampered his understanding. She watched them warily, not sure what this would mean for her.

"One who is too powerful to pawn off to some inferior vampire helper. You can't give her away or sell her, and you have to honor the deal or forfeit both the spear and Kay."

Why was the woman so accepting of this?

"You should kill me," Kay suggested without expression, and they frowned at her, ignoring her words as if she had not spoken.

"Your father would go ballistic if I take her as a concubine, and you know how the law works on that. This will be challenging enough for you without having to share your husband and your house with my...' Marcus swallowed the word, and if they were not discussing her future, Kay would have found his sensitivity toward women amusing.

"Whore," she said the word he would not.

He glanced at her with both annoyance and a vague touch of guilt.

"Concubine," Claudia corrected as if there was a meaningful difference.

"Your father has four wives and twenty concubines. My father has two wives, and this peace is more important than his sensitivities or yours. Azera has pitted us against each other for years. This marriage will bring our species together with an unbreakable bond, and this union of yours will cement peace with Thane. I will speak to my father; he is a reasonable man," Claudia said as she rose.

Kay noticed that Claudia's signet ring had an amber background and only then took in the woodsy and wild scent so subtle it almost evaded her. Odd that Claudia was so undisturbed when she had been brought to believe werewolves were less controlled.

"Until Azera uses your spear thing to kill Thane."

Why did she speak so freely in their presence?

Claudia laughed and seemed so normal, except for her commanding presence.

"Oh, no, honey, don't you worry about that. Thane gave us the spear. Azera may be conniving, but your father is a master strategist; she has never defeated him," Claudia's laughter was pleasant, and she seemed so normal, except for her commanding presence.

"That man is not my father," Kay said without inflection, and the werewolf immediately sobered.

"Unfortunately, he is, love, whether you like it or not," she corrected, and Kay looked her right in the eye.

"Hamilton Pierce was my father. The anonymous sperm donor, who doesn't want or need me, does not matter," her voice held a finality that another would not have disputed.

"Yet he saved you from Azera," the werewolf reminded, and Kay sneered.

"But he gave me to Azera."

Was that pity in Claudia's eyes?

"He would have given me to another had it not been for her, and now he indirectly gave me to you. I paid for his peace with pain I could not describe to you. Now that you saved me from my torture, I am to pay for his armistice in another way. And you are correct. This is a far kinder fate, even if you plan to keep me in your dungeons. I doubt if any other being has the capacity for cruelty Azera has."

Claudia grew pale, angry but keeping it in check, while Marcus was offended at being compared to Azera.

"Azera will get what's coming to her," Claudia promised, and Marcus's hand on her arm cautioned her.

The werewolf stared at him as if her mind was elsewhere, and it appeared she had reasons of her own to hate the queen of the dark fae.

"You will not be staying in the dungeon," Claudia assured her, and Marcus nodded. "The current room you occupy is yours, and Marcus will provide you with clothes and everything else you need. Never again will you know cold, hunger, or torture."

"Unfortunately, you cannot leave the premises without permission, someone to accompany you, and a guard. I can't risk Azera stealing you back," Marcus looked sincere, but Kay had lost her trust in people long ago.

"Mark her," Claudia almost commanded, and he frowned at her.

"No,"

Their eyes dueled.

As odd as this is, it will be better than the mercy of Azera. Newest Version ©2014-2023 All rights reserved. If you find this on any other platform but Wattpad under @CSDreamer, please report it. No part of this book may be copied or reposted without the author's permission.