*Warning* This series will contain mentions of rape, panic attacks, SH and many triggering topics. I advise you, don't read if any of this can make you uncomfortable. If you do end up reading, the male character is a good man. I will never write toxic men.

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The room felt smaller, the walls seemed to close in and it was hard to breathe anymore. The world enjoyed breaking down women like her as if it made it stronger.

Inara sat near the patio, her long blonde hair wound open as expressionless emotions clung to her face.

"Inara, be ready in 5 minutes," An elderly voice from outside called out to which she sighed as a tear drop ran down her cheek.

It was the auction day. When they turned 21, every orphan woman in Inara's coven was auctioned off to a highly rich man and was accustomed to serving as his sex slave for as long as he wanted. It was a disgusting tradition that took place in the small coven with around 100-200 people but none of the outside world knew about this.

Women with parents could decide whether they wanted to auction her off or not, otherwise, she could have a normal wedding but that didn't mean she wouldn't be treated like a slave.

Every woman hated this but they dreaded this day as no one could do anything about it. But it was different for her. She wasn't what the men desired.

Inara stood up and wiped her tears, her short almost see-through lingerie made her shiver as she walked toward the door. It opened and the woman outside led her down the familiar hall and into the large auction hall entrance.

"I wish things were different," she whispered to Inara who glanced at the woman with sad eyes. "I wish there was something I could do."

Inara looked straight ahead, accepting her fate. "We were meant to be treated this way, Aeris. There's nothing we can do now," her voice was barely a whisper, trembling as if the words themselves were too painful to say out loud. "I didn't know I'd be doing this again."

She entered the large room where many women stood with chains around their hands and feet so they couldn't escape. Inara was forced to do the same.

"Here is slave number 1. She is freshly 21 as wanted and a virgin, quite the catch I must say!" A loud voice called out from inside the hall as everyone hooted around them. "Who is the highest bidder here?"

The men called out several numbers from 5000 florins to 10,000 florins.

The smell of alcohol and weed was everywhere, it was staunching. A wave of nausea passed over her as she smelt it, her stomach turned at the sight. Everything was foul, it conveyed neglect, the rancid smell and the men made her want to run away but she couldn't.

As time passed by, the announcer came to her. "Here is slave number 12. Not a virgin, her last master didn't want her anymore, so who wants to bid on her?"

She stood trembling on the stage, the bright light illuminated her body as men from all around the coven sat and used crude words to describe her body.

Her head hung low in shame and all that was left to do was accept everything just like she was taught to, a slave.

One of the men shouted 1000 florins but several shouted much more. At the end, the announcer was satisfied with one number. "3000 florins! You can have her," he said as a guard came onto the stage and held her arms to take her towards the other man.

The man watched her closely, his eyes running down her body in lust making her fear for her life. This wasn't what she wanted. Not again.

He seized her arm in a bruising grip, forcing a pained wince from her. Leaning close to her ear, he murmured, "You're not a virgin, but I'll find a good use for you." Tears welled up in her eyes, threatening to spill over.

Just when she thought her life was over, gasps and screams erupted from the crowd. The sounds of chaos suddenly filled the air, sharp and frantic. Panic swept through the room as shouts echoed from all sides. In the blink of an eye, the King's warriors poured into the brothel, their heavy boots thudding against the floor, overpowering the screams and gasps of the frightened men.

Marek's eyes caught a gorgeous woman, her long blonde hair tied into a braid but his jaw clenched in anger when he saw her condition. Her tiny body was trying to run as her blue hues were distraught, desperately attempting to escape.

Inara's heart raced, confusion and fear flooding her mind as she stood frozen, unable to process what was happening. She tugged against the guard's grip, his grip faltering as he ran off making her stumble.

The room had become a whirlwind of chaos, with the women looking on in confusion, and the men either trying to fight back or flee.

Her eyes darted to the exit, her body trembling as she took a step toward it, desperate to escape this madness. But the moment she turned, a sharp voice cut through the air.

"Inara."

The sound of her name made her freeze, her breath catching in her throat. She turned slowly, her heart thudding in her chest as she saw him.

A huge, beautiful man. His black hair, shoulder-length and kept in a top bun, framed his chiseled face, adding to the intensity of his features. His eyes—gray as storm clouds—swept across the room with a sharp, calculating gaze that seemed to see through everything, his every movement purposeful, deliberate. There was a raw power in the way he moved, a quiet strength that contrasted with the chaos surrounding him.

His gaze locked on hers, and without a second thought, he moved toward her. He couldn't believe he had found her after all these years.

Her pulse quickened, fear still holding her in place. She had seen so many men before, but something about him, the authority in his eyes, the force in his step, sent an undeniable shiver down her spine.

Before she could react, Marek reached her, his cloak sweeping around them both as he covered her frail, trembling body with its dark fabric. He cupped her cheek gently, his touch soft but firm, and his gray eyes locked onto hers with an intensity that made her breath catch.

"You'll be okay," Marek said, his voice low and reassuring amidst the chaos around them. The warmth of his hand on her cheek felt like the first comfort she had known in a long time. His thumb brushed across her skin, wiping away the tear that had spilled down her face.

Inara shook, tears continuing to stream down her face, unsure whether to believe him. Everything was a blur—her mind spinning, her body still trembling from the terror of the auction, the foul men, the desperate feeling of being sold like an object. She opened her mouth to speak, but the words stuck in her throat, a cocktail of fear, confusion, and disbelief clouding her thoughts.

Marek leaned closer, lowering his voice to a whisper only for her. "Come with me, Inara. Now. It's okay. You're safe now."

With trembling hands, she stepped closer to him, allowing him to guide her through the chaos. Marek's presence felt like a shield, like something that could protect her from this nightmare.

As they moved through the brothel, she could still hear the shouts, the cries, and the sound of men being dragged away, but they were further away now, and Marek's calm, steady presence was like an anchor in a sea of madness.

Inara didn't understand why he was helping her, and she didn't know what he wanted, but at that moment, she couldn't bring herself to question him. She needed him, needed to believe that maybe, just maybe, things could be different.

A/N

The places mentioned ahead do not exist in real life and florins is a currency in this world.

Anyway, hope you enjoyed! You're going to see how Marek actually knows Inara. Btw this is an age-gap series.

See you soon!

xoxo

-lily