Chapter Sixteen
Night had created avelvet darkness in the woods. Lit torches dotted the path between the trees. The soft dirt was spongey beneath her bare feet. Was the path kept well-groomed so the feet of pets weren’t damaged?
When they reached the end of the path, she paused at the scene before her. She’d never seen anything of its kind or scope in any of the banned books she’d read. And she’d read many.
The central fire pit was surrounded on all sides. There were twenty pets or more, all naked and all held captive in some way. They were in cages, strapped onto benches, imprisoned in contraptions, or chained to trees. There were least twice as many masters as pets. The masters sat on cushioned benches or in large chairs. Three large beds fully dressed with expensive linens were placed at angles just outside the inner circle. A pair of intricately carved wooden cabinets stood open with so many tools and toys that it was impossible to count them from a distance. A sumptuous spread of food and spirits had been laid out on an enormous table. Another table was covered in brocade fabric cloth, but was otherwise empty.
“The late arrivals,” a man called good-naturedly. “My groom said we should wait to see the pet with the dark wispy hair before beginning the votes, but we’d almost given up on you.”
She swallowed hard, feeling very much like a lamb being led into a circle of wolves.
When she slowed, Evston put steady pressure on her leash to draw her forward and the commander’s enormous paw gripped her buttocks and gave her a subtle push.
Her breath was coming in short gasps. She fixed her eyes on the flames rising from the central pit and concentrated on each step. Even when they stopped and the Calexes stepped back so others could get closer to examine her, she held her ground, neither turning to run nor trying to cover herself.
“I don’t recall this one being on the Center’s menu the past couple of years. I would have remembered vids of this body.”
“Purchased at auction off-world,” Evston said.
“Not legal,” another man said.
“The best things aren’t.”
Murmurs and chuckles filled the air. When hands began to glide over her skin, she stiffened.
“Surface only,” the commander’s low baritone said, just as a finger threatened to press between her lower lips. “No penetration.”
“Is that a hard rule for the night?” someone asked.
“No,” Evston said. “But the right to enter her body will be reserved for those who win the hunt.”
The world seemed to swirl around her in a kaleidoscope of lights and sounds.
“Go on,” a voice said.
“She loves to run and longs to escape from any bondage. Have you ever seen a body that would make a more beautiful deer? Look at her legs.”
“A good plan,” someone said. “The vote?”
