“No!”Donnel ran toward Faegan, but Faegan pulled a dagger.
“Is she worth dying over?”Faegan asked as he drained his glass and set it on the hall table.“Give me a reason not to slit your throat.Hamish isn’t here to protect you, and neither is Bryn.Have to admit, the timing worked out perfectly.”
Donnel heard the crunch of gravel and footsteps approaching.Before they could knock, however, Faegan opened the door.From where Donnel stood, he couldn’t see outside.
Then they walked in.Faegan flashed Donnel a smarmy grin.“Right this way, please.”
Hyacinth, looking terrified and still wearing the clothes she’d worn when he’d seen her—and his scent still upon her—entered the hall.She’d been crying, her eyes red and nose puffy.An older man Donnel assumed was her father followed, carrying a small, battered satchel, and two of Faegan’s men brought up the rear.
“Ah, Eldwin,” Faegan said.“Did she give you much trouble?”
“None, sir.”The man glared at her.“Thank ye for not punishin’ her for her wanderin’ eye.”He pointed at Donnel.“We’d be havin’ serious words had ye sullied her.”
Donnel started to storm over, but Faegan’s men grabbed him while Faegan smiled and Hyacinth begged them not to hurt him, which broke Donnel’s heart even more.
Faegan stroked the backs of his fingers down Hyacinth’s cheek.“You’ll do, girl.I never believed in mate bonds anyway.Useless, weak emotions.”He pulled a leather pouch from his pocket.From the way it jingled when he handed it to Eldwin, Donnel knew it contained a considerable amount of coin.“Good doing business with you, sir.”
“And the property?”Eldwin asked.
“My man will be over in the morning to give you the deed to the new property and house.I already have someone ready to take over your old one.”
The man nodded and tipped his hat to Faegan.“Much obliged, sir.”
“No worries.Do you need a lift home?”
“No, sir.I’ll walk.”He wagged a finger at Hyacinth.“Behave yerself, girl, and mind yer place.Yer damned lucky to be matin’ with the Pack Alpha.”
Donnel shouted and struggled, but Faegan’s men, both shifters, had him securely pinned.
Eldwin jabbed that same finger at Donnel.“Yer lucky I don’t rip yer throat out meself when he offered to let me.”
He left.
Faegan looked at Hyacinth.“Let’s go, girl.It’s your wedding night.”
“No!”Donnel screamed.“You bloody bastard!”
In a flash, Faegan was in front of him, the knife pressed against Donnel’s throat.
Hyacinth screamed, pulling on Faegan’s arm.“No!Please don’t hurt him!”
Faegan’s cold grin finished icing over Donnel’s soul.“Then do you submit to me as your mate?”
More tears ran down her face.“Please, let him go!Don’t harm him!Let him live, and I’ll submit!”
“Hyacinth, no!”Donnel yelled.
Faegan grabbed her, one arm across her throat and the other hand pressing the knife along her cheek.“Maybe I should blind her,hmm?Bitch doesn’t need eyes to breed.Then I never have to worry about her straying, do I?”
“No!”Donnel screamed as Hyacinth squeezed her eyes shut and tried to shrink from the metal blade.“Don’t hurt her, you bastard!”
“I guess the lovebirds do care about each other,” Faegan joked to his men.“Here’s what I’ll allow.Donnel, you can stay and suck off the teat of this estate for as long as you wish, and I won’t cut her up.When she is no longer of use to me as a breeder, then she can be yours again.Andyou—” he jerked her tightly against his body.“You will submit to me like a proper Pack Alpha’s mate and play the part to perfection.Give no one reason to believe you are anything but a dutiful mate.If you do, I promise never to harm him, directly or indirectly.”
“Yes,” she tearfully whispered.
“No!”Donnel screamed again.“It’s not worth it!He’s not worth it!Please don’t do this—I love you!”
“Oh, I paid her father well,” Faegan said.“Probably more money than he ever has or ever would see in his life.It’s amusing that you thought you could keep this a secret from me, Donnel.”
