Chapter 6
Xander
White Blank Page – Mumford and Sons
It takes them all night to drive to The Collector’s property deep in the outback. They have to stop three times to re-dose Lyle and Savage. A low growl would make the convoy stop, and the roos wouldn’t even risk opening the metal doors of the trucks, but poked their rifles through small holes in the side and shot each thrice.
“So civilised,” Katerina said, reaching over and patting me hard on the cheek. “Say, ‘Yes, regina.’”
I repeat the words, even as they try to choke me. I keep listening to the sky for the sound of dragon wings, wondering if Aurelia has made it back to the Academy by now. Wondering what her next move will be. There has to be some way I can contact her. Some opportunity I can take to send her a message that I have my own mind. That we are okay for now.
We arrive at the property close to dawn. Katerina’s house is encased in scaffolding to repair the damage I caused when I tore the place apart to find Lia. Connor gets out first as part of the feline team to help levitate Lyle and Sav inside. Aurelia’s felinefriend inhales sharply as I clamber out of the Jeep. I land on the gravel with my chains clattering, dutifully falling in behind Katerina and the hyena matriarch.
I risk a little power usage.“Pass me your phone at the first opportunity,”I mentally project to Connor.
“Take them all to my room,” the crocodile instructs. “I never want them out of my sight.
My stomach turns at the implication of this as Scythe and I are led inside the property. I can’t see if her stone crocodile statue has been set right after I moved it, but I’m not entirely sure who else would have been able to move it without a truck or crane. It doesn’t matter now, however, as the scent of women’s perfumes mingle in the air along with various types of animas.
We’re marched through a series of echoing corridors and tiled floors until we get to an even colder room, the AC on full blast. “I have three cages set up and ready,” Katerina sighs as if she considers her own work arousing. Her scent casts a pall over me as she tugs me forwards by the chains and leads me towards the left of the room, where the scent of metal is strongest. “And one last touch—” Cold metal circles my neck before clipping into place. The rustle of keys clicks the lock into place before she prods me hard in the bicep, indicating I need to move forward.
With my jaw clenched, I drag my feet into what I assume is one of the cells, and she swings the door shut and locks it. I don’t move anywhere. I remain fixed at the bars, listening to my shark-brother’s steady, slow breathing. Savage and Lyle are levitated into the room, their breathing wet and slow from sedation, as they are locked into their cells one by one. Connor enters, then leaves, his gait the slowest of them all.
I sense no pregnancy in him, nor any signs of heat. Scythe had mentioned to me that Connor was here on a scientific study contract. In exchange for research, he would get money to help his poorly grandfather, who had been the one person in hisfamily to stand by him when it was discovered he was a male with a female spirit.
The room becomes awfully quiet, and my stomach turns as I hear Katerina rubbing her hands along Scythe’s body. She hums with pleasure. “Come and lie on the bed, Scythe.”
I suck in a breath as my brother moves onto the bed.
Katerina hums again. “As your regina, I command you to kiss me.”
Blood pounds in my head as I hear the rustle of cloth. My power lashes out, draconic telekinesis holding Scythe away from Katerina.
“Kiss me!” she commands angrily.
Scythe moves against my power, and I hold him still. I won’t allow this. Not now, not ever. Not after everything he’s been through. Not just hours after he’d slain his first enemy, my own Uncle. My shark-brother strains to complete the command, but I hold him like steel around flesh.
Katerina makes a displeased sound. “Fetch me a glass of water.”
I loosen my hold and allow Scythe to complete this command and get off the bed. His business shoes click across the tiles until he gets to an echoey area that must be the ensuite. When he returns, Katerina takes the glass and gulps it down before setting it on a wooden bedside table. “Take your clothes off,” she commands.
Fuck this vile creature.
Scythe moves, cloth moving against skin as he takes off his business shirt and drops it to the ground.
“Take your pants off,” Katerina commands.
I clench my teeth as I hold Scythe’s hands still. He pushes against me, forcing his will against mine. I sense his hands vibrating against our opposing forces, but I hold on to him with everything I have. Sweat trickles down my spine and I clenchmy teeth against the rage. Katerina huffs, and I let out a relieved exhale
“Turn the fuck around, dragon. Your eyes make me feel sick.”
Silently, I turn and face the wall my cell shares with Savage and Lyle’s.
“Scythe, lie next to me and go to sleep. I’ll deal with you later. You, dragon. Sit down and sleep.”
Sighing through my nose, I take up a position against the wall as Katerina’s clothes come off and she heads into the bathroom. What a fucking pervert. I slide to the floor and come to rest on my ass, ignoring the command to sleep. Scythe can never be left alone with Katerina. None of my brothers can. I will sit and keep vigil every night, if I fucking have to.
Around midday the next day, Katerina gets out of bed to check on my wolf and lion brothers, darting them for good measure. She’s going to run out of darts if she’s not careful. I’m sure she has the biggest supply in the state, but how long is she expecting to keep this up? I don’t feel as exhausted as I should, having had to stay wide awake all night and I think part of it is adrenaline still courses through my system from the fight at Drakos Estate.
