The presenter checks his clipboard.
“Next up,” he announces brightly, “we’ve got something special.”
The room shifts.
Men lean forward.
My skin crawls.
Luke’s hand tightens around my wrist.
“Come on,” he says quietly.
“Luke—”
He pulls me forward.
I stumble after him as he drags me down the aisle and up the short steps to the stage. The lights hit my eyes, blinding.
The presenter smiles wider.
“Ruby Novak.”
Chapter 2
Ruby
Mybloodturnstoice.
I stare at him.
At the clipboard.
At Luke.
My throat closes.
Someone in the front row chuckles.
“Redhead,” a man murmurs, pleased.
I shake my head, tiny and frantic. “No.”
The presenter lifts the microphone. “And yes,” he adds, like he’s sharing a fun secret, “verifiedvirgin.”
The room hums.
My body locks up.
Luke did that.
Luke told them.
Luke sold me.
The world tilts.
I yank hard against Luke’s grip, panic making me wild. “Let me go!”
