“I agree to the courtship.” She forced the words out past the lump in her throat.
“Will you willingly submit to our sexual needs and accept our authority over you?” Challenge sharpened Patrick’s tone and his brows arched.
It was a test. The first of many, she had no doubt. If she were going to submit willingly, she had to learn to trust him. “I will,” she said, even managing to sound sincere.
Patrick moved behind her and wrapped the gold band around her throat. It was looser than a choker but still felt cold and imposing as it settled against her skin. He secured the latch, then rested his hands on her shoulders.
“You’re no longer my prisoner. You’re our potential mate and will be treated with the respect that position deserves. I will return you to the village, but I require a demonstration of your commitment to this relationship first. Does that seem fair?”
She turned her head, but couldn’t quite see his face. “It does.”
“Then rise and put your dress back on.”
The order surprised her. She’d expected them to test her willingness with sexual demands. An odd sense of disappointment settled over her as she pushed to her feet and reached for her dress.
“Don’t look so dejected, mate,” Patrick said with a smirk. “I fully intend to fuck you senseless. I just need something in my belly first.”
The week that followed was very different than the weeks that had gone before. Both males were attentive and friendly, which made it easier for Heather to imagine a future as their mate. She submitted willingly even when Patrick grew broodingly aggressive. He frequently spanked her to demonstrate his dominance, but had only punished her once because of her defiant attitude. She tried to be patient, to allow Patrick to decide when her commitment had been adequately demonstrated, but she was restless and anxious to return to the village and rejoin her friends.
The sun was just beginning to set when her mates arrived at the cottage. Patrick was holding a backpack, which made Heather sigh. The provisions they’d delivered at the beginning of the week were mostly gone. She’d been hoping that indicated that her probationary time was over and they would finally return her to the village.
Without explaining his actions, Patrick walked to the table and set down the backpack. He unzipped the main compartment and drew out several devices. One was clearly a folding computer, but she was unfamiliar with the others.
“What’s going on?” she asked as he began to assemble the devices.
“Raphael wants to speak with you,” Gabriel told her.
“Why? Did I do something wrong?”
“Not at all.” Gabriel closed the distance between them and gave her a reassuring hug. “Why was that your first thought?”
She motioned to her charming prison and sighed. “I can’t imagine.”
“Send him a telepathic ping and let him know we’re ready,” Patrick said to Gabriel, then motioned Heather toward one of the chairs.
She sat down and faced the laptop, still unsure what was happening.
Raphael’s image formed on the screen a few minutes later. His sun-streaked brown hair appeared shaggy and tousled. His eyes were the same unusual orange as Gabriel’s and a short beard shadowed his jawline. “Thanks for taking my comm. I need a favor from you.”
She glanced at Gabriel, then Patrick, before she shifted her gaze back to the screen. “What can I do for you?”
“Claire blames herself for the predicament you find yourself in. She thinks you would be living happily in the feline village if it weren’t for her.”
“That’s ridiculous,” Heather insisted.
“I agree, but she honestly feels that you wouldn’t have been there for Patrick to discover if she had acted sooner. She promisedto help you return to the feline village and she failed to follow through.”
“Please tell her that I don’t blame her for anything.”
“Would you be willing to tell her yourself?” he asked with surprising humility. Raphael was one of the village leaders. He was used to issuing commands, not asking for favors.
“Of course. I’d love to speak with her. I miss her terribly.”
“You cannot reveal where you are,” Patrick cautioned. “And keep the conversation focused on her. This is not about your punishment. It’s about her feelings of guilt.”
“I understand.”
“She’s not back yet,” Raphael said. “Leave the comm unit in standby. She should return shortly.”
