Page 30 of Outcast’s Vow

“I thought we agreed we’re equals in this marriage,” I observe dryly.

“My captor. That’s who you are to me, Baptiste. That’s all I care to know about you.”

“You don’t know the first thing about me, Highness.”

And with that, I turn and walk away, leaving her to ruminate and seethe, understanding perfectly that my walking away will eat into the heart of a woman like her.

I even allow myself a smile.

I loved that.

But then the air changes.

Elder Leopold Anguish steps into my path.

12

BAPTISTE

He suddenly appears in front of me like a cheap scare at a haunted house ride.

Oh, fuck. Not him.

Leopold Anguish offers his hand. I shake it. His grip is tight, and he doesn’t let go.

So, he wishes to make this an alpha face-off? I hold his hand and also refuse to let go. The Elder is the uncle of Silas Anguish, who was Clement’s rival for Elise, and who hails from one of the oldest families in the Castaways. Everyone has heard of the Anguishes. They’re a family owning one of the most luxurious and dominant hotel brands in the world, and their noble roots run deep through history. Leopold himself is one of the most powerful Elders in the society, tipped to be a potential future Supreme Elder.

I glare at him. He’s a handsome man, I’d give him that. Just like his nephews. Dark blue eyes. His hair is still a light blond, even in his sixties. Lean, athletic, and very much still in his prime, he reminds me of a wolf waiting in the bushes, always ready to pounce on prey.

Leopold’s eyes drift down to my bare chest. To the blood from the tattoo of Sylvie’s name.

I am not his prey. I refuse to be.

“I should congratulate you on a fine victory,” Leopold sneers at me, his voice a quiet knife as our hands continue to grasp. “Elwood’s daughter is a good catch for a pauper raised on the streets.”

“I’m not going to share her, if that’s what you’re asking.”

Leopold chuckles. He makes a point of straining his neck over my shoulders, back toward my wife.

“You’re a funny man, Baptiste,” he purrs. “But can you handle someone like her? She’ll have demands. A certain level of taste that you’ll have to provide, and not like the whores you’re used to. Will you be able to satisfy her?”

“I’m sure I’ll manage,” I reply. “Thanks for the heads-up.”

I pull my hand away from his, but Leopold steps even closer to me. I can smell his breath now. Minty, with a touch of expensive brandy mixed in.

“Another heads-up for you,” he tells me. “Before you settle in marital bliss. In the near future, the Castaways will require you to complete a task. The Order knows your skill and talent at adventure sports. We know your risk appetite.”

“What kind of task?”

“Despite what I think, the other Elders believe there’s some use for you. The task will come your way. Not yet, but soon. Don’t fuck it up, otherwise I’d be proven right about your uselessness. I might start taking bets. Your future in the Order might even be on the line.”

There’s a momentary silence as we glare at each other.

“You really don’t like me, do you?” I ask him.

“The Castaways is a game,” Leopold replies darkly. “There are winners and losers, and I intend that you and your friends lose.”

“Sorry to burst your bubble, but I’m good at games. May the best man win.”