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He didn’t write back. I can still feel the connection between us, a giant door slammed right over it. No amount of pounding will let me in, and honestly, it’s answer enough.
He wants nothing to do with me. I tried to warn him that he wouldn't like me if he found out what I really was…and what did I really expect? I’d been lucky enough to have Zev and Jagger accept me, but I knew it was impossible to get lucky with all three.
The prince motions toward the balcony. “You could jump,” he says. “I won’t try to stop you.”
“Would that entertain you?” I clap back.
Something dark ripples over his features, but he forces a smile that doesn’t reach his eyes. “I daresay that it would,” he says. “Your attempt to attack my father certainly amused me,” he continues, and looks like he really means it. “I haven't had that much fun in ages. Hence the reason why I’ve kept you alive.”
“Is that the only reason?”
He shrugs. “My father has a vested interest in you,” he says. “But has given you to me to break.”
“I figured your father would simply want me dead,” I snap. “After killing my entire kind and all.”
The prince nods. “He relishes that truth,” he says. “Be grateful you are alive now.”
I glare at him, my hands shaking as adrenaline rushes through my body, little pops of green magic cracking from my fingertips. Just wisps of my power sneaking through the damned silver bracelets.
The prince bolts out of his chair, stomping over to me, gripping my chin hard enough to hold, but not hurt.
I want to bite him.
I want to rip out his throat with my fangs and drench this pretty little room with his blood.
But I can't. Not until I have a plan. Not until I can figure out where Zev and Jagger are and how I can get them out of here alive.
“Don't like being spoken about like a piece of property?” he asks. “Then submit. Do as I say, and you may just live long enough to find relief in submission. In belonging solely to somebody else. Do what I say, and you may evade my father’s interests.” His silver eyes fall to my lips. “Trust me,” hecontinues, looking at me once more. “You don’t want his interest to deepen.”
I have to fight to keep myself still in his grip. Have to fight to keep my power from lashing out at the son of the male who murdered my family.
“He can’t Collect you,” he says, releasing me and stepping back to look down at me. “His Treasure would forbid it. You’re too…” His voice trails off, his eyes grazing over my body. “She’s notoriously jealous. That’s why he gave you to me. He fears nothing and no one, save for his precious Treasure.”
I tilt my head, catching on the hatred that drips from his tongue.
“You belong to me,” he says more firmly. “If you have any interest in surviving, you will not question me. You will do as I say. And you will come to love it, I promise you that. My father delights in torturing his Collected, taking and breaking until all that’s left is a hollow shell. Be grateful it’s me who you belong to.”
“And what ofyourCollected?” I ask, swallowing hard. I’m doing my best to quell the urge to cross the distance and rip his throat out with my fangs. A futile plan, for sure, but one I can’t help but fantasize about. I have to remember the real plan. The one if I was captured. I have to become the perfect pet. I have to learn about my enemy before I can bring him to his knees. “Are they hollow shells too?”
The prince takes another calculated step away from me. “They’re none of your concern,” he says. “Will you do as I say?”
“What if I don’t?” I ask before I can stop myself.
He sighs, nodding. “Then you will starve,” he says before he opens the door and slams it behind him.
The tension in my shoulders relax at his absence, and I blow out a breath.
We planned for me possibly being Collected, but we hadn't planned for Zev and Jagger to be captured and used as a weapon against me.
I certainly didn’t plan on the prince collecting me.
I suck in a sharp breath, scooting farther back on the bed, curling into a ball. The plan has changed, but the intention is the same.
I'll be the prince’s perfect pet even if it kills my pride to do so.
I’ll be the best Collected he's ever possessed.
I’ll become what I despise most to save us all.
