Page 14 of Beast

The First frowns at his lessers. “Nice, guys. Make her thinkwe’re all pervs.”

“She’ll find out soon enough,” the man says and steps backto avoid another elbow. His twin laughs aloud.

The First sends them a dirty look. His eyes soften when heturns back to me. “What’s your name, sweetheart?”

“Name?” I do not recognize the word. The magic they employonly works part of the time. I am still confused by much of their talk.

He pats his chest. “Dante. That’s what people call me. Whatdo people call you?”

The People call me many names. I flush thinking of all thethings I was called. I chose my own “name” at the age of eight, though themembers of the pack refused to use it, preferring to call me “that creature.” Ido not have to tell him that. I can hide my shame here. “Kaja. I am Kaja. Ilike it. It means pure.”

I always liked the way it sounded.

“Kaja, that is ironic.” The First laughs. I feel a sweetnesscenter in my chest. I never heard the word I call myself from another’s lips.The First stops and smiles. He touches his chest. “You are Kaja, and I amcalled Dante.”

“Dante,” I say, trying the word out on my tongue. Dante, theFirst.

“Come,” the First says. He holds out his hand. I let himpull me up. “Meg, do you have anything with you that will take the stink offher? I think there’s a pretty woman under here somewhere.”

The female hands the First a square. It is pink, and I cansmell a pleasant floral scent. I hope they don’t want me to eat it. It doesn’tlook like something good to eat. The First holds his square and begins pullingme toward the water. Perhaps I am supposed to take a drink. I lean over andsmell the water. It seems fine, though it is a bit warm.

“No, sweetheart,” the First says. “Get in. I want you tobathe yourself.”

My eyes go wide, and I pull my fingers from his hand. Hewants me to immerse myself in water? I saw two members of the pack fall throughthe ice into water once. They struggled and fought and finally went under,never to be seen again.

“No,” I say, shaking my head.

I will not allow him to drown me. I will not be put down. Ihave done nothing wrong. I plant my feet to stop from coming one step closer tothat small pool.

“Yes,” the First sighs. “Look, this isn’t going to work if Ican’t convince you to stay clean. Vampires are fastidious creatures. Heightenedsenses and all. Let’s get you cleaned up and then we can talk. I have plans,you see, and you, darling, figure into them.”

I will not be able to talk. I will drown. I pull back andtry to change. A growl of frustration starts low in my throat. My limbs willnot change. I am weak in this form. Why, oh why, can I not change? I try topull away from the First’s hold. I want so badly to run. I will run and nevercome back. I will find a place with a forest. I will live alone forever.

“Stop fighting me,” the First says, sounding tired. He wrapshis hand around my arm and tries to haul me to the pool.

“Tell her, Dante.” That comes from the dark-haired man withthe sword.

The First refuses to give up his hold on me. We are at animpasse. I struggle against him. “I just did that, Beck.”

“No, you didn’t. You were polite. That’s not what she needs.She didn’t respond to you until you forced her to submit, and then she followedyou like a sweet girl. Dogs are like that. They fight and bite until you showthem you’re their master.”

“She is not an animal.” The First sounds irritated.

“Neither is Meggie, but trust me, our lives got easier onceI took control,” Beck offers.

The red-haired girl snorts. “As if.”

The one called Beck stands too close now. He stares at theFirst. “Tell her what to do. If she doesn’t do it, make her do it. She needsit. She’s scared. We have no idea where she came from or what she’s beenthrough. She calmed down once she realized you were stronger than she was. Itmakes her feel safe. She needs dominance first and then kindness. Take controlor I will.”

I fight harder. I don’t like the look of that one. He islarger than the First and probably cruel. What is this kindness he speaks of?The word does not translate. Why would the First let me close and then kill me?Tears form in my eyes. I hate them. Helga used to slap me every time I cried.It is weakness. I growl low in the back of my throat to cover them up.

“No.” The First growls right back. “You will do as I say.Don’t make me hurt you. I don’t want to do that, but I will if it means keepingyou alive. If you get away, Beck will hunt you. Do you understand?”

His words are too fast, and I am not truly listening. Theman—Beck—has his hand on his sword again. Meg is pulled behind the soft one. Ikick out, trying to hit the First in the groin again. I am surrounded and Icannot change, but I will not go down without a fight.

The First roars at me, and I am on the ground once more. Ifeel the hard dirt against my skin and his hand on my neck.

“You belong to me,” the First snarls at me, his breath hotagainst the back of my neck. “You will do as I say. If you don’t, we’re goingto have a problem. I might not have played at BDSM, darling, but I assure you Ican spank that sweet ass of yours if I have to.”