Page 143 of Devour

He glances at Axl. “She’s so fucking sleeping in your bed at night.”

“She’ll be a true Raven, because she’s going to see some things.” Axl reaches over and runs his knuckle along the kitten’s back. She stretches and yawns without lifting her head from my neck. “A future little voyeur.”

“That poor cat.” Crew is chuckling next to the bed.

I hold the kitten closer and stroke her fur with my thumb. Kynlee is beside me on the bed pretending she’s fine, the way she always does when she’s trying not to cry. I reach for her hand and squeeze it. She knows what I lost.

She squeezes back and gives me a small nod. That’s all we need. We’ve never needed many words between us.

Priest shifts on his bed, wincing when his arm moves wrong. He looks at Kynlee and something in his expression changes. It’s quick enough that I almost miss it, but I wonder what that was about.

“How are you doing?” I ask her. “I mean with everything going on.”

Kynlee focuses on the kitten. “I’m fine, Sayl. You’re the one in the hospital bed.”

“That’s not what I mean.”

She glances at Kase, then back at me. “I guess I will go to auction. Thankfully they’re only once a year, so I have some time to enjoy myself.”

“Fuck that.” Kase’s jaw tightens from the chair by the door. “I’m not watching my sister get sold.”

“It’s just what’s going to happen.” Kynlee gives him a look that dares him to keep going. “It’s not like I haven’t already been on my knees for a psychotic asshole. Can it get much worse than that?”

Nobody answers her. Because the truth is that in our world, it absolutely can get worse. Auction isn’t a choice. The highest bidder gets to fuck you in front of everyone, and then you belong to him. I can’t believe my mother is going to be on the same auction block as my best friend.

Kase is gripping the arms of his chair and staring at the floor. Priest is looking at the ceiling, but his good hand is fisted in the sheets beside him.

“We’ve got time to figure it out.” Axl’s tone is sympathetic. “You never know what might happen.”

Kynlee nods once, and I know she doesn’t want to talk about it anymore. That’s Kynlee. She’ll crack jokes about the worst shit in her life, but she never wants anyone to feel sorry for her.

Whatever comes next, we’ll get through it. I won’t leave her to face it alone. It’ll be the both of us and our emotional support kitties.

CHAPTER 61

SAYLOR

Axl finally passed out hard tonight. He slept like shit for the first weeks after we left the hospital. We’ve been staying in the penthouse at one of his father’s hotels for almost three weeks, and his body finally gave out. That’s exactly what I’ve been waiting for.

I slide the first silk tie around his left wrist and loop it through the headboard slat the same way he ties me up. He doesn’t move, but I know I have to work quickly. I pull the knot tight and reach for his right hand, guiding it up carefully. His fingers twitch when I wrap the tie, and for a second, I think he’s waking up, but his breathing stays even.

Stay asleep just a little longer, my king.

My stitches have been taken out. The bruises on his ribs have gone from purple to yellow. The man has made up for lost time claiming me. The second my doctor cleared me, Axl fucked me on the elevator ride up to the penthouse. He’s had me on every counter, every couch, and bent over the desk in the office. He fucked me against the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city. There is no question that I belong to Axl Kade Hollister.

And tonight I’m showing him who he belongs to.

I tilt my head, looking at my work. I’m certain he could free himself if he wanted, but my king will let me play with him once he sees what I have planned.

Betty meows from her little raised bed on the floor. Axl just chuckled when I told him what name I picked. I didn’t think it was possible for him to get any sexier, but then I found him working at the desk with Betty in his arms. He’s a man capable of the darkest violence and gentle tenderness. He truly is both, and I’m in love with both parts of him. He’s going to make the perfect father one day.

I slide his mask over my head. It’s time to execute my plan. I grab the Sharpie off the nightstand. Then I position myself so I’m straddling his chest.

I lean down and press my lips to his ear. “Wake up, my king.”

His body tenses under me before his eyes open. I sit back and watch the realization set in as he wakes from a dead sleep.

He pulls against the restraints, and the headboard groans. His jaw tightens, and his eyes lock on mine.