The Auction Read Free Page A

really know how to turn a girl on,” I quipped. Being a smartass for two more minutes was easier than admitting defeat. And if I gave in to the screeching fear howling in my head, I wouldn’t have the mental cognition to form a new plan to escape him.
    The growl happened again. “You shouldn’t roll in the dirt so much. We’re going to stand, and you aren’t going to fight me or run again. Do you understand?”
    My eyes met his. “I will fight you, and I will run. And unless you kill me, some day I will escape. Count on it.”
    He shook his head. “I’m not sure whether I find you stupid or endearing.”
    I didn’t bother resisting when he picked me up because I didn’t have the energy left, and the field was too open. I needed to wait until there were places to hide where he couldn’t reach me. A moment later, we were airborne. A few minutes after that, we were at an opening in the side of the mountain that I’d been running toward. The irony that I’d been running headlong at his dwelling almost made me laugh.
    The inside of his dwelling felt like a place someone could live in comfort. It was more technologically advanced than I’d expected, and it made me wonder how such creatures could manipulate technology with those claws. As if in answer to my question, his claws retracted, which admittedly made his fingers look a little odd. I tried not to stare. Those large, strange hands were going to be on me, and weird-looking or not, I’d rather they be on me without the claws engaged. His wings also went back to their resting place. When he turned, I almost couldn’t tell he had wings.
    With the wings and claws put away, I could pretend he was just a larger-than-average man. No monsters. No dragons. Just a trick of the light.
    Another creature stepped out from a different part of the cave. Whereas the one who had bought me had dark red, almost brown, skin and a black mane of hair, this one had blond hair with skin of greenish blue. His eyes were red instead of orange.
    He leaned casually against the carved-out doorway. “Why didn’t you buy two?”
    Having another woman with me would be comforting, and I felt both guilty and excited over the prospect.
    “This was the only one who appeared to have enough fight in her to remain interesting. And she ran, which complicated things.” The other one’s eyes twinkled at that. “I’ll visit the next auction in three months if you like.”
    “No, I’ll go. I don’t need you to pick my mate for me.” He pushed off the wall and moved toward me. I tried to back away, but the red one blocked my retreat.
    I must have been in some kind of shock, because it had just occurred to me that they were speaking my language. They had their own, and yet they’d been speaking so I could understand them. A moment later, they were clicking and hissing and gesturing in their language. It was so alien from anything I’d ever heard or seen that I knew even if they made the attempt to teach me, I’d never learn it. Maybe they were smarter. The machines and buttons and strange technology seemed to indicate as much.
    The greenish-blue dragon took my arm and led me toward the door he’d entered through. I turned to the red one, but he’d already left. I could hear his wings in the wind.
    I tried to pull away, suddenly feeling on display. “What’s going on?” There was panic in my voice. It wasn’t as if I felt safe with the other dragon, but I’d had a few more minutes to get used to him.
    “He’s loaning you to me while he gets food.”
    He pushed me through a narrow area that opened out into a den-like, circular room. It was a bedroom— his bedroom. The bed was a large, round, elevated platform upon which a soft, thick cushion of the same size rested. Several blankets were rolled up and tied with cords on the floor.
    I felt my stomach drop. If the other one was out getting food and I was being loaned for that period of time, I was about to have all my questions about