one by one until his eyes settle on me. Painful tendrils of dread burrow in my chest. Don’t look at me , I urge him. Don’t pick me! His slimy gaze slides down the length of my body and I grit my teeth against a scowl.
“My son, however, prefers—” Michael’s eyes flit to my breasts and I almost cringe. “Darker haired girls.”
He descends the last fe w steps. The next few strides swallow the distance between us and places him right in my face. My heart races, pounding relentlessly in my ears. “Tell me, Unfortunate, do you know how to please a man?”
I swallow hard an d shake my head. None of us do—at least I think none of us do. “No, sir.”
How humiliating. I don’t want to be called out in front of everyone. He eyes the brunette next to me and I almost sag in relief, until his stare drops to her chest before returning disinterestedly to her face.
“You’ll do just fine for Master Kade ,” he says to me. My heart stops cold as tears sting my eyes. “You’ll make him happy, I’m sure.”
“It’s his twenty-fifth birthday already?” Soyer wonders aloud.
Michael nods. “It’s gone quickly. I’ll take this one—” His swollen, warm fingers grip my shoulder and he pulls me into him. My stomach sinks and I bite my tongue against a cringe. I go with it, not daring to fight against him—not when Soyer has his index finger rested casually against the trigger of his rifle. He flicks a lock of my hair over my shoulder to read the number behind my ear. “Nine.” My skin crawls at my name falling from his lips. “Yes, you’ll be the perfect first Unfortunate for him—you’ll satisfy all of his needs.”
First slave? All of his needs? The words ring through my mind and panic threatens to sink in and take over. No, that can’t be right. I told him, I told him I’ve never ‘pleased’ anyone before—hell, I’ve never pleased myself before. First slaves are the direct right hand to a Fortunate. They handle most errands, attend most parties, and handle any request from their Fortunate, both in and out of the bedroom. No other Fortunate can tell a first slave what to do unless given permission from the owning Fortunate. My sinking stomach tightens as I recall my training… reciting it like a text book.
“Don’t worry, slave .” Soyer chuckles, bringing my quivering bottom lip to attention. I purse my lips. “Master Kade is quite the leader. I’m sure he’ll show you exactly what he likes.”
Michael mumbles his agreement and releases me, pushing me to the side. I almost sink to the ground. I can handle dishes, clothes, and dusting, but sex? Pleasure? I wouldn’t know where to start and when to finish. I force myself to stand still and strong with my hands behind my back, like I was taught, and I think I manage to conceal my inner distress.
“I’ll take the blonde, too.”
I glance at Thirteen from underneath my brow. She’s shaking—her entire body trembling as she bites her lip to prevent herself from crying. Poor girl. She did everything she could to not get picked.
“We need more kitchen staff and you remind me of honey soaked pancakes.”
Soye r shoves Thirteen and she jolts forward, running the rest of the way to me. She stands beside me, her body shaking slower now. She’s content with her position, and why wouldn’t she be? She didn’t have to ‘please’ one of the infamous Sarios. Michael turns on his heel and heads for the stairs. “Nine, come.”
Without hesitation or a glance over my sh oulder, I follow him with feigned confidence in my steps. I don’t want them to think I’m weak. I don’t want them to have a reason to torment me. I’ll do my job. I’ll serve Master Kade and do whatever he wants me to do. It’ll be easier on me if I detach myself from my body, too. It isn’t mine anymore… Kade is undoubtedly going to destroy any love I have for it with his hands and other parts of his anatomy. While Michael’s back is turned, I run the palm of
“My son, however, prefers—” Michael’s eyes flit to my breasts and I almost cringe. “Darker haired girls.”
He descends the last fe w steps. The next few strides swallow the distance between us and places him right in my face. My heart races, pounding relentlessly in my ears. “Tell me, Unfortunate, do you know how to please a man?”
I swallow hard an d shake my head. None of us do—at least I think none of us do. “No, sir.”
How humiliating. I don’t want to be called out in front of everyone. He eyes the brunette next to me and I almost sag in relief, until his stare drops to her chest before returning disinterestedly to her face.
“You’ll do just fine for Master Kade ,” he says to me. My heart stops cold as tears sting my eyes. “You’ll make him happy, I’m sure.”
“It’s his twenty-fifth birthday already?” Soyer wonders aloud.
Michael nods. “It’s gone quickly. I’ll take this one—” His swollen, warm fingers grip my shoulder and he pulls me into him. My stomach sinks and I bite my tongue against a cringe. I go with it, not daring to fight against him—not when Soyer has his index finger rested casually against the trigger of his rifle. He flicks a lock of my hair over my shoulder to read the number behind my ear. “Nine.” My skin crawls at my name falling from his lips. “Yes, you’ll be the perfect first Unfortunate for him—you’ll satisfy all of his needs.”
First slave? All of his needs? The words ring through my mind and panic threatens to sink in and take over. No, that can’t be right. I told him, I told him I’ve never ‘pleased’ anyone before—hell, I’ve never pleased myself before. First slaves are the direct right hand to a Fortunate. They handle most errands, attend most parties, and handle any request from their Fortunate, both in and out of the bedroom. No other Fortunate can tell a first slave what to do unless given permission from the owning Fortunate. My sinking stomach tightens as I recall my training… reciting it like a text book.
“Don’t worry, slave .” Soyer chuckles, bringing my quivering bottom lip to attention. I purse my lips. “Master Kade is quite the leader. I’m sure he’ll show you exactly what he likes.”
Michael mumbles his agreement and releases me, pushing me to the side. I almost sink to the ground. I can handle dishes, clothes, and dusting, but sex? Pleasure? I wouldn’t know where to start and when to finish. I force myself to stand still and strong with my hands behind my back, like I was taught, and I think I manage to conceal my inner distress.
“I’ll take the blonde, too.”
I glance at Thirteen from underneath my brow. She’s shaking—her entire body trembling as she bites her lip to prevent herself from crying. Poor girl. She did everything she could to not get picked.
“We need more kitchen staff and you remind me of honey soaked pancakes.”
Soye r shoves Thirteen and she jolts forward, running the rest of the way to me. She stands beside me, her body shaking slower now. She’s content with her position, and why wouldn’t she be? She didn’t have to ‘please’ one of the infamous Sarios. Michael turns on his heel and heads for the stairs. “Nine, come.”
Without hesitation or a glance over my sh oulder, I follow him with feigned confidence in my steps. I don’t want them to think I’m weak. I don’t want them to have a reason to torment me. I’ll do my job. I’ll serve Master Kade and do whatever he wants me to do. It’ll be easier on me if I detach myself from my body, too. It isn’t mine anymore… Kade is undoubtedly going to destroy any love I have for it with his hands and other parts of his anatomy. While Michael’s back is turned, I run the palm of
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