Chapter 60
Caspian
Chase and I are on the outskirts of Sangville when we sense we’re being followed.
After killing mordred, a cold sort of determination took over me, an emotionless drive to finish the job no matter the cost. I knew if I let myself think about Viviane – about what might be happening to her this very moment – I would lose my ability to think about our situation objectively. Despite the fact that this was the most personal thing in the world to me, if I let my emotions rein as we planned our strategy, we would lose – and badly.
So we arrived here and began planning as if it was any other Nightshade wolf in danger, and not my mate. After crossing paths with a few other travelers on our way to the city, we learned the auction would happen tomorrow night. Apparently the brothels were all advertising a sale unlike any before – and I have a very bad feeling that Viviane is the reason why.
The city is so filthy with riches it’s astonishing, even at the edges. Chase and I made camp and began discussing our plan, throwing our possibilities ranging from posing as buyers to infiltrating the brothel through the sewers, but not settling on anything as of yet. Just before sundown Chase perks up, lurching to his feet and looking around our modest camp with the bearing of a hound on a scent.
“We’ve got company.” He announces gruffly.
Scenting the air, I realize he’s right. However rather than rogues or other ne'er-do-wells, these scents do not belong to enemies. In fact - they are all too familiar.
“Kiera!” Chase barks into the night, stalking off through the darkness in the direction of the she-wolves.
A moment later he reappears with Kiera and Marina in tow, the former muttering mutinously about the wind changing direction on them. “What the hell do you think you’re doing here?” My Beta demands, never taking his hands off of his mate.
“You didn’t really think we’d let you do all this without us, did you?” Kiera snaps back, “We love Viviane every bit as much as you do and it’s my fault she’s even in this situation.”
In hindsight I realize we should have expected this. Both women had objected fervently to being left behind, and while it had been easy to justify excluding Marina given her poor health, Kiera hadn’t taken kindly to Chase putting his foot down on the grounds of her safety.
“We certainly did expect it.” Chase is saying, “Given our explicit orders were to stay behind.”
“You don’t have the right to order anything.” Kiera snarls in reply, poking her slender finger into the Beta’s chest. “Caspian’s not Alpha yet which means you don’t have any formal title at all.”
“Except the title of mate!” He growls fiercely, yanking her small body up against him. “Which gives me the right to make whatever rules for you I want.”
“How dare you!” Kiera exclaims, “I’m not a child, Chase. You don’t get to make rules for me just because you’re a misogynist pig!”
“One more word and I will put you over my knee and show you exactly what it means to be a true mate!” Chase threatens, his powerful hand fisted in Kiera’s long hair. “Do you want to test me, little Lynx?”
Thoroughly sulking, Kiera lowers her gaze in submission, muttering under her breath so quietly I’m not able to make out her words. Chase on the other hand, seems to have no problem hearing her, and lowers his lips to her ear. Whatever he says has a crimson blush spreading across the feline shifter’s cheeks, and for the next ten minutes she seems incapable of looking any of us in the eye.
Marina, on the other hand, looks on with simple determination. “Look, we all want the same thing.” She says quietly. “To bring Viviane home safely. The way I see it, you can’t have too much help.
I have to think she has a point, though I know I would feel differently in Chase’s shoes. If I were along for the ride as my friend tried to rescue his mate and my own turned up to help, I’d tie her up and throw away the key rather than risk her life. “I’d be glad for your help.” I tell Marina, “but I leave it to Chase to decide about Kiera.”
To my surprise the lynx in question gapes in horror, then lunges at me, swearing up a storm. Chase catches her around the waist before she can move away from him, tossing her over his brawny shoulder and carting her off into the night.
Marina and I watch with amusement, then return our attention to one another. “So,” She asks, drowning out the sounds of Kiera’s tantrum, “What’s the plan?”
Viviane
The auction is tomorrow.
We’ve only been in this horrible city a couple of days, but the hours have dragged on as if time itself slowed down. As soon as night falls, the other mermaids and I prepare to set our plan in motion. I’m not sure whether or not we can truly succeed, but we have to try.
Around eight o’clock a guard arrives with our dinner, and I step up to him with a coy smile. My knees feel weak and my hands are shaking, but I know our survival depends on our plan’s success. “Hello handsome.” I greet him warmly. “I don’t suppose I could ask you for a favor, could I?”
He looks me up and down, his lecherous gaze lingering on my breasts and making my skin crawl. “What do you want?”
“Well the girls and I could really use a friend right now, and we’d be willing to exchange just about anything for a bit of help.” I whisper suggestively.
“Anything, huh?” He asks, a dangerous glint in his eye.
“That’s right.” I smile, “just take your pick.”
He licks his lips, “Oh I’ve already picked baby.” Before I can stop him, his hand is reaching around my body and squeezing my behind, sending a wave of nausea through my belly.
“Well then, come on in.” I encourage. “I’ll fulfill your every fantasy, so long as you forget your keys.”
He hesitates then, “If you escape I’ll be blamed.”
“Not if we return your keys to you after.” I promise, sliding my hand down his chest. Fisting my hand in his uniform shirt, I pull him into our cell, trying to appear as if I’m actually interested in the horrible man.
“I don’t know about this.” He hedges, even as he follows me inside.
“Such a smart man,” I praise, pressing close and rubbing my breasts against him. “Now!”
As soon as I give the order the other girls pounce, wrestling the man to the ground and untangling his keys from his belt. While the others hold him down I kick him hard in the temple, wincing at the pain that radiates through my foot. When he doesn’t pass out immediately I kick him again, sighing with relief when he crumples on the floor.
“Okay, let’s go.” I urge in a whisper, ushering all my fellow mermaids out of the cell. I close the door and lock it behind us.
Together we tiptoe down the hallway, reaching one locked door after another. Every time we encounter a new barrier, my heart races as I test the guards keys, gradually finding the right one to pass through each gate. I know it’s a mistake to feel too much hope, but the more distance we cover, the more confident I become that we can actually pull this off. Getting out of the prison is the hard part, after that we merely have to find a car and get to the border.
We race through the halls at top speed, giving less and less consideration for maintaining the quiet the closer we get to freedom. After surfacing on the third floor, we know there are security cameras tracking the halls, so speed is of the essence. One by one we breach the doors, until finally we spill outside onto the pavement. For one brief moment, we share a sigh of relief, and then we see them.
Standing just outside with her arms crossed over her chest and a line of guards flanking her on either side, is the brothel’s madame. “Nice try, ladies.” She drawls, “Shall I guess who the ringleader is, or would you like to tell me?”
The other girls shift nervously, and I know I have to take responsibility for my actions. I won’t allow anyone else to be punished for my plan, and my chances of retribution are lower anyway, since I’m slated to headline the auction. “I did it.” I announce, stepping forward.
The Madame steps forward with an ominous grin, “Believe it or not, little mermaid, but your price just went up. Nothing sells better than a bad girl who needs to be put in her place. Damien really is going to love you.”
