Chapter 3

The man led me gently by the leash across the bridge, the guards allowing us to enter without further questions. It was odd the way they dipped their chins as we passed, covered in armor from head to toe, but it was even stranger when the man led us around the side of the castle rather than enter through the front, where the other guests awaited inside.

It was forbidden to ask nobility questions, so I kept my mouth shut as I admired the ancient building before me. This castle was centuries old, belonging to the oldest known vampire family. The older the family, the higher their rank and power. Vampires of nobility were less reliant on blood and could remain in the sunlight completely unbothered, as the power running through their veins was stronger than most.

The man opened a side door that creaked on its hinges, dust fanning around us as he pulled me through. To the right, a small room awaited us. It was a simple sitting room with two velvet couches, an ornate rug, and vases with roses filling the coffee table.

“You need to undress,” he said, removing the collar from my neck.

My body stilled before I slowly turned to face him. Disobeying an order from nobility was akin to a dog being put down after biting a human. It was a death sentence, but exposing myself to someone I had never met before had reality settling in all too quickly.

I was about to be sold to another buyer. This would be my life soon enough.

As if sensing my hesitancy, he said, “It is standard procedure to conduct a health assessment on a pet I am considering to purchase. They taught you that in the orphanage, did they not?”

Steeling my spine, it was an effort to keep my knees from buckling. This man was interested in buying me as a pet. He wanted to become my owner, and I…

Well, it was either him or the other nobility that Mr. Cliff claimed was interested, and at least this man didn’t beat me for speaking out of turn.

“I assure you, this is for your health and not for my benefit.”

It was an effort not to flinch at his blatant disinterest in my appearance, but it wasn’t anything I hadn’t heard before. The moment I undressed, it would only further his disapproval, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he changed his mind on purchasing me after analyzing the scars that peppered my flesh beneath the dress.

“It…It is against the rules to undress for another buyer until the one who first staked a claim in purchasing me has the chance to view me,” I whispered shakily. “Mr. Cliff said—”

The man leaned against the wall with an arrogant smile, crossing one foot over the other. “I’m not worried about the rules.”

“But you’ll get beheaded for disobeying the royal family,” I rushed to say, terrified he’d reprimand me for pushing on this. Truthfully, I pushed because if this man didn’t return me soon enough, Mr. Cliff would be sure to punish me for this mistake, not this member of nobility.

Picking a piece of lint from his shirt, totally unbothered, he said, “I’ll take it up with the royal family if they have any issues with my choices. Now strip.”

My eyes shot to his, the demand sending a shockwave between my thighs that I wasn’t anticipating. It wasn’t like he meant it sexually, but the way it sounded coming off his tongue was.

His nostrils flared in irritation before he averted his gaze to the wall, and it was only then that I remembered I wasn’t supposed to look him in the eyes. “I am having a new gown delivered for you to change into for the Selection. You need to undress so I can inspect you. Nothing more.”

With shaky fingers, I shimmied out of the shabby dress and let it drop around my ankles.

I was skin and bones, my hipbones jutting out in an unhealthy way from the starvation I had endured at the orphanage. Scars from the lashings and deep bruises decorated my body, the man’s eyes narrowing as he inspected each one. My breasts were small, only enough for a handful, and from the gossip I’d overheard from the other girls in the orphanage, they desired more.

“Who did this to you?”

The cold, icy tone of his voice raised the hair on my arms. He was behind me now, so that could only mean he had discovered the open wounds on my back.

“M-Mr. Cliff,” I stuttered. “He claims I’m disobedient. I…” Swallowing thickly, I attempted to hold back the tears. “I’m worthless, so I am treated as such.”

The silence that followed was almost too much to bear, but eventually, the man released a deep sigh and came around to face me again, pointing to the dress around my ankles. “Get dressed. I will have a member of staff tend to your wounds immediately. We need to heal those first before you are dressed in anything where blood may transfer.” He reached for the door handle before glancing over his shoulder and adding, “As my pet, you are required to keep yourself clean, and that includes refraining from any injuries. If one is elicited upon you by anyone, you are to report to me immediately. Is that understood?”

Member of the staff?

With my hands clasped at my stomach and my head bowed, I replied, “Yes, Sir.”

He disappeared and shut the door behind him. After being at the orphanage for so long, I never imagined a life outside of the abuse and misery Mr. Cliff provided, but now all of that was about to change.

Not that becoming a pet was any better. It was like jumping from one sinking ship to another. Regardless of the way I looked at it, I was still serving someone, whether that was Mr. Cliff or this man, whatever his name was.

He still hadn’t told me.

After a few moments, the door opened, and a woman with large hips and a round, cheerful face stepped into the room with a gown grasped in one hand and a tin of salve in the other.

The woman, who introduced herself as Janine, instructed me to remove my gown again, and like the obedient pet I’d officially become, I did as I was told.

***

I was instructed to wait on the castle grounds for my new owner to rejoin me. My gown was crafted of red silk, with a tight-fitting bodice and an A-line skirt. It was the nicest dress I had ever worn, and with the salve added to my wounds, they didn’t sting anymore, so the fabric felt like a gentle caress.

My new owner had allowed me to wait for him without any security. I didn’t understand why he had so much trust in me that I wouldn’t run at the first chance I got in an attempt to escape. Then again, with the castle rise surrounded by guards, I doubt I’d get ten feet before being beheaded for treason.

Suddenly, a large hand gripped my upper arm, squeezing to the point of leaving a permanent bruise. “Where the hell have you been?” Mr. Cliff sneered in disgust, whirling me to face him. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you! Do you understand how much money is on the line for your worthless life? You should feel honored he offered even a penny for your body.”

My face paled.. “I—I didn’t! Someone found me, and he—”

The smack of his hand against my cheek caused me to bite my tongue so hard I feared it’d bleed. Mr. Cliff glared at my new gown in disgust. “What were you attempting to do? Steal a dress to pass as nobility and escape? You look like a whore. An undesirable one at that.”

Tears pricked my eyes as he forcefully dragged me away. “Your new owner is impatient, and I’ll be damned if I lose out on this money.”