GWEN__I bite my lip to keep from smiling.We're in Malcolm's car now. As he drives, his eyes stray to me at least every other second. And the expression in them never changes.It's a mixture of awe and open disbelief. I can almost hear the 'what the f*ck?' like it'd been whispered into my mind."You like it?" I say, tucking the burnished red strands behind my ear.He looks at me long, a ring of blue darkening his pupils. In a low baritone that has shivers playing down my spine, he says, "I think I have a favorite colour now."

MALCOLM__I awake to feather-light kisses on my chest. I hiss out a breath when she swirls her tongue around a nipple. She continues her tortuous exploration down, hooking her fingers in the band of my briefs. I feel her hesitate.Then making a decision, she pulls down my briefs. I slant my eyes open to see my engorged dick spring forward to her shocked expression. I almost smile."A man can wake to this every morning," I say, voice hoarse.She jumps, her eyes shooting to mine. When her cheeks colour, I cup her face lightly and pass my thumb over her silky skin.Her eyes

That cruel smirk is in place. "Hope the traitor isn't giving you any trouble, Trehan?"He shakes his head, drawing away from me quickly like being caught with me was a felony. "No, sir.""Good," Ivar says. "I don't want to have to go through the stress of breaking her and bending her to my will," he concludes in a bored tone.When he's nearer, I strain against my bonds without thinking, frustration bubbling within me at being unable to claw at his face. He notices my dilemma and laughs. His tone is pitying. "Poor thing. Even now I can still hear wedding bells in that thick skill of yours. I mean, what did you think? That a Shifter, not just any Shifter--but one of the most powerful in the world, was going to mate with you? A pathetic human? He'd be a lau

With a clap of her hands, a line of women dressed in similar drab gowns file in. Hands pry the chains away from my neck and I'm led out. My arms are draped over the shoulders of two women weakly and I lean heavily on them, the tips of my toes dragging along stone floors.We go down several flights of stairs with wrought iron rails, then out through a wide entrance. I wince against a burst of light, the sun overhead burning into the sore flesh around my neck. It dimly registers that people around my age start to trip out, summoned by some unspoken command. The women wear similar hideous dresses, the men garbed in shirts and pants of the same threadbare material.They form a procession, marching down to what looks like a wide stream. They stand around the body of water, expressionless faces facing up ahead. There are about a hundred of them.Sweat drips down my temples as I'm pushed down to a kneeling position. My head bows and I breathe harshly against an onslaug

The next morning sees I and Umber splashing around in the solar above one of the grand towers. What started off as stiff, rigid labour was now transformed to squeals of laughter and undiluted fun.  I didn't believe I could have this much fun in my situation. Neither could Umber too from the looks of it.She looks like she hasn't laughed in years.Mid-day rolls in and after trimming the shrubs in the deserted east gardens, we lay on our backs in the tall grasses, looking up at the smiling sky. Once, I would have worried over the sun burning my face and leaving more freckles, now I couldn't find it in myself to care. I turn to my side. I laugh when a dragon fly flutters close to Umber's nose and she sneezes.She smiles at me, laughing as well. When we quiet, I turn my attention back to the sky. "How did you end up here?"Moments drag by before she admits, "My father.""He let that creature bite you?"Her chest rises and falls. "He had my