Bitten, Branded and Bare

I

, I woke in

r unwanted memory of my p

leather cord pulling tight against my throat. I'd found it a de

the scratchy pallet that passed for my be

loor. The savory scent of roasted meats and warm

erly, at least. And in that mome

oing do

ved my feet into torn boots, I'd long outgrown, and waited until the cheers an

bring her something later. Somet

all. I ducked behind a marble pillar, keeping low

elf how badly I wanted a taste

m's perimeter, I overhead

half drunken beer in his hands. "S

ghter followe

ather lay with the pigs," he added, th

ated like people here. But even I knew

he white linen. Above me, dishes towered from roast beef, cre

watered i

ached up, my hands trembling, and snatched a biscuit. It was still w

whispered. It t

g, remembered stealing bread from her kitch

ving a mate. But that was before

e point of having someone bound to you

ight, I'd b

in advance," I

scuit, then wiped my dir

d and their lau

xt, moving with more care now. I

I fe

air and yanked me out violentl

neer said. "What

ace burning from b

tood over me, a crue

mutt?" he spat. "This p

turned t

rling me forward. My body hit the marb

meone muttered. "

ked half t

st like her ro

in rivulets. Baron shoved

around me-partygoers, guards, pack

voice

take in strays. No app

ughter and murmurs of

and help yourself to food that's for nobles?" his lips c

ole face moving to the side from the f

en

i

chimed. Once. Twice.

lin

he ghostly voice of my

hte

oke, the gods deli

inctual, primal connection. It starts with a

ne...

familiar yet terri

an Peters. He strolled into t

Irene. And apparentl

, emanating from both our chests and pulling us together. Like my body

yes locked onto mine. And then,

ric blue. And I was sure mine did

oed aroun

was. The

each other and rec

ding like a stampede. Every strand of my being screaming, He's yours. I also felt t

e's grip on hi

for half a second bef

cut through the

I couldn't even

a meaty finger my way, "th

said n

error. A glitch in the system. This fatherless, useles

cid against my skin. I wis

eering. "I've already chosen Bryan's mate. Irene, the daughter

and smirked at me li

him to say something, but n

look of protest at

blank

laugh. What did I

d, begging for acknowledgme

n said n

d always be

o me, "and tomorrow, you'll be whipped. Let this be

I was numb. The heat, the bond, the connection,

corridor, and though my l

the room and closed the door beh

shove. But

came fire, searing through my veins like hot silver, engulfing eve

roken sound I couldn

ing to hold myself together. Tr

rd abou

s snapping tight like it was trying to hold toge

happened fo

our ma

ur mate wa

sob, bile risi

n't ev

n't ev

y brand-new and he'd gone and

ile I lay starving. While I bl

already

teeth clamped hard over my bottom lip, blood dripping from my

e moon was cruel. Always has

bond? That

felt like to be mated...