SCARLET
When I come to, the first thing I notice is my wrists. My arms are stretched above my head and out to the sides, tied to bedposts. I yank on the leather straps that hold me as I test the strength of my bonds.
Normally, I would be able to break them, but when I inspect the cuffs on my wrists, I see silver clasped around the outside. This ensures Iâm not burned, but it also prevents me from freeing myself.
I try to turn my body but I canât move my legs either. My gaze travels down, and I see that my ankles are restrained in the same fashion as my wrists.
My heartbeat starts to race in my chest. I take in my surroundings, and with each detail, I become more anxious.
First, I notice that not only am I bound, but Iâm spread out on a large four-post bed on top of the deep red duvet. Then I see that I have been changed into a sheer white gown that leaves nothing to the imagination.
I can easily see my body through the barely-there material, and my stomach begins to churn. I feel like Iâm set up like a virgin sacrifice, and I can feel my fear and anxiety as my chest tightens.
My breaths turn uneven as I begin to hyperventilate, and I hastily force myself to inhale deeply to avoid having the panic attack that I feel coming on.
The next thing I notice is the most chilling of all. My jaw drops open, and my eyes scan the area around me. The entire room is covered in painted canvases, all of them displaying pictures of me in varying stages of undress and in a multitude of sexual positions.
In one, Iâm lounging on the chaise like when I had posed for him. However, in this portrait, there are half-naked men all around who seem to be worshiping me in some way.
One is holding a golden platter of fruit, while two others fan me with fronds. Lastly, there is one standing behind me with his hand groping my breast while another has his head between my thighs.
I feel utterly sick to my stomach. I thought Lucien might have wanted me out of bitterness over Ethan no longer wanting his daughter, but I was terribly wrong. The man is clearly obsessed, scarily so.
Panic grips me again as my chest begins to rise and fall at a rapid pace. I quickly close my eyes as I try to focus on my breathing. ~Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale.~
Once Iâve regained control of my fear, I try to reach out to Ethan with my mind-link, but it isnât working.
I can barely feel my wolf, and I think itâs because of the chloroform. I wonder if they laced it with wolfsbane⦠Every time they drug me with it, I struggle to connect with my wolf once Iâve awoken.
I desperately try to access my powers, but the chloroform seems to make it impossible. It has to be wolfsbane.
I begin twisting my hands as I try to squeeze them through the silver-enforced cuffs. Though I donât have my wolf to help me right now, I refuse to just lie here and wait for my captor to arrive. But they are too tight for me to escape.
I stop pulling against my restraints and relax my body, preparing to dislocate my thumb. Before I make progress, a large wooden door swings open, interrupting me.
My head turns, and my fear spikes once more as I see Lucien stride into the room with a smirk on his face and an evil, lustful glint in his eye.
I begin pulling at my bonds again as I struggle to free myself while Lucien comes around to the side of the bed. âHello, my muse,â he coos at me as his gaze travels up my exposed body, eyeing me hungrily.
I feel nauseous, and my skin begins to crawl.
Fear and disgust consume me, but I try to ignore it as I narrow my eyes at him. âRelease me now!â I demand as I yank on the leather straps again in defiance.
He freezes for a moment as he eyes my bonds. His hand twitches as if heâs thinking about it, but just as quickly, he seems to regain his determination.
His eyes flick up to meet mine, and a disturbing smile spreads across his face. âNow why would I do that?â he questions mockingly which just further angers me.
âI have the perfect woman served up to me in such a magnificent display. Iâm looking forward to devouring every inch of you.â
âDonât you fucking touch me you sick bastard! Now let me go, or I swear to Goddess it will be the last thing you ever do,â I warn and am happy that my tone comes out threatening and dangerous instead of stuttered and fearful.
âYou see? I love that fire in you. Itâs so⦠sexy,â he remarks as he gestures down to the growing bulge beneath his trousers. He takes a step closer and places a hand on my knee as he begins to slide it up my thigh and under the sheer gown. I jerk my leg as I try to shake him off.
His smile widens, and his fingers lightly trace the tops of my breasts. His hands move down as he cups them, his thumb rubbing back and forth over the peaks. I buck and writhe as I try to get out of his reach, but I donât get far.
âI will never want you. I will never love you. Now release me,â I demand again.
âNow thatâs where youâre wrong,â he murmurs as he leans toward my ear. His warm breath fans over my cheek and neck, causing goosebumps with his sinister tone. Then his teeth gently clamp down on my earlobe as he nips and nibbles at it before kissing along my neck.
I clamp my eyes shut as I try to hold back the tears that are trying to escape. His lips move down my chest until a knock sounds at the door, and I exhale in relief as he removes his lips from my skin. âAh, our guest is here now, my luna.â
âIâm not your luna! And there is nothing you can do or say that will ever make me change my mind.â
He gives me a confident look as a woman in a flowing black gown enters. Her raven hair matches her attire, and her eyes are a deep, chocolate brown. Her features are sharp, and her nose pointed as she looks down at me without showing any emotion.
âScarlet, this is Andromeda. Seems we both have a vested interest in you. She is quite powerful and has a specialty with reworking the mate bond. She can create it and take it away,â Lucien says as the woman comes up alongside him.
My eyes widen with realization. He plans on removing my bond with Ethan so that he can replace it with himself.
Andromeda comes up to me and places her cold, spindly fingers against my mark as she begins to chant quietly to herself.
The area instantly starts to burn, and I let out a wail as more tears fill my eyes. I canât let this happen. I wonât. Determinedly, I fight against the pain, trying to come up with a plan of escape.
I need to stop this. Immediately, it feels like something snaps within me. Power suddenly fills my core and spreads to my extremities like molten lava.
My strength seems to be returning tenfold, and my body is vibrating with the unrestrained energy. A bright light bursts through me, knocking both Lucien and the witch away.