The days and nights turned into a blur. For the most part, I wasn't sure if I was dreaming about Luca or if it was reality. I was Victor's favorite toy. There was no escaping him… unless he finds someone new to play with.
I was coming to it, the sun beating down on my face. A pretty, chubby woman was lying next to me, her eyes on me.
"You are very pretty," she chuckled like a schoolgirl.
"Where am I?" I questioned, sitting up. I rubbed my hands over my face, which still felt numb.
"Outside," she chuckled again. All giddy.
"What is going on?" I questioned, trying to get to my feet.
"You should rather lie down. The sun is good for you," chubby cheeks advised.
I decided to follow her advice and lie down again. I dropped my arm over my eyes.
"I am Maddie," she introduced herself sweetly.
I lifted my arm slightly and looked at her before putting my arm over my eyes again.
"How did we get outside?" I wondered.
"I don't know how you got outside, but I walked outside. Found you here," Maddie explained.
"Are you a slave?" I asked her. I didn't recognise her. She must be from before my time, but she looks like she should have been with me in the Wolfless area, as we looked about the same age.
"Ha, no. I lived through the supernatural war four hundred years ago. I am just a human, though. Even though a vampire feeds off me every two days and I of them, I stay in the Lycan wing," she continued to explain.
I didn't answer. I suspected she had more to tell.
"I was once the Lycan King's fated mate. I come from royal blood," she said.
"Really?" I questioned, sitting up. She had my attention. "What happened?"
"He rejected me, of course, but we make love still sometimes. Not lately, though. He has a mate now. One he actually claimed. He stole her from his best friend," she babbled on.
"I heard something like that," I remarked, looking around. In the distance, I saw Lindi sitting at a table sipping tea.
"Luca," his name crossed my lips softly. But I guess his hybrid hearing was tuned. He looked at me.
"He must be fond of you. He's been checking in on you every day. Not that Victor liked it one bit. Luckily Victor values his relationship with Lindi, so he made a deal with him," Maddie informed me.
"What kind of deal?" I wondered, trying to get to my feet.
"He made Victor promise to take care of you and let no harm come to you. To treat you with respect," Maddie said, standing up and lending me a hand to balance.
I stumbled, but before I hit the ground, Luca was there. His powerful arms wrapped around me. His scent engulfed me.
"Your mother is a bitch," were the first words that came to mind.
"Don't speak like that about my mother," Luca hushed me.
"Well, she is. She fed me to the vampires," I protested.
"I agree, but if anyone else hears you, your head will not be left on your shoulders," Luca whispered.
"Do I belong to Victor now?" I questioned, tears welling up in my eyes.
"You belong to Xan," Luca chuckled, walking me over to the table where Lindie was sitting.
"But she gave me to you," I protested.
His mother stood up when we reached the table.
"Ignore her. She will come around," Luca said dismissively.
"Only Alphas, Lunas, Royals, and Vampires that have proof that they bought the wolfless slave are allowed to own a slave," Luca explained. "But between the three of us, you belong to me," he added quickly.
"So the fact that she told me I am free does not count?" I questioned.
Madie pulled up a chair and helped herself to an éclair that Lindie had left behind.
"Best you don't ever mention that to anyone," Luca warned me.
"Why not?" I demanded to know.
"Eat something," Luca said, putting a few finger foods onto a plate in front of me.
"If your owner no longer wants you, you get auctioned off," Maddie warned.
"Is that why you are willingly letting Victor have me?" I asked Luca, studying his face for any dishonesty.
"Yes. He saw it because he had been drinking from you," Luca sighed.
"But so did all the other vampires," I enlighten him.
"A vampire does not always see your mind. Some just feed for the sake of feeding, but vampires like Victor study you."
"Well," I started. "I am not staying here. Xan said I am free to do what I want, so that is exactly what I am going to do," I said and stood up, but not before popping a mini pie into my mouth and grabbing a handful for the road.
"Where are you going?" Luca rushed after me.
"Wherever you are going," I said bluntly and showed him to take the lead with my free hand.
"I want you to stay here at the Higher Council. It is the safest place for you," Luca grabbed my arm, pleading.
"What happened with us being Twin Flames?" I challenged him.
Luca pulled me against his body before kissing me deeply. "I meant every word, but right now I also need to protect you."
"You said you would help find my sister," I continued to attack, my anger spilling over.
"I am working on it, but she is missing. If she gets found now, she will face a fate no one wants to face," Luca warned me.
"So what? We just leave her? What if she is dead somewhere?" I spat, breaking off his embrace. I felt broken again the moment his arms were not holding me.
"She is better off dead than what fate has in store for her if she is found and it turns out that she escaped," Luca snapped.
"Guys, you are making a scene," Maddie raised her voice when she noticed a few eyes on us.
"I've got to go," Luca stepped away. I watch him leave. I looked at the food in my hand and then at the table where Maddie was still sitting.
"Come and eat. I know you want Luca to help, but to be honest with you, Victor is your best shot at finding your sister without putting her in danger," Maddie said, almost inaudible.
"Before I met him, I was actually into women," I snorted and fell down on the cast-iron garden chair.
"I've heard," Maddie smiled sweetly.
"What else have you heard?" I frowned.
"That you are gifted in the sack," Maddie blushed.
"How did you hear that?" I asked, choking on my last bite. "I don't remember sleeping with any women at the higher Council. What have they done to me?
"Victor told everyone the other night what he saw when he was drinking your blood. How the wolfless girls lined up for you to take their virginity," Maddie's face turned a deeper blush.
"It seems that the higher council is just about pleasure and satisfying ones own needs," a remarked before eating more.
"Why don't you come spend some time in the Day-walker side?" Maddie offered.
"Ha. That will be the day. Lindi hates me for some reason," I objected, looking around to see if she was around.
"She and Prince Vance are going away for a few weeks. Come on. It will be fun. Not as much fun as the vampire wing, but nonetheless, still a lot of fun to have," Maddie said with a big smile on her face. She stood up and held her hand out to me.
I looked at her hand for a moment. "What the hell. What does not kill me will only make me stronger, right?"
"Or bite you in the ass six months later," Maddie chuckled as she dragged me inside.
"You seem like such a nice and funny person. Why did the prince reject you?" I asked her.
"King Deacon," she chuckled. "He rejected everyone. He didn't want to love again just for a mate to get killed. The pain is really bad for were-animals when they lose their fated mate to death."
"But you two still hit the sack? Or use to?" I chuckled.
"We are good together," she smiled. "Come, I will introduce you to all his rejects."
"There are more of you?" I half choked in amazement.
"A handful that still stays here at the higher council. Many have found the love of their lives, and of course, King Deacon always gives his blessing." Maddie was clearly fond of the Lycan King. If someone like her cares so deeply for him, then surely he can't be all that bad?
It was a pleasant afternoon meeting all the King's rejected mates. Just when I thought we were all done, Maddie declared there was one more she wanted me to meet.
"It is a bit of a delicate situation," Maddie warned me as we came to a halt in front of a door. She didn't knock. She slightly opened the door. "Marchelle? Are you in here?"
"Wait here a moment," Maddie said and went inside first. She shut the door behind her.