BRIELLE’S POVBrielle and the other ladies walked in a single file as the guards led them out of the dressing room and into a room full of men. Looking around, Brielle noticed that the men appeared to be having a good time, and if she hadn't known that this was a slave trade ring, she would have mistaken it for a bar. Brielle could see strippers dancing naked on top of some men who appeared to enjoy such vices, and she admired how daring and free the ladies were, shuddering at the thought of doing something like this. But who was she to pass judgment? For all she knew, they could also be enslaved, forced to dance with these slimy-looking men to earn money or their freedom."Will you move forward?" One of the men leading them said to her, yelling, and she turned to face him, this time with a determined expression on her face. She was sick of acting like a baby, and it was past time she learned to use her mouth and confront anyone who tried to molest her in any way. Besides, she'd
DARIUS POV The ride back home was so calm, the atmosphere in the vehicle so tense and silent that even the slightest noise was loud enough for the two passengers in the back seat to hear. Darius, on the other hand, hadn't gotten himself together since leaving the slave trade. Worse still, the information he’d gotten had not improved his mood, and he was now fuming with rage. Brielle had been sold, and she was most likely with one of those vile men who would be manhandling and maltreating her. What the fuck?He couldn't see beyond his rage, the world around him blurring into black-and-white static. She'd only been there a few days, and they'd already sold her... 'She is a valuable commodity, and most men know who you are. It's like a trophy for them, and everyone would want a taste of Lord Darius’s woman, not to mention one of your various enemies.' “Fuck!” Darius roared, reaching out for a wine cup in front of him in the large jeep, grabbing it, and throwing it out on the road
BRIELLE’S POV“This way, miss….” Brielle followed the heavily built man leading her away from the stage without saying anything, and she did so silently. ‘Miss?’ She mentally repeated to herself. He'd addressed her as a miss, but she was just an enslaved person, so why bother with that endearment? He had told her to come and get dressed, and now he was calling her miss. 'That is not a term of endearment like you’re thinking, silly girl.' Her subconscious instantly chided, and Brielle rolled her eyes as she continued walking down the path where the man seemed to be leading her too. At the same time, she became aware of her surroundings and realized that this place, like every other slave handler's abode she had visited, was the same. Brielle couldn't help but feel sorry for the desperate men and women who were arranged in rooms or cells, waiting to be sold. She wasn't blindfolded this time, unlike previous times when she passed, and all she could hear were their distressed voice
MADELINE’S POVMadeline hurried to her room, wanting to get to the confines of her chambers so she could reflect on everything that had happened today. She had tears in the back of her eyes from the way Lord Darius had yelled at her earlier, and what made her even angrier was that he had acted that way because of that bitch, Brielle, and she couldn't control her rage at the moment. Finally, standing in front of her door, she inserted the key lock and pushed open the door, walking straight to the bed and heaving a huge sigh of relief as she plopped her tired body on the soft foam. She was relieved to be back home, in her haven, where she could plan her next course of action. Brielle was still alive, and damn! This news was so bad. So, so wrong. The bitch was still alive and had been purchased, but Madeline had no idea who had done so. When the slave trader wanted to reveal the information about whoever had bought Brielle, Lord Darius allegedly sent her back to the car and shouted
BRIELLE’S POV"We’re done here.” The ladies dressing Brielle said to each other, and then they took a step back to allow her to see herself in the full-length mirror in front of her. Her jaw dropped slack open, and Brielle gasped as she saw the incredibly long black gown they had worn her in.The outfit was all shades appropriate if that's the right word. Yes, she had chosen the dress because of the color, black, as it would provide adequate protection for her body, but she had not anticipated the cloth covering every single part of her body. It wasn't even open, nor did it hug her body in a way that highlighted her demure curves; instead, it was free, big, and just enough to cover her entire body. Brielle had expected a more naked appearance, as she was probably getting ready to meet the mysterious man who had won the bid and bought her, but this was the polar opposite of what she had imagined. She returned her gaze to the women who had styled her, expecting to see disapproval a
DARIUS POV"Did you dispose of the bitch's body properly?" Darius inquired, and Rocky nodded in response."I'm at a loss for words. I still can't believe Delilah did this to me..." Darius mumbled angrily again, facing Rocky squarely and freezing in his steps for a few moments before continuing to pace around the room restlessly. There was no rest for him, and tonight he was oddly confident that he would not sleep a wink. Thank goodness for the alcohol, whiskey, and dull wine, which kept him awake through the night. He wasn't a crack addict, but he might light up something tonight to relieve the excruciating pain and agony he was experiencing. "Master, I believe you should rest tonight. It's late already, and you look exhausted. You haven't gotten much rest since returning from your trip. We would certainly get Brielle back, but not in this condition." How could he fucking sleep when Brielle was being manhandled and mistreated by strangers or even his enemies? How could he act as
BRIELLE’S POVBrielle awoke from her slumber when she felt hands gently tap her on the shoulders. The first thing she wanted to do was open her eyes and rub them, but her shoulders deflated when she remembered she was wearing a blindfold and had no idea where she was or what time it was. Briefly recalling the events of the last few hours, she remembered the dressing room and the hefty man coming to lead her out of the room and into a vehicle.Yes… Yes, Brielle finally knew where she was.She was in a vehicle, most likely a van that was no longer moving, and they must have arrived at their destination. Her buyer's house, most likely, and an unintentional smile curled her lips. She was finally here, and she felt unwarranted happiness in her chest simultaneously. She shook her body a little bit, the same time, she heard some one say something, not to her, but to the other person in the van with her.Two men... Brielle raised her brows as she heard the husky voices that she couldn't
MADELINE’S POV"I'd rather see Lord Darius and...""What's going on here, ladies?" Madeline immediately asked the maids gathered around.She had come to the kitchen to get some water and was on her way out when she heard Lord Darius's name being called, and she was intrigued as to what was going on. "It's nothing important, Madeline. You are free to leave." One of the maids standing said to her, and Madeline shot her a deathly glare. “I heard the three of you talking about Lord Darius, or am I deaf? Aside from the fact that you stated it was unimportant, I'm sure Lord Darius would be relieved to know that he is unimportant in this mansion. How does that sound?""I beg you, please. Don’t tell Lord Darius such." The silly girl began to say while revealing why they had been discussing their master. “A guard arrived to inform us that he has a hangover and requires someone to come clean his room. We're just deliberating on who to go, that’s all.”"No way!" Madeline blurted out slowly, rea
BRIELLE'S POVHer heart fluttered like a flower picked from a peaceful garden. Brielle searched for words to convey how she felt as Darius hoisted her up the floor. Euphoria. Joy. Thrill. Delight. Excitement. Surprise. Yes. These words clearly defined the situation, but there was more going on. Something deeper. Something she couldn't quite put her finger on. Perhaps she didn't know what word to use, but it wasn't happiness. It was more than that. "My love. Mine, all mine..." Darius repeated in her ears as he twirled her around. After a few minutes, he dropped her back onto her feet.Brielle remained still for a moment, attempting to regain her breath. Her mind buzzed with so many different thoughts, and she felt dizzy and possibly lightheaded from all the dancing, but that didn't stop her from stretching her toes and kissing Darius on the cheek."How are you feeling?" Darius asked, and she replied. “I feel on top of the world. Or maybe I'm already flying through it; I have no idea
A MONTH LATERDARIUS' POVThe banquet went better than Darius had anticipated.He had hoped for a low-key and personal ceremony in which he could deliver the glad news to his people and seal the everlasting union with his partner, but the event planners had other ideas. They'd gone over and aboard, and he surprisingly approved. Every area of the castle was artistically ornamented with gold and scarlet decorations. Everything was stunning, from the beautiful wall tapestries to the intricate floral arrangements, and the crystal chandelier glowed like a light in the hall's center. It was ethereal. Just like the woman for whom this entire charade was intended. Darius smiled as he continued to glance around. His gaze swept through the guests in the room, mingling, drinking, and speaking in groups. He also watched the servants rushing around carrying platters, refilling drinks, and doing almost anything to keep the party going. Finally, his wandering attention was interrupted by the mo
BRIELLE’S POVThere wasn’t a force more powerful in the universe than love. At least, that was what Brielle was thinking as she watched Darius dress in front of the mirror.Her lips watered as he flexed his muscles to remove the white shirt that hugged his body's curves.They had both healed, and all that remained were the scars. Though as memories converged in her head, she nearly let out a whimper. She’d gone through a lot, and damn! Anytime she remembered the whippings, electric shocks, cold water dousing, and even days she went without food, tears streamed down her cheeks. It wasn't easy to forget what had happened, but with Darius, it was becoming easier than she had expected. He was at her side throughout the recovery process, and she couldn't have asked for anything more. "Like what you see?" Darius smirked, interrupting Brielle's thoughts.He was looking at her through the mirror, and when their eyes met, her cheeks flushed. She looked away."Umm." She murmured and said n
DARIUS POV Darius walked carefully down the corridor with his guards in tow. He’d woke up a few hours earlier, and all he could think about was seeing Brielle. The dream from the day before continued to torment him, keeping him half-awake all night. Now, all he wanted was to see and hug her tightly. Then he’d apologize for how he had neglected her—the anguish he'd caused her by not being present when she needed him most. And maybe she'd forgive him. But would she? The inexplicable torture she went through in Draken Havix's hands, as well as his irresponsible choice to send her out into the wild, was nothing short of horrific. It was unforgivable, and Brielle deserved much better. She deserved more than to be with a man like that. He was a coward and an idiot who couldn’t even admit that she had transformed him from who he used to be to a better person. But then, he was also a selfish fool, so he wouldn’t let her go. Not in this lifetime or the next. Regardless of these thought
SOME DAYS LATERBRIELLE'S POV Her eyelids fluttered slowly, and Brielle groaned softly as a dull pain throbbed through her temples. It took a few more attempts before she could open them properly, and eventually, they slid wide enough for her to see where she was.Brielle had to squint a little until her eyes adjusted to the light, which was in stark contrast to what she was used to - dim lighting, quiet, and empty space. 'Where was she?' She frowned and pondered, 'How did she get here?'.She tried to push herself up into a sitting position but froze when a sharp pain shot through her skull again."Damn it." She muttered quietly, lifting a hand to her forehead, only to discover that it was attached to something, and she could not move it. "Fuck! Where am I?" She cursed aloud and, with her eyes roaming, began taking inventory of the room. And that's when she noticed it. The familiar curtains dangling from the windows. The dark red couches facing one another, and gold-plated side ta
BRIELLE'S POVBrielle's eyes opened and shut as she slipped into and out of consciousness.Her entire body hurt; her head ached, and her chest was on fire. Her eyes were open, but she couldn't see anything, and her eyesight was fuzzy.She could only hear noises, low whispering voices that appeared to come from all directions simultaneously. She could also feel soft wisps of cool breeze on her skin, confirming that she was outside.She wasn't in that terrible cell anymore, being tortured by those evil men.But if she wasn't present, where was she? She remembered sprinting through the palace hallways, looking for a way out, but then...She slowly began to recollect what happened after that. Her memories were returning slowly. Brielle had planned to flee once the guards left, with the cell door open and the key having fallen out of their pocket by accident. She remembered scanning left and right to ensure she didn't knock into anyone. It seemed strange how empty the hallways were.She
DARIUS POVDarius fought with all of his strength. He hit and punched, channeling his inner strength until Draken was a bloody mess.Earlier, when Draken had transformed into a wolf and leaped at him, Darius had been prepared for it. His fangs and claws had sharpened, and he’d transformed into his lycanthrope wolf form. He rarely shifted, but when he did, he wasted no time. As a Lycan, he would always be faster than his opponent and better equipped to catch his prey. So when the man attacked, Darius didn't even think about what he could do. His beast form had switched to autopilot, and its instincts took over. He'd scarcely noticed anything when he attacked. He only felt the pain of the punches and strikes, which weren't too severe because he wasn't on the receiving end of them. Draken, on the other hand, was severely beaten. His hairy face was matted with blood, and there were several large gashes all over his body. At this point, he wasn't even fighting back, just squirming and
BRIELLE'S POV"What is happening?" Brielle overheard the question, as many guards entered the cell with troubled expressions."There is a very big problem." One of them spoke, and despite her weakness, Brielle managed to stretch her ears enough to hear what they were saying. "Which is? Can someone fucking talk to me?" Another guard inquired, and the whip in his hand tumbled to the floor. It fell with a resounding thud, and the sound echoed off the cell walls.The air seemed to cool even more. The room was silent for a long time until one of the guards spoke up again. "Master Draken and Lord Darius are…"Brielle's heart sank when she heard Darius's name."Goodness gracious please, let nothing happen to him…" The words came out of her mouth unexpectedly, almost in prayer, and a stray tear streamed down her left cheek. The guards resumed discussing, but this time in quiet tones, as if frightened Brielle would hear them. It irritated her, and she wanted to yell. She wanted to question t
BRIELLE'S POV "Please…" Brielle begged and screamed at the top of her lungs, but the guards did not stop. The more she pleaded, the more the torture increased, and they continued to whip her body with their batons.But she understood why this was happening. Darius was here again. He'd arrived yesterday, and while she hadn't seen him, the rate at which her torture had risen was clear evidence of this. Her agonizing yells were intended to convey a message to Darius. Draken was using it as a tactic to demonstrate that he still had the upper hand and leverage. Brielle's heart wrenched painfully as she thought of the wicked older man who held her captive. A shiver ran down Brielle's spine as she remembered their talk from last night.He'd informed her that Darius still loved her, and despite her misery, she couldn't deny that his words had given her hope. Even when he made insulting jokes about her and Darius's deaths, a small part of her brain ignored the unpleasant words and focused