Auction

"We will certainly do filthy things to you," Oren says. "You're ours, Trissa. We're going to make full use of you."

I narrow my eyes and open my mouth to argue, but Mattias stops me.

"Don't argue with him, princess," he says, the affectionate term defusing some of my outrages. "You can't expect all you have done to be wiped clean in one day. You led these men on a chase across the country for two, worrying about your welfare every moment. And you promised them your obedience."

"I'm not arguing. But... but... I did what was right for the life inside me. Not what was best for..."

"You are arguing," Mattias says kindly, but firmly. "You did what you did, knowing that there would be consequences, so take those consequences now, without complaint."

Mattias makes a good king. A very, very good king. He knows what it is to suffer and to be humbled. And he knows what it is to be kind as well as firm. Even in the midst of my embarrassment at the notion of another public mating, I can't help but admire him.

"Very well." I lower my head. "I accept your punishment."

"Good girl," Mattias says. "This time it will be you and me."

"You... and I?"

"I am capable, girl. The implant has been removed. We have waited a long time to have our moment together. It should come before the people."

I glance over at the others, my three mercenaries. Will they be jealous?

They don't seem to be. They seem to be satisfied. Oren, in particular, is sternly impressed with Mattias' ruling. Alexios is harder to read, but Silver is clearly at ease with it.

"You should be more possessive," I tell them.

"Hard to be possessive with a pregnant wench who runs off even when she's told not to," Oren growls. "Hard to find you in order to be possessive with you."

"And yet, you found me, because I'm exactly where I said I'd be. And I was safe. Alexios gave me weapons..."

As soon as the words are out of my mouth, I see Alexios roll his eyes in disbelief as Oren and Silver turn to him.

"You did what?" Oren asks, dumbfounded.

"She was going to do what she was going to do. I wanted her to be safe. We know she can handle a weapon."

"We should be the ones handling the weapons, not encouraging her to run off into war zones by herself!"

Suddenly, Alexios tips me off his lap and they're on their feet. Oren looks like he's about to hit Alexios, and not in a sexy way.

"Either we put her on a leash, or we work with the temperament she has. She's going to be punished for her disobedience, so what's the difference?" Alexios argues.

"You might own her, Oren. But you don't own me," Alexios reminds him.

A fight seems almost inevitable. Pharaoh is a little taller than Alexios, but Alexios has a lot of combat experience. I don't know who I would put my money on if they were to fight.

"Enough," Mattias intervenes. "There is no need to take your aggression and concern out on each other. Put it where it belongs. On Trissa."

"Hey!" I exclaim in protest.

Mattias lifts a brow at me. "You are under my command too, girl. I own you as much as they do. And I tell you now, your disobedience will not be permitted. You chose to return here—and as I have already said, that also meant choosing to accept the consequences. Stop stirring up trouble among your men and make a proper apology."

It was different before. When they spanked me, fucked me, lectured me, it was easy to be sorry then. But am I sorry now? I don't know anymore. Seems to me I did the right thing, even though I was doing the wrong thing. If I hadn't killed the sheriff, nobody would have died. But if nobody had died, Dallas wouldn't be free, Mattias would still be a eunuch slave, and I would be an object to be sold and used. I sinned again when I set out for Dallas the second time, but in the process, I brought us together. Mattias is a good king, but he will be a better-protected one with my mercenaries around him. And my child will grow up in a city of opportunity, in a world that is changing for the better, not roaming a desolate wasteland learning the wrong words for things.

Oren won't understand my defiance. Mattias won't appreciate it. Alexios and Silver might be more sympathetic, but who are they against a pharaoh and a king?

I lift my chin and shake my head. "I can't."