Page 27 of My Wild Pet

“And to me, Gabriel,” she says and her pronunciation of my name ripples electrically through my body as if she told me she loved me.

“I’ll bleed a thousand times to taste the humanity of your name on my tongue, Briar.”

She tries to respond, but I cut her off quickly. “Chut!Don’t ruin our beautiful conversation with the pain they’ll bring us both if they hear.”

The door hisses open, and les garçons stride in. Aefre follows behind them with that signature, measured grace of his. His sharp green eyes lock onto mine through the bars of my cage.

“Ember,” he begins, his tone oddly conversational. “Why do you insist on these outbursts lately?”

I know better than to answer.

The calm in his voice is just a mask. I know, my punishment has already been decided. He straightens, hands clasped behindhis back. “No treats for the rest of the week,” he says. “No playtime.”

I meet his gaze, forcing my face into a blank mask. He doesn’t want the truth—that I’m not some mindless creature. He wants me to uphold the fantasy that I’m just a pet. To survive, I have to play along.

“I know you were talking to Ash in a human language,” he adds casually.

Ash.The name scrapes at my ears. I press my lips together, then figure I have nothing more to lose today. “Why do you call her that?”

He arches an eyebrow. “Why do you care?”

“I care because it’s a dirty name,” I say. “She’s anything but a burned out fire.”

“Why I chose that name for her… well, Ember, it’s a delicate topic. I’m not sure it’s appropriate for humans to know.”

“D’accord. I can handle delicate.”

Aefre lets out a low, condescending chuckle. “You’ve always been curious, Ember. One of your better traits. But don’t let it blind you to your place. Human pets are fragile, emotionally and otherwise.”

Fragile.I can almost taste the insult.Tu es fragile, I think.Not me.Still, I don’t argue. There’s no point. My gaze slides to Briar’s cage, but she wisely keeps her head down.

Aefre leans in. “Ash suits her—she’s a flame contained, smoldering in the ashes of what she was. I will forge her into a superior human. And the perfect partner for you, Ember.”

My blood boils. “Briar suits her better.”

Aefre’s eyes narrow. “You will call her Ash, or you’ll be punished.”

After a few seconds, I dip my head in a show of submission I don’t feel.

As he turns to speak with les garçons, I sneak another glance at Briar. Fear shines in her wide green eyes. Tiens bon, I silently urge her. Hold on.

“Open Ash’s cage,” Aefre orders. “I’m taking her now. Kaelin will fetch Ember later.”

Les garçons yank open the cage beside mine, and I press up against my own bars to get a better look at Briar. Her long blonde hair fades into violet at the ends, but it’s the blonde to bright pink ombre mass between her legs that slams into me like a punch to the gut. The alien “styling” is such a violation. It’s a grim reminder of how they see us as accessories to be groomed and trained, not people with dignity or choice.

My gaze travels upward. No obvious changes beyond her underarms—thick with dyed hair.

My eyes catch on Aefre and I recognize the glint in his eyes when he looks at her full breasts with large rosy areolas. And I can guess what he has planned for them tonight.

Guilt sinks into my gut. I didn’t warn her because I thought it’d already been done.

I watch as Aefre leads her away, her attractive bare backside on the verge of disappearing through the door. Suddenly, I can’t hold back. “See you later, Briar!”

Aefre pauses mid-step, touches his ring, and a spike of pain rips through my body. By the time it subsides, I’m panting. But I smile. Saying her name was worth it.

CHAPTER 11

Aefre

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