Page 82 of My Wild Pet

I want to ask about the mind control but how we get our hands on the money is my first concern. “But how will we get the UCs from Aefre? Don’t you think he’ll be suspicious?”

“We don’t have to. They automatically go into our account. He set that up beforehand and it can’t be changed now.”

“How do you know?” I ask dubiously.

“It’s common knowledge if you have access to the Grand Championship database. Aefre is proud he lets his pets keep their winnings for their own treats.”

“Does Aefre know about Gael?” I ask.

“Of course he does. All the trainers know.”

“Yet?”

“Briar, they think we’re pets.”

CHAPTER 46

Gabriel

I kiss Briar and want to tell her about my doubts, about the guilt that grips me every time I think of escape. How Gael the Returner was all Fifi talked about and I dismissed her and then I let her die.

But I don’t want to sound like a broken record. I feel like I’ve already mentioned it one too many times. And I don’t want Briar to think about death. We must win.

“Il faut du courage, maintenant, ma chérie,” I whisper with quiet resolve, speaking as much to myself as to Briar. “We must have courage.”

CHAPTER 47

Aefre

“Ember,” I say to Kaelin, my gaze fixed on the holographic replay of the training session. “Something’s changed.”

“He’s distracted.”

“What do you think is pulling his focus?”

“It could be the pressure.”

“No,” I say, dismissing that. “This is the fourth time Ember has been here.”

Kaelin hesitates. “Gael the Returner. Gossip among the pets has been rife.”

“How couldhebelieve those rumors?”

“Oh, I think they’d be difficult to ignore. Especially in his current state.”

“You mean, someone who’s heart and mind are in emotional turmoil,” I say, vaguely admitting my guilt about putting thoughts in Ember’s mind and artificial hormones in his body. “Perhaps I’ll have to take your advice after all and sweeten the deal for Ember. But I’m going to give it another day. Once his mind becomes focused on the Championships and winning, he may forget.”

CHAPTER 48

Briar

The holographic mirror in the dressing room reflects a version of me I barely recognize. The woman staring back at me is a stranger. A creation of Aefre’s meticulous human pet design. My purple costume shimmers and clings to my body like a second skin, accentuating every curve. Displaying every patch of hair, under my arms, my vulva, and my tail. And making sure my pierced breasts are on full display.

Aefre’s hands fasten the final clasp at my shoulder. When he steps back, I meet his green eyes in the mirror. For a second, there’s a softness in his expression.

When he looks at me like this I want to scream, “Why don’t you see us as the same species?”

But I never do. And all he ever sees before him is a human pet.

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