Page 54 of Taken to the Deadlands

"Sorry to have kept you waiting," she said with a dangerous-looking smile. "But I have brought a special gift."

Her hand was still in the portal, so we couldn't see what she was holding. But as soon as a familiar head with brown hair and hazel eyes appeared, my breath caught in my throat.

It can’t be true. Can it?What kind of coincidence is this?On the very last auction I was planning to attend?

Did Madam go back and get her? How could she be taken from her home again?Anger lit my veins on fire.

"Mia, a spirit seer and our first item,” she announced as she pulled Mia out abruptly, causing her to glare at Madam.

She was dressed in a sweater and jeans, and this time she had a backpack with her.

She prepared to come. She wasn’t kidnapped this time.

That knowledge caused hope to burst inside me and excitement to shoot up my spine.

Mia had willingly come to the Demon Realm. For… me?

“This is her second time in the auction, and therefore, we are raising her price,” Madam said. “Last time, she sold for seventy thousand. Let's start with a hundred.”

There was silence. Not many people could afford that, and anything was rarely sold for that much here.

When Madam's eyes met mine, I knew.

She wanted me to spend all my money on her. Normally, I wouldn’t want to play her game, but this time I didn’t care. For Mia, I would play whatever game she wanted.

A hand raised.

"Do I hear one-ten?"

Another hand raised.

"I see one-thirty."

It was my hand that raised this time.

"You brought her for me," I said, letting my voice carry across the room.

"Only if you can pay."

I let out a growl. Of course I could pay. We both knew I had money to spare.

"Oh, is that one-forty?" Another hand rose.

I let out a curse and pushed myself to my feet. “Two hundred thousand!”

Madam threw her head back and laughed.

"She's all yours, Aris of the Deadlands."

This was a surreal moment, one I had dreamed about but never thought would come.

I let my legs take me to the stage, not taking my eyes off Mia the entire time.

She is here. She is truly here.

By the time I reached the stage, reality had sunk in.

I held my hand out for Mia to take.

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