Page 85 of Auctioned for Her Blood
Where the fuck was that dungeon, and where are we now? Given Tavi and Diederik’s presence, clearly it’s all part of DEFTA, but for all I know, they’ve got buildings and underground facilities all over the state, all over the country.
We arrive at another large elevator door, this one more modern, like a hotel service elevator, and I step inside. I glare at Zuben, wishing I had the power to kill him with my eyes, but his are filled with so much fear and pain. I almost feel sorry for the dude. Not bloody likely.
After an ascent, the elevator doors open into a huge open space, concrete, with thick support pillars. Looks like an empty parking level under a high rise.
Looking back at me, Octavia licks her upper lip, upping my confidence that I’ll be able to charm her into doing whatever I want. Shit. I’ll even fuck her if that’s what it takes. Not that fucking Octavia was ever a hardship…even if right now my body craves Ember.
We cross the open space toward yet another elevator, and this one is too small for the entire group.
“Diederik,” Octavia says. “You and your team stay behind.”
“But the prisoners—” the security head starts to object, but Octavia lifts her hand to stop him.
“I wish to speak to the prisoners alone,” Octavia says. “If I have need for your services, I will summon you.”
Scowling, Diederik bows his head and he and his team of guards stay back as Octavia, her mates, Zuben and I enter the elevator cab. Her tallest mate pushes one of two buttons and we start to rise.
Fuck. My mind scrambles through strategies. What am I going to say to get Ember released? How do I explain why they mistook a human for a vampire? Maybe I’ll just make the security guys out to be idiots—so stupid they took a human by mistake.
No chance can I tell Octavia whatreallyhappened. Whatever that was. In truth, I have no fucking idea why Ember burned in the sunlight or under the silver netting.
And since I my ability to take sunlight expired, it holds that silver will no longer burn Ember.
The elevator opens directly into what must be Octavia’s new office, but instead of going to her desk, she crosses to sit in a red-velvet, wing-backed chair, and her mates take positions around it, a wall of silent muscle.
I want to laugh at the suggestion I might have ever been her mate. No fucking way would I ever have let her tame me like this.
“Come.” She gestures for me and Zuben.
I move toward one of the chairs opposite her.
“No,” she says. “Come closer. Both of you. Stand before me.”
Like a trained puppy, Zuben swiftly takes a position of attention in front of her, chin high, arms stiffly at his sides. Obedient. Subservient. What Octavia is used to.
“Whatever you want, Tavi.” I saunter up and cross my arms over my chest, shifting my weight to one side and smiling. “Happy to fulfill your everydesire.” I hope my double entendre comes through.
It does. A smile teases her lips and she shifts on her chair, crossing her legs to highlight them through the high slit in her blood red skirt.
“We can talk aboutdesire, later.” She shoots me a knowing look. “First, I demand an explanation.”
I’m about to make a quip about issuing some demands of my own, but she directs her attention to Zuben.
“You lied to me. You told me Ryker’s blood held special powers, and because of that, I arrested an innocent vampire and had him tortured—all for nothing.” The rage in her voice is clear, and I’m fucking glad I’m not the target. In Octavia’s mind, I’m an innocent victim.
“With all due respect,” Zuben bows slightly. “Ryker is not innocent. He’s a thief, a pirate who has stolen much from DEFTA, fromyou. I have proof.”
Leaning back into the chair, Octavia flicks her wrist. “You think I give a shit about a few bars of gold? You misled me! How dare you!”
Zuben raises his chin. “I did not mislead you. I had strong reasons to believe that Ryker had…hadaccessto knowledge that is key to my research.”
I turn toward the tall Egyptian vampire as he speaks. Zuben clearly knows about Ember’s blood,somethingabout it anyway, and I’m ready to throttle him if he evenbeginsto bring up Ember.
I remind myself that he hasn’t, not yet, and contain my anger.
Zuben makes Ember sound like a science experiment. Perhaps this has played out just as he planned. He tricked Octavia into capturing us, and now he has Ember trapped in a dungeon where he can do what he wants with her. Yes. He plans to keep Ember for himself and doesn’t want his boss to know the truth.
“Zuben, you are either a fool or a liar.” Octavia’s eyes narrow. “And at this moment, I don’t care which.” She turns to one of her mates. “Fetch Diederik. Zuben needs more time to consider his actions, and I need time to consider his fate.”
