Page 47 of Rescued By the Beast
"Okay. Leave everything on the table and leave."
"O-of course." The man hesitates. "Thank you for your business." He bows briefly before rushing out and forgetting to close the door.
Now's the time, I need to escape before it's too late!
I dig my claws deep into his skin, feeling the warm blood beneath them. But he doesn't even react. The wounds close instantly, as if they had never existed.
"Calm down, Kitten," he murmurs. "I won't hurt you."
My hind legs kick the air, trying to find support to escape, but it's useless. His arms are a cage, and my own body betrays me, weakening as exhaustion overtakes me.
Mark holds me securely, without squeezing too hard, just supporting each of my attacks as if they were nothing.
"Calm down," he whispers against my ear, the vibration of his voice running through me, "or you'll end up hurting yourself."
My heart pounds, my mind screams to keep fighting, but exhaustion weighs heavily on me. My attention falls on the collar on the table.
Beautiful. Perfect. A cruelly ironic detail.
Because no matter how beautiful it is, its meaning is a sentence.
If I run away, he will find me.
I can't fool myself into thinking that just ripping it off will solve everything. It's enchanted. A connection forged by magic, and magic like that isn't easily broken.
Mark loosens his grip slightly, allowing me to catch my breath, and when he puts me on the table, I see an opportunity.
I dart to the side, preparing to jump to the floor, but I can barely gain momentum before I'm grabbed again.
A huge hand wraps around me, strong fingers circling my back and ribs, holding me firmly. My body struggles again, this time weakly, feeling the stitches pull and the pain throb in my skin. Trapped in one hand, I have no way to escape when he grabs the collar with the other.
"Sassy little cat, I need you to stay still." His voice is low and authoritative. "Please." He softens his tone, and I can do nothing but obey.
Mark takes the black velvet ribbon and slowly positions it around my neck, adjusting it gently.
The emerald stone rests against my skin, just below my throat. Its initial coldness sends a shiver down my spine, but gradually it warms up, the dormant energy awakening at my touch. Then a soft pulse emerges, subtle as a whisper, as if the stone had a heart of its own, beating at a rhythm that resonates with mine.
Mark takes a step back to observe me, his eyes scanning my figure with an intensity that makes me uneasy. He reaches out and touches the gemstone with his fingertips.
"It matches your eyes."
His expression softens, and his lips curve slightly, a subtle smile, but one laden with silent satisfaction. My heart races, not out of fear, but for reasons I refuse to admit.
He slowly raises his gaze to mine, staring at me intensely, as if he wants to engrave his next words on my soul.
"Now, wherever you go, I will find you. And if anyone tries to hurt you..." He pauses, his eyes shining with something dangerous. "I'll be there to kill them."
Chapter 16
Sandra
The soft fabric of the outfit slides across my feline skin as Mark gently unzips it, his deep voice echoing in the air between us.
"Now, let's see if the potion really works.
Since I'm collared, the least this potion can do is cure me, right?
I won't accept anything less.
