Page 14 of The Werewolf Cowboy
“See? You’re not a damn Lupine! Any normal female Lupine would want me.”
Staggering back, he covered his face and began to sob. Pity flashed through her, even as she began sidling toward the open door.
“You’ll find someone, Charles. The right female,” Katy soothed, keeping her gaze trained on him as she crept toward freedom.
And then she heard movement behind her, scented something even more foul, and cried out, running to the opposite wall.
Two tall, gaunt strangers in black tunics carried in a wood box. They set it a short distance from the door. The men with pale hair spilling down their backs did not speak or even regard her. Katy had met a few Fae when they visited the ranch and recognized the scent, but these Fae were tangled with something dark and evil.
Chains sat atop the box. The men attached the chain to a round loop on the wall and locked it.
One pulled a pin and opened the box’s side. A furry, round creature with squat legs waddled out. A length of chain hooked around one stubby leg. It had the bitter, metallic odor of pure iron. The chain pulled the creature short, allowing it to reach the door, but not beyond.
Then one of the men took a short pole, rippling with pink and purple colors. He jabbed it at the creature, and sparks jumped onto it. The creature howled again and retreated toward the box.
Katy bristled. She hated seeing anything abused, though this creature looked as if it could defend itself. Laughing, the men jumped back as the creature tried to rush at them, pulled short by the chain.
Pity faded as the creature turned to her. It had two beady yellow eyes and a red slit of a mouth. Then it opened the mouth, showing rows of triangular teeth.
Jaws snapped and whirred. The creature drooled as it strained toward her.
Horror immobilized her. She could not think nor breathe.
The men nodded at Charles, the first one keeping his stick in front as if to jab at the creature again if it rushed toward the door.
Charles held up a blue sack, bulging at the sides. He opened it to show her gold coins within. “I sold you to the Dark Wing Gentleman’s Club. You’re not in Kansas anymore, bitch. You’re in the Dark Kingdom.”
Katy kept her eyes on the creature, which had retreated to its box. She hoped the iron chains would hold. “You’re insane, Charles. There is no such place, except in fairy stories.”
“Oh, it exists. I found the portal when I went to Las Vegas for the weekend to ease my pain after you rejected me. Only a few Others can enter without losing their sanity.”
But he’d surely lost his. Charles was quite mad.
“You brought me to the Dark Kingdom and sold me? Aiden and the pack will never stop looking for me. And you’re dead, Charles. Soon as they find you, they’ll tear you to pieces.”
“I’ll be long gone, to where they can never find me. And they will never findyou, Katy. You’re in the place where normal Others fear to tread.”
Fear curdled in her stomach. “What do they want with me?”
“I don’t know.” His smile turned evil. “But whatever it is, I’m sure it will be painful.”
Fear will get you nowhere.But the terror bubbled up inside her like a witch’s cauldron. It was useless arguing with him to free her. Charles’ hatred ran too deep.
She kept staring at the black furred ball now emerging from the crate. It opened its mouth and snarled at her.
“Meet the Thannach. It loves to feast on fresh flesh. If you even try getting near the door, it will devour you. The Dark Fae keep it here for prisoners. A few have tried to escape, and I’ve been told it’s not a pleasant way to die.” His nasty smile faded. “I hope you try to escape, bitch, and you die badly.”
Charles and the Fae left, slammed the door shut behind them. His maniacal laugh floated through the thick oak. Katy started for the door, but the Thannach waddled toward her. She backed away.
I am going to die. Some day. Not today and not here, where my family will never know where I am.
Or Grayson.
No one would rescue her. It was up to her to save herself. Katy backed away from the snarling ball of fangs and fur. At least the lights were on…
She slid farther along the wall and felt something at her back.
The lights winked out, leaving them alone in the dark.
