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“The vampire stench is a little ripe for my sensibilities,” I answer.
“Ah, that. You’ll get used to it.”
Bastian squeezes my arm, drawing my attention. He, too, has a painted-on smile, but at least with his, I can still see him in it. A part of it is still real. “Breathe through your mouth.”
I scrunch my nose at him. “Why does that seem worse?”
“Like you’re tasting them?”
Exactly.
“It’s up to you,” he says with a shrug. “I still do it sometimes.”
From behind me, Enzo puts a hand on my shoulder. “And don’t forget to smile, pretty bird. Or don’t. They like it more if the Auctioned isn’t entirely willing.”
Excuse me?
They like it more…
My vision darkens at the edges. This…
This is disgusting. Depraved. Auctioning off people.
My throat burns with bile, and I regret every ounce of food I ate today. But Enzo…
That unhinged, wide-eyed demon might have just given me the information I need to beat these jackholes at their own game.
I’d gotten my feet under me, but not anymore. I go limp between Axe and Bastian, sinking low enough that people notice.
Murmurs roll through the crowd.
I’m about to let my head fall forward, like I fainted. But I have a better idea.
Through the curtain of a new set of false lashes—thank you, Jerico—I estimate the position of the camera broadcasting my face.
They like unwilling?
Then by the fucking Flames, I’ll give them unwilling.
I tip my head back, angling my face at the camera. In my periphery, I catch the close zoom on the screen. Right on the tear trailing down my cheek.
I’d worked hard to squeeze that single tear out, so it’s only right they get a nice close shot of it. I mouth the words I think will resonate most with the crowd.
Please, God, help me.
The warehouse screams with delight, hooting and hissing.
“Folks, it looks like the heirs have truly outdone themselves for this year’s Auction. This promises to be quite the show. Let’s give them a round of cheers to show our appreciation.”
The man knows how to work the crowd, I’ll give him that. And it’ll only help me win this little battle of wits and wills with the heirs.
Or I should say, with Axe specifically.
He’s right about one thing. I did choose this. I came here knowing the risk. I didn’t expect an Auction, but I knew my virtue might be on the line.
But I’ll risk it for my soul-bonded and pray to the Flames he’ll forgive me.
We ascend to the stage, or I should say, Axe and Bastian drag me up the steps, and I make sure my feet bounce on each step hard enough to rumple my dress each time.
