Snoot-Snoot gazes up at me with her black eyes, a look of gratitude in them. My anger flares up even more.
How could Rawk put a newborn in danger just to manipulate me?
It’s not right.
As we climb higher into the cave systems, I notice that many of them have windows that let in just a bit of wind. I suspect it’s some kind of magic in the air.
I wouldn’t put it past Rawk to have that kind of power.
“Over here, Minx.” Faux leads the way as we turn into a stairwell, spiraling up until it opens into a wide cave corridor.
The stone floor is smooth and shiny, and the walls are lined with treasures: paintings, sculptures, and gold. At the end of this long corridor, there are two massive wooden doors.
“We’re here.” Faux knocks on the door twice before turning to me. “You can go in…with Bezzel.”
I tuck Snoot-Snoot back into my bra, where she leans her head against the leather, completely relaxed now. Faux pushes the doors open.
As soon as the doors swing open, I see a chamber that’s empty of any people. It’s a half-circle shape. The ceiling is high, and there’s not much furniture.
There’s a fireplace big enough for a king, rugs, a bed, and even a library with hundreds of books. The room is beautiful, but there’s no one in sight.
As the doors close behind me, Snoot-Snoot slips out of my bra on her own and flies off into the room.
I watch as she lands on the bed, near a pillow, and then seems to collapse onto her side.
She’s breathing heavily, like she’s about to take a nap, then suddenly she jumps up, lies down, wiggles her tail, and runs to one of the pillows.
I watch as Snoot-Snoot pounces, tearing and growling as she attacks a feather pillow. The moment she snarls into it, a figure appears from the middle of the room.
“No!” Rawk shouts, rushing to his bed. “Bezzel!” He calls her name and has to dramatically dive onto the bed to scoop her up in his hand.
I watch as he quickly stands up, holding her in front of him as he narrows his eyes, ready to scold her. Snoot-Snoot whimpers an apology and struggles to get free.
“Little monster,” Rawk grumbles as he lets Bezzel go, finally turning his gaze to me.
Snoot-Snoot flies onto the bed and casually walks toward the torn pillow. This time she struggles to burrow inside of it and then she disappears into the feathers.
Her head pushes against the fabric, leaving a bump as she hides within the contents of the pillow.
I turn to one of my mates.
Rawk is now wearing his gray leather pants with a white tunic. His golden eyes scan over me, but he doesn’t smile.
Rawk just raises an eyebrow, lifting the end of his black full-facial scar up a bit with the movement of his brow.
“Oh, no…I don’t think so.” He turns and gives me a wink while casually walking to his bookcase.
I walk right into shimmering golden bars that appear out of nowhere. As my forehead bounces off one embarrassingly, I stumble backward and spin around.
All around me, I see golden bars. Behind the cage I’m now inside, I see a smiling Zoraul. His silver hair is tied back with a leather tie, and he is also wearing a white tunic but with his brown leather pants.
“Let me out!” I run to Zoraul, my hands gripping the bars as I grit my teeth while my venom drips. “I’m warning you. What is this for?”
“Destiny, little beast,” Zoraul explains, leaning in until he’s right in front of me.
I back up before he can get too close.
I turn to Rawk, who is now approaching the cage with a book open in his hand.
“Hmmm…” Rawk murmurs to himself as his eyes scan the page. “Ah, here…to tame a Fire-Spitter’s spirit, why not throw them in a cage?”
“The book does not say that,” I growl.
“She’s smarter than she looks.” Rawk snaps the book closed and smirks at his twin.
When I turn to Zoraul, he eyes Rawk suspiciously but nods anyway.
“Friends?” I ask, glancing between both of them.
“Zoraul is a temporary guest in my Horde,” Rawk explains.
“He’s not welcome to stay; he’s only welcome to face your decision. Until you decide, you stay in that cage. Like a good mate. You’re too much trouble outside of it anyway.
“You have one week to decide who you will choose. Zoraul and I will never be Twin Leading Breeds together. So, you must choose one of us.”
“What happened? Did you realize how ugly you were with that scar across your face?” I ask Rawk, needlessly. “Ugly as a butcher who accidentally lodged his own knife into his face.”
“Oh, she has a point there,” Zoraul can’t help but drawl, which has Rawk glaring openly even as I face Zoraul.
“You will let me go before I find a way out of here to rip both your heads off. Take the spell off this cage so I can mist, it is my basic Dragon right.”
“Last time I checked, you have no rights,” Rawk murmurs, coming right up to the bars to look down at me even as I glare up at him.
“You’ve got to make a choice. It’s either me or him. Once you’ve made up your mind, we’ll tame you. One of us will. It’s inevitable. And I already know who you’re going to choose.”
“You’re losing that bet, Rawk,” I retort. “You’re nothing but a lowlife—your words and actions prove it. Why did you use Bezzel as bait?”
“You’re pretty sharp,” Rawk says with a smirk.
“It was a harsh move, but necessary,” Zoraul chimes in from the other side of the cage.
As I turn to face him, he gives me a once-over. “It’s a pity you’re going to break my brother’s heart when you turn him down. He puts on a tough front, but he’s a real softie when he doesn’t get his way.”
“You better shut your mouth before I shut it for you, brother.” Rawk starts pacing around the cage, his gaze locked on his twin. “You’ll be eating dirt before you insult me again.”
“I’m just stating the facts, Master of Feeling,” Zoraul murmurs, a grin spreading across his face.
“You’re a fool for letting your desires control you… The things you crave…they’re your biggest weaknesses.”
He stops in front of Zoraul. “You. Are. A. Coward. I’m a leader. You’re nothing more than a Shadow Assassin. That’s not exactly a big deal around here.”
“I’m a damn good Shadow Assassin,” Zoraul replies calmly.
“I’m a damn good teacher, and it’s a lot harder to pass on knowledge than to just stab unsuspecting victims with dull weapons.”
Rawk’s words make Zoraul’s cheek twitch. His calm facade is starting to crack.
I can tell a fight is about to break out, and I have a feeling their rivalry might be my best chance to escape. When they’re at each other’s throats, they forget about everything else.
“I’ll make my decision,” I interrupt them, “in a week… But first,” I add, as they both turn to look at me, their eyes locked on my forced smile, “you both have to take me on a date, right now—together.”
“Sure,” Zoraul agrees.
“No way,” Rawk says at the same time, but with the opposite response.
“Asshole,” Zoraul mutters to his twin under his breath.
“Get out of my room—she’s mine tonight,” Rawk snaps back without thinking.
Rawk hesitates, his golden eyes blazing as he slowly turns to face me.
“Minx, if you were to go on a date with both of us, what would you want to do?” Rawk asks.
“I’d want to take a bath,” I declare. “I’ll stay in the cage as long as I can have a bath—and you both have to be naked. If you agree to this…I’ll stay for another week, as long as you give me a proper room instead of this…this…cage.”
“The cage is fine,” both brothers respond in unison.
“We’ll talk about it later.” I shrug. “Now, draw my bath…and strip.”
It might sound silly, but I want to get my way for once.
And if we’re going to play this game…
…I’m going to set some of the rules.
