PTE

ius'

side," I said, my voice

ture tense and alert.

ng at my insides, pushing me forward. If there was even a c

. We kept to the shadows, slipping through the broken doors like ghosts. The warehouse was dark

owed, my senses on high alert. The faint scent of my sister linger

heard i

strangle

den planks. A door stood at the far end of the room,

ast a dim glow over a figu

wo

my s

d arms. Her wrists were bound by chains, and her breathing was shallow

hed beside her, my tone firm but ge

se..." her voice was barely a whisper. "Don'

I asked as I broke the

dy trembling. "The traders

e a look. "Ly

through me l

he woman. "Where d

they mentioned the next shipment leavin

ave us only

myself off. "Th

"We need to get

the woman. "

we made our way back through the warehouse. My mind was already

nly going

ng to des

last

-

the outskirts of the city. She drank w

our name?

" she w

n. Did you see a lady with

l. "Maybe... I saw someone with long black hai

quickened

oyal blood.' They moved her to a different location

ply. "That means th

't just about traders and slav

ber anything

e men mentioned a name...

Royals, rare bloodlines, exotic captives. He doesn't w

need him

she was s

r

had been sold to

"Find out where Va

d. "Already a

eeve, her grip weak. "Y

Olana." My voice was cold and final. "I'l

-

he outskirts of the city, deep within aband

It was tucked behind a crumbling stone archway, guarded by two

d them sever

how," one of

y broke

fine cloaks, gold-trimmed cuffs, and the cold arrogance of men w

children sat hunched inside, their spirits broken. The air was thic

arket for something unique. A young woman.

wed. "Can't say I've

step forward.

though-he might've had

re i

ls, through th

I exchang

more guards were standing watch.

ng," one of

t give

t oddly differed from the filth and misery of the market outside. Heavy curtai

bent shadows across the long wooden desk where V

appeared on his face, drawing attention to the nasty scar across his r

art. "We were told you handle the best st

yone wants something specific, friend.

e razor-sharp. "We're not here to b

lightly. "Informatio

t the desk. The impact rattled his goblet, spilling dark liquid across the

ong black hair, gold eyes. Y

ng against my arm. Magnus locked the

Varcen sputtered. "Do you h

ing to the floor. "I don't care," I growled. "You're going to tell

s gaze-fear. He saw it

, his voice hoarse. "It

it?!" I

His gaze darted to Magnus, then back to me.

ath st

o

me like a blo

. A psychotic warlord who thrived on brutality.

as my s

chest. My wolf clawed against m

now. "I swear, I didn't know-he made the offer before she even reached aucti

. With one swift motion, I yanked a dagger

nds trembled as he clutched at the woun

voice a cold whisper

twisted

iolently befo

iped the dagger clean before stepping over the b

im and shoving it back into its sheath. My

tha

d in my skull

hadows through the tunnels. The stench of the m

in the hands

sure if I s