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"Just so we&039;re clear," she spit out, as Erion strapped her to the dungeon wall, snapping the ancient cuffs on her wrists one at a time "My name is Hellen Not &039;bitch,&039; not &039;woman,&039; not &039;female,&039; &039;ransom,&039; or &039;prize&039;"

"I&039;ll try to re down on his haunches and fastening the ankle shackles that would keep her froain

"No, you won&039;t," she said, her tone as coolly pissed as when he&039;d found her and stolen her back "You have no feeling, no care for a poor, innocent ferunted "Perhaps I would if I saw a poor, innocent female"

Her lip curled "You&039;re a monster"

"Indeed"

Erion inspected his work The ancient cuffs had come with the house They were solid and would hold her ithout being too irritating on her wrists The chains at her feet, however, were new They weren&039;t attached to the wall, so they would grant her soet her anywhere near theor staircase Escape was futile He would not allow it again Right now, he could walk away and wait for Cruen to contact him without worry The problem was, he didn&039;t want to walk away Her scent bothered hiressive than nor her attitude, personality, and verbal ere so irritating, or he ht be tempted to taste her

"Why is that beast still here?" she said

For a ht shewho lay on the floor behind hi that had followed theates twenty minutes after they&039;d flashed home Erion wasn&039;t sure what the canine wanted with hirel a goodhim in her capture

"I have a kindred spirit in that canine, I believe," he said, stepping back to ads, fur, and a penchant for licking your own balls?"

His gaze roamed over her, the captive bride "You have quite a mouth on you"

"So I&039;ve been told"

"By whom? Cruen?" He chuckled disdainfully "Has he saainst the rules of engageement"

Erion&039;s eyes met hers and he frowned What did her words row quiet, morbid even, as she spoke theed entrance It was a diabolically wondrous scent, but it gave no clue as to her species

"What are you?" he asked

She smiled "Cruen&039;s wo, not an origin of blood"

"Whatever it is, it&039;s all I&039; her head to the side, exposing a long, pale column of neck "Unless you choose to disclose your true species"

He shrugged gently "I already have The bloodsucker, remember?"

She shook her head "No, you&039;reabout or what ga, but he could continue to watch her mouth move for hours In fact, if he leaned in one more inch, perhaps two, he could take it, taste it That full, pink bottouess," she continued, interrupting his thoughts "You are part bloodsucker and parthmmm, let&039;s seeA very foolish little prick who has no idea what he&039;s stolen"

Erion returned to reality with a jolt "Little prick?" He burst out laughing "That&039;s a"

"Oh, of course," she said with obvious disdain "I&039; dick whose tiny brain resides in his ass How&039;s that? More accurate?"

Moving in, Erion reached for both her hands, pressed theht "The proof is in the pinning, female"

He heard her breath catch, felt the pulse at the base of her neck quicken His hunger flared

"The warden likes it rough," she uttered blackly

"Yes, he does" He faced her, his eyes locking on to her eoad hih as well?" she asked

"Probably Most assholes do"

"Good to know" One pale auburn eyebrow lifted pointedly "Asshole"

His eyes narrowed and he shook his head "Such disrespect"

"Always"

"I will gag you, if Itoward hiainst the cuffs and his hands and his body "My father ipe you from the face of the Earth when he finds out what you&039;ve done"

"Stop squirrowled, but released her and eased back "You will rip into your flesh"

She snorted "As if you care"

"Oh, I care" His skin was on fire, the lower half of hi to the nearness of her body, the scent of her "I must have you exactly the saaze searching his, looking for any whisper of weakness "You fear Cruen"

Erion recognized a bright, quick, and possibly savage mind within this female He would not underestimate her Or his own attraction to her, for that , sweet-hearted bride-to-be, just as he was no kind and co in their situations

But his were far more dire

"Make no et back as stolen from me"

She lifted her chin "And as that?"

"Not your concern"

Her eyes flashed with interest "A woled his head "Do I look as if I wear jewels?"

She leaned back against the wall, her lips thinning "It reat value"

In that htened yet hopeful Erion ground his teeth Cruen would pay dearly for taking his son

His lids flipped open and he narrowed his gaze on his bargaining chip "What I must have returned is priceless"

For the first time since he&039;d taken her, the female appeared worried "You won&039;t tell me what it is?" she asked

He remained silent

The worry in her eyes intensified "And how do you expect Cruen to find you? To make this trade?"

"I believe it was you who called him all-powerful By now he knows you were taken and knoho has taken you He will come for you Have no fear Very soon you will be in his arms, and he will make you his" His voice dropped to a whisper "In every way"

Erion watched her closely, watched for her look of worry tohe could understand, soave hi with that bastard What he saas ruthless deterht, pure veno away but a battle, a struggle, and as much as he wanted to dislike that quality, he found her internal drive and strength

He would have to watch that

"In the meantime," he said "You will find comfort down here"

She raised her arms as much as she was able "This your idea of comfort?"

"When compared to the other scenarios I had in aze mocked hinored her jab, ignored the way his blood continually threatened to pool lower every time her scent pushed into his nostrils "You will be clothed and well fed"

"Perhaps I will starve otiate with"

He shook his head slowly "Don&039;t make threats I will force-feed you if I must"

"You don&039;t even knohat I eat"

"Baby ani

"The souls of innocent children?"

She grinned "Close"

"Not to worry," he said, trying not to stare at herthat not only keeps you alive, but also keeps your mouth occupied"

Her eyes widened and her nostrils flared "Barbarian," she uttered

Grinning, he turned to leave, the dog scra after him

He barely reached the stairs when she called out after hilanced over his shoulder "One of whom?"

"A bloodsucker"

"If the vein beckons"