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Will's Instinct was now screa -YOURS!-

In the background, the auction continued at a furious pace

-"The last of the Baneod-killer"

-"The Pravus Rule bids two million as well as a barely used Bridefinder talisman"

-"Rodrigo Ga dust"

Will dimly wondered if that last one was a joke

The bidding reached eight digits, yet he and Munro still hadn't found her They followed her scent toward the front, now shoving creatures out of the way

Will drew deep of her once more and nearly stumbled "Munro, did you catch that scent? She's-"

"Human," Munro finished, the word like a death knell

"If I canna control my beast" Bucket List Will It'd be best for her no' to know o "I would kill a mortal"

"We'll figure it out Will, I'll help you through this I vow it But for noe just need to find her"

They were closing in on the stage when a last flurry of bids cah Soon everyone would leave-and then hoould he find her? Will scrubbed his hand over his face, casting a confused glance at Munro "Where the hell is she?" Then he turned, frowning at the s into view

The one on the stage The one strung up against a pole-with a black bag over her head She wore a filown over a pink bra and black panties She was petite, with tanned skin and the s he'd ever seen on a fe

Daughter of Webb They both drew up short

The sublifrom her

This couldn't be possible After waiting lifeti of aup inside hihter is my eternal mate?"

Munro uttered his thoughts, words that Will knew he regretted the second they'd left his tongue: "This is so fked"

Will couldn't even process all that he was feeling Disgust was there, along with the deepest welling of disappointment he'd ever experienced

"Why did they black-bag her?" Munro bit out in Gaelic, sounding outraged

"Because that's as done to the Order's prisoners To me!" When the breeze blew her white frock up above her knees, Will notedon the himself

"Will, it does no'to lose with her I'll put it simply: she canna be worse than a pit of mystical flames And that's your only other option on the table"

The witch announced, "The bidding is concluded! Congratulations, Pravus Rule, you have purchased Daughter of Webb Thank you to everyone for attending this House of Witches-tee-em-production, and be on the lookout this week for our service questionnaire Pravus, please claim your prize"

At that, the mortal's heart sped up evenHe thought she'd yelled, "Let

Hard Her wrists were bound, looped over a spike above her head She thrashed to free herself

"I should leave her arse to the Pravus" Even as Will said this, his body readied to fight for her His Instinct was cla for him to save her, to cherish her His beast prowled inside hi with his fangs, hisin size-YOURS!-

Two centaurs leapt atop the stage One said, "I'm Lord Velees of the Centaureans, and I claim her for the Pravus"

Clai!

A Cerunno slithered up to the pole "I underssstood that ould have her firsssst"

"Then you misunderstood" Velees unhooked her bound wrists fro at the centaur Blood began dripping from beneath her wrist shackles

-Protect!-

When he gazed up at her littleso bravely-even in the face of her fear-he found himself a bitawed

"Will, your feirl not twenty feet fro"

Chloe

"Right now, brother, she's losing a fight that is yours to win for her"

Not for long Will's beast was uncontrollable on the best of days; now, for the first time in Will's existence, he had a ainst anyone or anything that kept him from his female

Munro cla to steal her from the Pravus first and ask questions later?"

He couldn't answer, already turning When his beast clawed at its cage, Will was happy to let it free

Chapter Eight

When Chloe had heard the word "purchased," so in her snapped

This Velees guy gripped her around her waist, lifting her off her feet, tucking her against his bare chest Still she fought and kicked "Don u tou ee!" she screaht "Leh ee o!"

Screa-

Her foot struck what felt like the barrel chest of a horse Hera horse, like a cowboy A shirtless cowboy, of course

Even over her frenzied fight, she heard people close to the stage gasp Mur

Then came the unholy roar of some beast

A faht of the chah her

Silence fell over the crowd After an extended moment, what sounded like chaos erupted

-"Run! The Lykae's turning!"

-"Ah, gods, don't get between them!"

-"She's MacRieve's mate!"

Mate? Lykae? What had she read about theht its fated s And she was this one's fehter threatened, until she heard a low, feral growl

The ground shook as people fled What the hell was happening?

Velees snapped to so aith Chloe clae

"I'll snap this mortal's neck" Velees continued his steady retreat "Another step closer, and she's dead!"

In a beastly, grating voice, the Lykae answered: "Mine"

That one word had Velees yanking her into his side and leaping off the back of the stage to hit the ground running-as if for his life He yelled, "Cover me from the wolf!"

At that, she heard the clo of hooves, a herd of theht broke out, afrom the south!"

Were these beings now going to battle over her? The Lykae howled as if fighting his way closer

Velees abruptly turned in another direction, flinging her with hi off her head, but it was tied on Can't seecan't see!

So was just beside thele, and suddenly she and Velees were falling, falling

With another gurgle, Velees heaved her upward, pitching her body into the air, like a chipped pass-