The Taker stepped close to her. She could smell his breath. It was sweet and pleasant, like freshly baked cinnamon rolls. He reached out and touched her face, brushing the tear away with his thumb.
“Now, now, my dear, no need for tears. You have nothing to fear from me.” He put his thumb in his mouth and sucked the moisture off. Red watched his full lips. They looked soft and subtle. She wondered how they would feel on her flesh. Her face blushed at the thought. She could not stop her betraying emotions.
He smiled, as if privy to her thoughts. He leaned down toward her ear. “You will have that pleasure,”
he whispered.
A shudder enveloped her body. A great pool of molten lust boiled deep in her belly. Her sex began to throb with want. She could feel it moisten just from his simple words.
He took the leash from Morgana. “Thank you, Sister, I will take her from here.”
“Be careful. She would sooner rip your head off then do as you say.”
He smirked. “I don’t foresee a problem, but thank you nonetheless for the warning.” He patted Morgana on the cheek like a child. He waved his hand toward the corner of the room. “You may have your other one back. He was of no use to me.”
Red gasped as she looked into the corner. Wolf was shackled and collared as she was, but he was chained to the wall like a dog being punished for some wrongdoing. He was shirtless. His muscles bulged and strained as he paced back and forth on his tether.
Red saw long red welts across his chest. He had been whipped recently.
She met his eyes. They still glowed brightly. The fire still raged inside. She thanked the heavens for that.
* * *
It took everything Wolf had to stop from yelling out.
He had not expected to see Red. He was sure she was somewhere else. Was hoping for that. Seeing her chained nearly did him in. He could tell by her stance that she was nearly done. The wild animal inside her would soon be tamed. The Taker was very powerful.
Very seductive. He was not sure Red could resist him.
“You damaged him, Drake.” Morgana pouted.
“His important parts still work, Sister. But if you address me like that again, it will be you that is damaged.” Drake looked at her, his red eyes flashing.
Morgana shrank from the stare.
He walked out of the ballroom, pulling Red behind him.
Rapunzel giggled at their rapport.
Morgana swiped her hand in front of the girl’s face.
Her long sharp talon sliced her cheek. Rapunzel gasped and put a quivering hand up to the cut.
“Don’t ever mock me, girl. I will send you back to where you came from, locked in a tower.”
Rapunzel turned swiftly and stormed out of the ballroom. Other patrons watched her leave, glee on their faces.
Morgana gestured to her guard. “Fetch me my puppy.”
Chapter Six
Red walked obediently behind Drake. She would bide her time, save her strength. Seeing Wolf had sparked something inside. Maybe there was still some hope. Maybe she could still escape with her life intact, maybe even her soul.
He led them to his private chambers. His rooms were ornate and baroque. Colored in deep greens and burgundy. A fire raged in the massive stone fireplace.
The room was rich and emanated great warmth. Red still shuddered as she glanced around.
Drake gestured to a high-backed ornate chair, covered in velvet. “Please sit.”
Red stood stubbornly beside it. She glared at him.
Drake sat down elegantly in the opposing chair.
“Sitting will cost you nothing, Red. You should choose your fights more wisely.”
Red sat down. In felt incredible to sit in the plush chair. It was soft and cushioned. Very different from what she was used to. The bones in her back and legs sighed from the comfort.
Drake leaned forward and reached for her nose.
She backed away from his touch.
“You are hurt.”
“No.”
“But you have blood on your nose and upper lip.”
“I know.”
Drake sat back in his chair and grinned. “Ah. Mind over matter. If I do not feel it, it is not painful. Very disciplined. I like that.” He clapped his hands together.
The door to his chamber opened. Servants brought in trays of food. They set them on the table in front of Drake and Red. They quickly scurried from the room.
Glorious scents wafted up to Red’s nose. Saliva pooled in her mouth. Her stomach growled
“I see that you are hungry. If I unlock your shackles, you will behave?”
Red nodded as her eyes remained hungrily on the steaming hot food.
With a flick of his wrist, the shackles on Red’s arms fell open. Red looked down at them in amazement.
She looked back up at Drake, as she rubbed at her wrists. He was staring at her with a wry grin on his pale angular face.
“Please enjoy.” He gestured to the food.
Red needed no more encouragement. She pulled the plate of roasted duck toward her. She ripped at it with her hands, tearing off a leg and shoving it in her mouth. She reached for the bowl of mashed yams, grabbing the serving spoon and shoveling the orange substance into her mouth.
While she ate, Drake poured wine into two jeweled goblets. He slid one toward her. She eyed it suspiciously.
Drake picked up his and took a sip. He sighed as the liquid dribbled down his throat.
Red picked up her glass. She gulped down the entire contents. It dribbled out her mouth and down her chin.
Drake laughed. “I love a woman that enjoys her food and drink.”
Red just grunted her acknowledgment as she dug back into the duck, ripping savagely at its succulent meat.
“I admire you, Red. You are a woman of substance.
I’ve been watching you over the years. You have never let anything stand in your way. If something did, you would just cut it down. I like that.”
Red eyed him as he spoke. “I never killed anyone that did not deserve it.”
“Oh, quite right. Just as I never take anyone that is not fitting.”
Red paused in her eating. She licked her fingers clean. “You and I are not the same.”
“You do not think so? I have to disagree. You know what the common people called you behind your back, whispered about you in the dark. They called you Blood Red.”
“I know.”
“They whispered about me too, in the dark. They were just as afraid of you as they were of me. How does that make you feel, Red?”
“How does it make you feel?”
“Powerful.” He took another sip of his wine.
“I don’t feel. ‘Tis of no concern to me. I’m not out there trying to make friends.”
“Very true. Look what happened to little Mary. She was your childhood friend, was she not?”
Red stared vehemently at Drake. Her hands shook with rage. Adrenaline started to pump through her body. “That was an accident.”
Drake leaned forward on the table. He smiled into her eyes. “And your mother? That was an accident, too?”
Red pushed the food back from her. She looked deep into his eyes. “I’d advise you, Taker, to talk about something else.”
He sat back and pursed his lips. “Certainly. Let’s talk about The Wolf.”
“No.”
“No? He’s been the bane of your existence for the past seven years, surely you have something to say about him.” He speared a piece of asparagus with his fork. “Unless all that has changed?”
“Nothing’s changed.”
“Are you certain? You could have left him for dead, but you didn’t. You risked your own life for his.”
“I didn’t risk my life.”
He laughed. “Of course you did. You are here, are you not?”
Red looked away from his intense gaze. She stared at the strange painting on the wall. It looked as if the colors swirled.
“I wonder, what is The Wolf protecting you from?”
“I do not know.”
“He told you something. What was it?”
“Nothing.”
“You’re remembering, aren’t you?”
Red quickly turned her head toward him. “I remember nothing.”
Drake reached across the table and grabbed her arm. He yanked her toward him. He leaned his face close to hers. His eyes flashed siren red. “You will tell me, or I will get angry.”
“Fuck you. There’s nothing you can do to me that hasn’t been done before. You can not hurt me, Taker.”
She smiled at him. Then she slammed her head forward into his, head-butting him hard in the face.
Drake pulled back, surprised by the attack. Blood seeped slowly from his nose. He touched it reverently. He looked down at the crimson smear on his fingertips.
Red jumped up and tried to dash for the door. She stumbled and fell to the floor. The chain between her ankle shackles was short. She couldn’t move her legs quickly.
Drake started to laugh. It was low at first, then turned into a full guffaw. He stood and walked over to where Red lay on the floor. He loomed over her.
“Oh, you are a wild one. I shall enjoy damaging you.”
“Take your best shot, a**hole.”
Drake waved his hand over her. He stopped it mid air. He pulled his hand back and Red lifted off the floor. She was on her feet in seconds. It was like raising a wooden board with an invisible rope. She couldn’t move. He had her in an unseen grip.
He smiled as he circled her. He looked her up and down, drinking in his fill of her body. He stood in front of her raising his hand up above his head. Red’s arms lifted straight above her head, like she was being hung from them.
Drake pointed his finger at her chest. A long sharp talon sprung out from his fingertip. He poked her in the hollow of her neck. He dragged his nail down her shirt. It split in half like a razor through paper. He pushed back each piece of cotton, exposing her br**sts.
Red held her breath as her shirt was sliced. She was certain that he was going to cut her. She let out a ragged sigh when he finished. As the cool air hit her flesh, she sucked in another breath. Her ni**les hardened instantly. She quivered as he stared at her.