Dallas shouted out such an astronomical sum that the crowd instantly quieted. The auctioneer gasped. McKell twisted in his seat, glaring.
"Sold," the auctioneer proclaimed with a grin.
And on and on the auction continued. McKell never bid again, but he did stiffen when a young
female was brought forward. Her skin was not as pale as the vampire male's had been, but her hair was just as white, and Devyn instructed Dallas to bid. Once again, he won.
Finally, it was over, the last otherworlder purchased. Devyn and Dallas, along with the rest of the crowd, pushed to their feet. Neither of them helped Bride stand. Her eyes were dry, even though she wanted to cry for all those who had been sold and what they would soon endure.
She committed the faces around her to memory, thinking to track them down and free their "slaves" the moment she was able. Or better yet, she'd use Devyn's money and pay someone else to do it right away.
"Warrior that he is, he'll have his men try to take them," Devyn said quietly to Dallas. "Be prepared."
"And where will you be?" the agent asked behind his hand.
"Evading him and keeping Bride safe. Tell Mia I've met my end of the bargain."
The bargain. Bride's blood was no longer to be tested, in exchange for as many vampires as Devyn could get his hands on. Two, as it turned out. The sickness in her stomach churned. No way would she let that male and female be used as pincushions, their bodies drained. She'd offer herself back to AIR on a platter if necessary. She, at least, wasn't traumatized.
The two men looked at each other, nodded in silent understanding, and then Dallas was moving to the stage to collect his winnings.
"You're coming with me, and I don't want to hear a single protest," Devyn said stiffly. He didn't glance down at her, nor did he jump into motion. What was he waiting for?
"Yeah, well, you're going to hear a lot of protests." She kept her body angled away from him, as if she were talking to herself. McKell was still in his seat, facing the parapet. "The auction's over, you have your booty, so I'm done being a slave. The power is going to your head. And not the one I want! Or wanted. I don't anymore. And just so you know, we can't let these people be taken to God knows where, God knows what done to them."
"We can, and we will. If I know AIR, and I do, they'll free those they can before the new owners ever set foot into their cars."
She relaxed at that. "What about the vampires?”
“You were treated well. They will be, as well."
"How can they be treated well if they're locked up for the rest of their lives?" A muscle ticked below his eye. He had no answer.
"AIR can have them for a week, then I want you to reclaim our property," she said, determined. "What's yours is mine, remember?"
"We'll talk to Mia about it."
We will. Not I will. Because of that, she was able to nod in agreement. "Now for the other subject I'm sure you don't want to discuss. I want to question McKell about my people."
As though McKell had heard her, he stood. Faced them.
"You're right. I don't." Finally Devyn jolted into motion. He gripped her hand and dragged her toward the exit, winding around people and chairs. "You can question our property, as you called them, at AIR. McKell will just try and take you underground."
Her heart drummed in her chest. "But what if I want to see the underground?" Did she have family there?
"You could be sentenced to death for living topside. Remember? Therefore, you can't go. You can't risk it." He paused for a moment, flicked her a glance over his shoulder. "If that wasn't a factor, though, you would still want to go?"
"Yes." Bride felt a pair of intense eyes boring into her back and knew who watched her. Still, she couldn't help herself. She twisted. Sure enough, McKell was watching her through narrowed lids. His hands were clenched into fists, his posture straight as a board. He wasn't following, though. He stood in place. "I've dreamed of having a family my entire life."
"Even though that family gave you to a man at birth? It's not tradition, you know. That isn't something that happens to all newborn females."
"Oh." Why had they done that to her, then, if it wasn't tradition as she'd first assumed? Payment? They just hadn't wanted her? She fought a surge of depression. "Yes," she said softly. The only way to gain the answers she sought was to ask those who had been involved. "I'd still want to go."
As they stepped outside, the musty, perfumed air inside the building gave way to the cooler, cleaner air of the night. She breathed deeply. There was a hint of car exhaust, but that was better than a gaggle of bodies that reeked of food.
"Since I can't go underground, I want to talk to McKell." He hadn't seemed to mind her questions. Had seemed eager to answer them.
"Have I told you lately how irritating you are?" Devyn increased his speed.
Her feet tripped over themselves as she struggled to keep up. "I'm a joy to be around, and you know it. Now where are you taking me?" He'd already bypassed his own vehicle.
"Whatever I end up doing, and I'm changing my mind about every three seconds, I couldn't do it in there," he said. "They'd erected some sort of energy scrambler so that I couldn't control any of the bodies."
Note to self: buy an energy scrambler. Not that Devyn had controlled her movements since making her strip in that apartment, the bastard.
He tangled his free hand through his hair, clearly agitated. He stomped from the parking lot entirely, heading toward a fenced-off forest area. Government property. "Uh, Devyn."
"Not now."
"Then when? When we're arrested?" The more they walked, the quieter the night became and the sweeter the air. Trees. Mmm. Again she inhaled deeply, savoring their scent. Finally Devyn stopped; they had reached the fence.
He spun, gripping her shoulders, gaze frantic, a little wild now. "Are you with me, Bride?" She blinked up at him in confusion. "I'm standing here, aren't I?"
He shook her. "Do you like McKell more than you like me?"
Did she—what? Her mind could barely process his words or what he wanted from her. "Who said I liked either of you?"
"I'll get you the answers about your family," he said, his intensity unwavering. "I'll even get you inside the underground if you want to visit, and I'll keep you safe. But you are not to engage the vampire. Do you understand? He's determined to keep you for himself."
And his point? "People don't always get what they want, now do they?" Another shake. "Bride. Be serious. Tell me you're not attracted to McKell."