Chapter 17

Chapter

Seventeen

Squires descend on me, whisking the tray from my hands and grasping my upper arms to hustle me through the onlookers, whose voices rise in glee in time with my wriggles and screeches. I'm hoisted effortlessly onto a wide pedestal in the center of the room, where a squire waits to cuff and hook my arms above my head.

A silk gag is fixed over my mouth, smothering the string of profanity spewing from my lips. My chest heaves as I breathe through my nose, sounding like the Velociraptor sniffing at the door in Jurassic Park. Trying to break my bonds is futile, but I do it anyway, which only entertains the crowd.

Zed takes a place at the foot of my pedestal. I attempt to make eye contact with him, but he ignores me, which is a reaction that pokes the bear. Despite the gag, I yell at him, making myself hoarse in a few minutes, not to mention so pissed off I swing my leg out, landing a solid kick on his shoulder.

He spins around slowly and gives me a look I've seen my parents drop my way plenty of times. I shout at him through the fabric covering my mouth, and if the gag hadn't smothered the words, I'm sure I would've ended up in a worse predicament. As it is, he casually slips his hand into the satchel slung across his back and pulls out a pair of ankle cuffs. I threaten physical harm if he tries to put them on me, not that he can make out a word of what I'm saying.

Gesturing to a pair of squires, the three of them wrestle my legs to a fixed position, and Zed cuffs my ankles, attaching the restraints to the pole against my back. He pats my leg and looks up at me, saying quietly, "You don't disappoint."

I know that in his mind it's a compliment, but I'm not trying to put on a show. The fact that I ended up in this position goes straight to the fact that I've got a problem with authority. Perhaps I should've mentioned that on my application.

I growl into my gag and lean my head against the pole, letting my arms sag in the lined cuffs. The entire gala talks amongst themselves and watches me, tittering interspersed throughout their conversations. I roll my eyes. Until they blindfold me, it's my one outlet and may land me in more trouble, but I'm beyond caring.

The air grows more sultry the moment he materializes at my side, which is stupid because he can't change the humidity any more than I can get myself out of these cuffs. But there's something about him that calls to me on a primal level. It's intimidating and seductive.

Mr. GQ, in all his sexy glory, whispers something to my squire that's too low for me to hear. Zed nods and accepts a token—my heart thrums, causing a cascade of physical reactions. The room is suddenly stifling. Flushed, I try to shift my weight and feel a bead of sweat carve a path between my breasts, over my soft belly, to my lady parts.

Mortification washes over me when I notice GQ following the path of sweat, his eyes fixed on my crotch. I pinch my thighs together, and his lips quirk. Winking at me, he says something softly to my squire then winds his way back to his table. He's got an amazing ass. Those linen pants he's wearing accentuate his derrière, and I immediately regret not checking out what they do on the other side.

Damn. I sound like a horny bitch.

They must pump something into the air. I eye the vents along the ceiling and sniff. Nothing detectable. So much for my career as a drug-sniffing hound.

The evening drags on. Salad is served. Then, the main course, and I'm stuck in the center of the room, tummy rumbling and an ire smoldering but not quite out. At least I'm no longer alone. Marcus, the former Vitruvian Man, causes a ruckus when he drops a tray of glasses and is hauled onto a pedestal outfitted with a pole like mine. I can't help but admire his fine form when his arms are fixed to the post, leaving his body stretched and gleaming in the yellowish light.

Before dessert is served, Madame Solara stands and taps her glass. A hush falls on the room as all eyes, including mine, fix on her. "The Neophyte Gala is the first step in the path every Novice takes on their journey to awakening. Not every Novice will complete this journey. For those that do, the lessons learned on the island will remain for a lifetime." She pauses, her gaze skipping from face to face, even sparing a moment for mine. "Squires, display our newly arrived Novices."

Brad, Nick, Jolene, and Piper are lifted onto pedestals, unrestrained, of course.

"Masters. Mavens. I invite you to admire our neophytes. Take their measure. Offer for those who stir your desire. Squires, you will collect the tokens, but know you'll receive more at our upcoming gala." She raises her glass. "Let the festivities begin!"

Cheers and clinking erupt, followed by attendees rising to drift from pedestal to pedestal. I whimper, wanting the gag out of my mouth, but Zed looks up at me and shakes his head. Fuck.

GQ is AWOL, but there are plenty to take his place, Lorenzo among the first. His eyes rake over me as he slips a token into Zed's hand. He's hot, but there's something about GQ that makes him pale in comparison. My eyes follow him when he strolls to Piper. They might be good together. Maybe. I'll kick him in the balls if he's a dick to her, though. I mean, he can use his dick, but… never mind.

Picturing a scenario where I go apeshit is wrenched from my thoughts when Scarlett makes her way over. She's persistent. I shoot daggers at her with my eyes, and she laughs, raising her glass to me and taking a sip.

Stepping up to Zed, she says, "I adore her!"

He smiles. "She is truly unique."

"I'd give you another token if it would make a difference, but I can see that fiery spirit is pitted against me." Scarlett sighs dramatically and moves closer to my pedestal.

I growl at her .

She ignores it, tracing a finger along my ankle and slowly looking up at me, taking in every inch along the way. "Such a shame. The things I could teach you. Perhaps in time."

I shout about hell freezing over behind my gag, but she's already sauntering away. The next hour is spent twitching and cursing behind silk as I'm assessed, stroked, and offered for. Tokens pass into Zed's hands like drops of water.

But there's only one Master I'm interested in, and he's nowhere to be found.