Chapter 9

9

S teel

Five days later…

Someone knocks and tries to enter the apartment immediately. The doorknob turns and then turns again.

I know exactly who it is.

There is a hard knock, followed by, “It’s me. Let me in!”

I roll my eyes and go to open up. I pull the key from my pocket and unlock the door.

The general walks in. “Stay there,” he instructs his guards, who take up position at the door outside. Then he comes inside. “How is the prisoner?” he asks as he closes the door behind him.

“Fine. How long are we going to have to wait?” I ask. “It isn’t easy sitting between four walls day in and day out.”

“It’ll take as long as it takes. It hasn’t even been a week yet.”

I lift a brow. That bullshit might work on everyone else, but I’m not everyone else. I’m doing him a favor. I’m doing this to keep the people of Mistveil safe. To keep dragon shifters safe. My people. I’m not doing this for myself. There is no redeeming myself after what happened. There never will be. But I can make things worse if I don’t take my role seriously. If I let her get to me. It isn’t going to happen.

He sighs, looking down at the floor before looking at me. There is a soft sob from the bedroom. These walls are far too thin for my liking. They soundproof the apartments from each other; why isn’t there soundproofing inside them? I wish there was.

Ice frowns, looking in that direction. “What’s going on in there?” He uses his thumb to point toward the bedroom.

“She’s upset…crying. It’s nothing.” I shake my head. “She asked to go jogging, and I told her that I didn’t think it was a good idea.”

“Jogging.” He snorts. “You know she wants to escape, right? She’s full of it,” he mutters.

Only the human couldn’t escape with me by her side, sticking to her like glue. I was almost tempted to give in and to go fucking jogging. She also cried yesterday when I told her “no” to the same question. And that day with the food. She sticks to her guns and only eats what she considers to be healthy food, so I’ve given in and am sending her things she prefers to eat. She actually eats a fair amount, as long as it’s “nutrient-dense,” as she puts it. I can’t have her wasting away. I hear her exercising all the damned time. She really is hung up on her looks. It’s pathetic.

“You do know it’s a load of bullshit.” He points in the direction of the bedroom again. “That’s all fake to make you care. To make you—”

I hold up a hand. “You can stop right there, General. I’m not falling for anything. I couldn’t give a shit if her tears are real or not. I just want to complete this assignment and move on with my life.”

“There’s a big bonus for you at the end of this. There’s also a promotion.” He grips me by the shoulder. “I want you back on the team full-time, son.”

I bristle at the endearment.

This asshole isn’t my father. I haven’t seen my old man since it happened. Since that terrible day, when he told me he was disappointed in me. He was filled with shame, and I can’t say I blame him. Maybe one day, I’ll go back home. Not today. Maybe soon, though. I need to be able to hold my head up high when that day comes. I miss them, my folks. I miss them more than I thought possible.

I nod once. I’m not committing to anything at this point. There’s another sob from the bedroom. It’s barely audible, even to a shifter.

“She knows we have excellent hearing,” the general says. “Don’t let her get to you, you hear me? She isn’t nice. She sold Rex down the river. Fooled me, too. She’s bad news.” He shakes his head.

“Why are you here?” I ask.

“I have someone delivering some clothing for the human tomorrow morning. You need to make sure that she is dressed and cleaned up by midday. I want her to meet the first candidate.” He looks around the apartment, particularly at the bed. It’s in the middle of the room, ready for me to shove it against the bedroom door. “A bit messy for a meeting.” He rubs his chin.

I shrug. “You said to keep her under continual guard. That she is a major flight risk. That’s what I’m doing.” He hasn’t seen her bedroom window; I’m sure he’ll love how I boarded it up.

“It can’t be here. You need to escort the female to another location. You’ll get the details close to the time. Stay with her at all times. You are not to let her out of your sight.”

I nod. “Understood.”

“There will be more of such meetings over the coming days. There are twelve candidates I’ve hand-selected for her to choose from. There will be a short courtship, followed by the mating ceremony, after which will be done.”

“If she wants to mate for money, why is she such a flight risk?”

“She would much prefer to go back to the Mainland to earn her payday by outing us. She’d be famous. Tabloids and television shows would pay a ton to have her story, to interview her. She made it very clear that she is not to be trusted. Miss Harris agreed to this. We had a deal. We have a deal. You need to make sure she sticks to it.”

“What happens once she is mated? Surely she would still be a flight risk.”

“Yes, but the risk level will drop. We’ll figure out how best to tackle things when that day arrives and beyond, but for now, I’m relying on you. I’m relying on your good sense and your level head. Let’s get her to the altar, and then you can help me handpick a team to make sure she toes the line.”

I feel like a pimp, and I don’t like it. “And you’re sure she’s okay with this whole thing? That she’s willing?” I narrow my eyes. “I wouldn’t like to force a female into—”

“Ask her yourself. Ask her if she’s willing. That female wants the money. She wants to live a good life. All of the males I selected are wealthy. They will be able to give her what she craves. Go ahead and ask her. I’m telling you, it’s what she wants. You know the type, Steel.”

Unfortunately, I do. But when it comes to this female, the first thought that comes to mind is that she wants to go home. For the reasons the general outlined. The wrong reasons. Fuck it! I need to do my job and not overthink it.

“I will ask her. Just to appease myself. I’m not the kind of male who would want to force a female into something like a mating. It wouldn’t sit well with me.”

“Ask her all you want. Don’t fall for any lies, but ask her.” He starts to turn. “Make sure you have her ready,” he says.

“Fine,” I growl. I want him gone.

“Oh, and, Steel,” he turns, glancing over his shoulder, “I’m putting my neck on the line for you. Don’t disappoint me.”

I don’t say anything. He doesn’t wait for my response; he turns and walks away. I didn’t ask to be here. He asked me. Probably because he knows that I tackle everything I do with dogged determination. He chose the right male for the job.