I was calm, collected. I had to be. Acting scared, nervous, or any other emotion right now wouldn’t do anyone any good. In fact, it could ruin everything.

For the last year I’d been waiting to do this with Xavier, prepared for whatever happened, ready for anything. And although I seemed relaxed on the outside, deep inside I was frightened of how all of this would play out.

I leaned back against the seat of the limousine, the scent of leather surrounding me, the air chilled. Snow covered the ground, giving the seemingly hellish land I lived in this otherworldly glow. If I didn’t know what kind of world this was, the kind of society that surrounded me, I could look at the picturesque mountains, the snow-covered trees, and think this was an ideal land. But I knew better. This was a wasteland of twisted humans.

But Xavier and I were working to correct that, even if what we did only helped a little. Even if we could only save one woman from the fate that was hell on earth, it was worth it.

I glanced over at the man I loved, the man who had saved me just a year ago. Time had moved so fast, and it was crazy to think that in that short amount of time he and I were now working together. Not only were we committed to each other, our relationship stronger than ever, but I wasn’t just sitting home being a vessel for him.

That thought had me lifting my hand and placing it on my slightly rounded belly. I was pregnant with his child, something we both wanted, had both dreamed about. But even though I’d always wanted babies, envisioned myself being a mother, I’d been too afraid to even hope that I could have that life, could be more than just an incubator.

And then I’d found Xavier—or more so, he’d found me.

He smiled at me, his gaze lowering to my belly. I could see the love on his face, the possessiveness in the way he held himself when I was near. We’d fought about me coming along with him today, but in the end I’d won out, if only for this time. I knew that I couldn’t risk the child that grew inside of me, and because of that this would be the only time I came with him to the auction block, albeit I’d stay in the car. I could help back at the house, make the women feel comfortable. This was the first auction Xavier had been to since he’d purchased me, and that was the main reason I wanted to be here.

I wanted to be in this car when they brought out the female Xavier had purchased today. I wanted to be here to reassure her, to let her know that she was safe, protected. What we did, we did in secrecy, and although it was dangerous, punishable by death, I would never have changed it for anything.

And then the back door opened. I straightened, knowing the woman would come into the vehicle any second. Xavier moved over next to me, took my hand in his, his touch possessive, territorial. We waited only a second before the young brunette slipped in the back of the car. She had wide eyes, and the fear came from her like a slap to the face. Once the door was shut, the silence became deafening, the air thick. She glanced between Xavier and me, and saw the confusion on her face.

She was also frightened. I could see the way she tugged at her dress, the wide-eyed look that covered her face, and the rise and fall of her chest as she breathed rapidly.

“I’m Claire and this is Xavier, my husband.” The car started driving after I’d revealed all of that. Truth was, our marriage wasn’t legal, but it was real nonetheless. The fucked-up society we lived in didn’t allow for a man to have a legal marriage with a female he’d purchased off the auction block. But Xavier and I had our own private, intimate ceremony, one where we’d had the trusted servants of the estate there as our “friends and family,” and a day I’ll never forget. I even had a ring, an old-as-time symbol of our connection.

I placed a hand protectively on my belly again, a habit that was something I’d never be able to break. Smiling at the woman came easily, genuinely. I wanted to make her feel at ease even though I’d been in her shoes not that long ago.

“Married?” she said softly, that confusion still lacing her voice.

I nodded and showed her my ring. For the next five minutes I explained how I’d been just like her, how Xavier wasn’t like other men. I told her how he’d saved me, protected me, that this was what he did … helped women in need. I could see her start to relax with each passing minute. And then Xavier reached out and took the bracelet off her wrist. I heard the deep exhale of breath leave her. The memory of how I’d felt when he’d done that slammed into me. I remember it had been like this weight lifted from my shoulders.

“You’re safe,” I said again, smiling and moving over to sit on the seat beside her. She shifted so she was facing me, and then she started crying and embraced me. I knew they were tears of happiness, that she was relieved that she wouldn’t be a slave to whatever needs and desires a fucked-up owner had for her.

I knew she realized she’d actually have a life.

I looked over at Xavier, feeling tears start to build in my eyes as well. The happiness I saw in his face was real, honest. He did this because he knew that’s what had to be done, because he was a good man, a wonderful husband, and he’d be a fantastic father.

This world might be hell, but at least I had a man who loved me unconditionally and would fight to make sure others had a chance of surviving.