Once I get back to my room, my head is spinning with what happened. I should still be in that room, showing her how to take a spanking, but I can’t. Her body, her scent, everything is like a drug shot into my veins.

I don’t know how I’m going to train her when all I want to do is fuck her. Those beautiful pink lips that glistened when I stroked her were almost my undoing. Her cunt is incredible. I’d never been so hard while training a pet before.

I don’t understand it. Yes, I think she’s beautiful, but as much as I should be taking her straight into the deep end and showing her how harsh this life is, I find myself wanting to make her mine instead.

Her fire, that intense sass that she throws my way mixed with the sweet innocence of sex is so different to the other toys I’ve had. Granted, most of them are virgins, but none were this addictive. As soon as I left her in her room, I wanted to go right back and see her again.

The door to my bedroom flies open and my brother stalks in. “Dad wants to see you,” he smirks. The eyes of a wolf pierce me with venom, which I return tenfold.

“I’ll be there in a minute.”

“How was your little redhead? Isn’t she…invigorating?” He breathes the word sensually. As if he’s attempting to entice a beautiful woman into his bed. However, that would be easy for him.

“She’s a good girl.” I offer my response as I push off the bed and stalk toward him. We both step out into the hallway heading to my father’s office.

“How long will it take you to break her?”

Shrugging, I try to play it off like it doesn’t mean anything, but deep down, I know I’m only lying to myself. She’s gotten under my skin and I’ve only spent a short time with her. What I’m going to have to do now is forget any feelings that she’s stirred up and focus on work. On shattering the beautiful bird and watching her fall from the sky.

“Kael, you do realize she’s only here to dance, to make Dad money.” My brother’s words break through the worrying thoughts in my mind and I nod.

“I know. Give me two weeks, she’ll break.” Even as I utter the words, they taste like lies on my tongue. Meeting the blue eyes of Samael Wolfe, I smirk, hoping for once my brother can’t see under the mask I fake for him.

“Good, I reckon it will take you much longer. I say a month. Put your money where your mouth is and we’ll have some fun.”

He leaves me at the door to my father’s office and saunters off dressed in his signature black suit. The man looks like he belongs in a boardroom rather than in this godforsaken place. Twisting the doorknob, I push into my father’s office to find him sitting behind his large desk. This room is dark and dreary, just like the man himself.

“Ah, Kael. Come in, son.” He gestures to the chair, the same one I sat in when he told me I would start training. The day he took my life and flushed it down the drain along with my brother’s.

“Sam said you wanted to see me?” He nods, glancing at the pages on the desk, then brings his blue eyes back to me. It’s only Sam and Theia, my younger sister, who have his eyes. Mine are dark brown tinged with black. Sometimes I wonder if he’s my father at all.

“This new girl you’ve got, Paige Madden, I want you to make sure she’s ready for the rooms within a month,” he says, leaning back in his chair like he’s sitting on a throne. A dark king ruling over a nightmarish kingdom.

“A month? I-I… I don’t think she’s going to be—”

“Did I fucking ask you what you think?” he hisses, rising to full height, and placing both hands flat on the desk. His glare roots me in place. “I want her ready in a month. She’ll start dancing as soon as possible. Her father owes me big time and I think the redhead will bring in some big cash.”

My heart thuds in my chest, threatening to break through the bone, flesh, and fall at my feet in time for him to step on it. “But, Father—”

“If you question me, I’ll give her to Sam. Do you understand me? I’ll be keeping a close eye on you. That little whore will try to coax you, she’s a fucking temptress. Under no circumstances are you to form a bond. I don’t care if you’re my son, I’ll end you.”

His eyes burn with a white-hot anger that threatens to burn me alive. I don’t doubt the man is capable of murdering his own flesh and blood. “One month,” I confirm, pushing up, I head to the door. I can feel the heat of his glower on my back, but I don’t turn around, I don’t show weakness.

My father is a predator and when he smells fear, he attacks.

Making my way back to my bedroom, I consider going to see her. I know I shouldn’t, he’s just warned me, my mind is telling me to be careful, but the need I have for her is telling me to throw caution to the wind.

I would, but putting her in danger is not something I can allow myself to do. So, I turn and head away from the quarters where the girls live and straight for my bedroom. The sun is gone and the stars have already started to light the sky.

Pulling out my phone, I hit dial on Theia’s number. Like I could have predicted she answers on the second ring. “Kael!”

“Theia, I need your help with something. Please, little Wolfe.” I smile when she huffs in response to the nickname I’ve given her.

“Anything for you, as long as you quit calling me that.” Her retort is playful, our banter has always been easy. She’s four years my junior, but sometimes I think she’s older. Having had to grow up too soon. “And if it has anything to do with your new girl, I overheard Dad asking Dax to keep an eye on her.” Her words are like ice water to my veins. If he’s got Dax on guard duty then he must know something we don’t. Or, he’s noticed my tension when he mentioned her earlier.

“I need you to get Scarlett to help Paige. She needs to be shaven, clean.” I don’t have to explain further because my sister knows exactly what the clients want.

A soft sigh on the other end of the line tells me she’s about as happy with this as I am. Every time we get a new girl it’s the same thing. “Okay, Kael. I’ll talk to you later.” She hangs up before I have time to thank her, but I know she’s miserable here and I don’t blame her. I hope she’ll get out. Soon.

I settle on my bed and grab a book hoping I can read to focus my mind on anything but the beauty that’s lying in her bed alone and scared. The one I want to save. Only, I don’t know how.

***

Rousing from a dream-filled sleep, I roll over to glance at the time. It’s early, the sun hasn’t even risen yet and I’ve been dreaming of a redhead. I stare for too long at the geometric patterns in the ceiling, trying to make out the way the lines come to each other in a puzzle. The dim light in the room from the full moon casts a silver glow on the darkened bedding and furnishings.

My room is my only haven. The one place I can escape what happens in this house. It’s a new day and time for me to take my pet to play. Today she’ll learn more than what my hand feels like on her ass. I want to see her squirm in pleasure, hear her moan in delight, and taste her when she unravels. And I know just the way to do it. Heading into the bathroom, I turn on the shower and wait for it to heat until it’s scalding. Stripping off, I step under the spray and hiss at the burn on my skin.

I grab the shower gel and lather up quickly. I want to get breakfast out of the way before the sun is up because I want to get to her room early. I want to spend the day with her. To torture her with pleasure. I’m so far gone. Shaking my head, I rinse off and shut off the taps.

Moments later I’m dressed in a pair of ripped black jeans and a white T-shirt. My usual get up for training. Only this time, the black hoodie I regularly wear lies discarded on the bed.

With only my mask in hand, I make my way down to the kitchen to grab something to eat. Knowing the girls wouldn’t have been fed yet, I plan on taking my new toy something. Upon reaching our humongous kitchen, I find Hesta.

“Hello, Kael,” she offers with a friendly smile. She’s never asked about anything more than she needed to know. Turning a blind eye might be wrong, but for her it’s a matter of life and death. My father is ruthless.

“Good morning, Hesta.” I lean in and plant a kiss on top of her head. “Has Samael come down yet?” She shakes her head and rolls her eyes. My brother loves sleeping in on the weekend.

“You know what he’s like. What are you having today?”

“Can you make me one breakfast and I’ll just have coffee for now.” Her brows shoot up at my request. “It’s for someone.” She nods in understanding and sets about plating up some toast and frying the eggs. There’s always food ready and waiting and this morning is no different.

As soon as the plate is stacked, I grab a mug of coffee and fill it setting it on the tray along with the rest of the breakfast. Before I walk out of the kitchen, Hesta meets my eyes with a worried stare. “Look after her, Kael.”

I don’t know how to respond, so I nod and make my way up to the bedroom that’s been beckoning me like a damn siren’s call all night.