“Doesn’t matter.” Drake, still holding both her wrists in one hand, turned and started to drag her toward the main lodge. She fought him, but she was no match for his strength. At about six foot eight and three hundred pounds, he was solid muscle and unbeatable at the moment. She still couldn’t regain her equilibrium after the teleportation.
They walked inside the building, and three women instantly got out of their way. They were dressed in long skirts and long-sleeved shirts, and while one seemed to be dusting and one vacuuming, they scurried to the side, their eyes downcast.
A chill swept through Hope. “Drake, what are you doing?” she snapped, trying to regain some of her strength.
He didn’t answer, but instead, pulled her to the far end of a massive great room and up a set of stairs. She walked with him, trying to jerk her hands free. Finally, they reached a door that he opened and then not so gently nudged her inside a bedroom. In a word, it was opulent. There was a beautiful four-poster bed, a filigreed gold settee, a desk, and a vanity. It was like a starlet’s bedroom from the 1950s.
She turned to face him and backed away on luxurious carpet that was the color of grayish blue clouds. “What are you doing?” she repeated, her voice trembling as she tried to find her childhood friend in his hard eyes. He shut the door and leaned against it, a solid block of male that she couldn’t get through.
“It was a ‘two birds, one stone’ situation,” he admitted. “You’re here to become my queen, and Paxton is here to die. While I know he means a lot to you, the fact that he killed my father can’t go unanswered. He will suffer, Hope, and I’m not going to lie to you about that.”
“Apparently you’ve lied to me about everything else,” she said.
“That’s not true,” he said. “Or if I did, it was to protect you or my nation. It’s that simple.” He glanced at his watch. “I do want peace, and that will come when all my enemies are dead. However, for you, I’m open to ruling the Realm if you can help make that happen.”
She took a step back. “Ruling the Realm? You’d have to kill every Kayrs and Kyllwood alive today. All of my family.”
“I know. I’m your family now. Get used to it.” He glanced inside the spacious room. “Choose a dress from the many in the closet and then come downstairs. There will be soldiers outside waiting to escort you.”
She shook her head, thrown off-balance. “So it was all a lie?”
He shrugged. “No. I would like to entertain a plan to kill Ulric. He doesn’t know that, and I’d like to keep it that way. I strongly advise you not to mention it to him.”
She jerked her head. “Ulric is here?”
“Yes. This is one of the satellite bases we work out of when we’re seeking enhanced females.”
Her jaw dropped. But she’d seen an actual crown in her dreamworld. She was somehow still meant to mate this monster? “You really are behind the kidnapping of enhanced females?”
“Yes.” His eyes were a hard green with purple rims. “I’m not going to lie to you, as you’re going to be my queen. You’re going to have to accept the way things are here. Your life will be comfortable, luxurious, even. I’ll give you everything you could ever want.”
“Oh yeah? How about freedom for the enhanced females?” She scouted for a weapon in the pretty bedroom.
“Done,” he said, smiling.
She narrowed her gaze. “What do you mean, done?”
He lifted up his hand. “I’ve always had every intention of freeing them, after a short period of time.”
“What does that mean?”
“It doesn’t really matter, and it doesn’t concern you,” he said. “Again, dress.”
She looked down at her yoga pants and tank top. “I’m fine with what I’m wearing.” Actually, she could use a sweater. “Do you have a coat or anything I could use?”
“The queen will wear a proper dress. Put one on, or I’ll put one on you myself,” he said. “Now is not the time for you to defy me, Hope. That can come later. For now, since we just declared war on the Realm by kidnapping you, we need to confirm you as queen as soon as possible.”
“I say no,” Hope said, putting her hands on her hips.
“That isn’t an option.”
Hurt wandered through her. “You’re not who I thought you were.”
His expression didn’t change. “I’ve never hidden who I am or my destiny from you.” His eyes swirled purple for a moment and then returned to the green color she knew. “My loyalty has always been to the Kurjan nation. Period.”
She swallowed. That was true. Any higher attributes she’d given to him had come from her imagination…or her faith that destiny would be kind to them all. So it turned out that she would have to truly sacrifice herself. So be it. “Let Paxton go, and I’ll mate you.”
“You’ll mate me regardless.” Drake turned, opened the door, and shut it. She instantly ran for it and yanked the heavy wood open to find two Kurjan soldiers across the way. A quick glance down the hallway confirmed more sentries. They must have waited to take position until Drake had brought her to the room.
She was a trained fighter, but she wasn’t that good, and she was still off. She slammed the door and quickly searched the room for anything that could be used as a weapon. There was nothing. Shoving away her headache for now, she stomped into the closet to find several gorgeous gowns with diamonds, rubies, and emeralds sewn onto them.
Lined up beneath the dresses were sparkly, delicate flats and heels, nothing that would make good fighting footwear. A dresser at the far end of the closet revealed piles and piles of lingerie, from sweet to sexy. There was absolutely nothing she could use for a weapon. In the attached bath, she again found feminine supplies, makeup, perfume, and lotions. No weapon.
A knock sounded on the door, and she hustled to the window to look out. She was on the second story, but she could make it out. However, her room faced that center courtyard, and she could see soldiers posted everywhere. Pax still wasn’t moving in the cage, and her heart stuttered. Movement caught her eye to the left, and she leaned to see a Kurjan soldier stationed on the roof. The minute she stepped out there, he’d see her.
The knock came again, and then the door opened. Two women walked inside. One met her stare boldly, and the second looked down. Hope looked back at them. “Hello?”
“Hi,” the bolder one said. “We’re supposed to help you put on a dress.”
Hope held up a hand to ward her off. “I don’t need help putting on a dress.”
The woman threw up her hands. “Good. Well, that’s something.”
Hope chuckled, even though she wanted to scream. “I’m Hope.”
“Oh. I’m Lyrica,” the woman said. She stood to about five six and was very curvy. Her dark hair was secured in an elaborate braid, and she had sparkling, light brown eyes. She glanced beyond Hope and gasped. “Oh, check out all the sparkles.” She rushed into the closet. “These are gorgeous.” She held up a pair of Manolo Blahniks, complete with sparkling square.