The ire flowed out of Pavoni in waves, and Toka readied himself for a blow that didn’t come. Instead, Pavoni stood, bellowing out to his Orso guards.

  “Get this filthy little whore washed and prepared. I want him ready in my bedchamber in an hour.”

  Toka was lifted to his feet, his arms seized, and he was all but carried out of the throne room. They led him down a dark stone corridor into a room with nothing in it but a huge round dark pool of water in the center of a bare stone floor. He was shoved into the pool, and Toka hit the water hard on his side. The floor came up beneath his feet, and he found purchase. He stood, emerging from the water’s surface with a sputter. He shivered from the cold. It was nothing like the baths of his home. The water was icy and void of any scent. He supposed he should be grateful it was clean. He brushed his hair away from his brow and glared at the guards. They paid him no mind. He was nothing to them. A large man, an Orso, dressed in a long brown jerkin with black trousers and black boots, entered the room. One of the guards addressed him.

  “His Majesty wants him scrubbed thoroughly and dressed in the garment provided. We will be outside the door should you need us.” He turned his black eyes on Toka. “Behave yourself, or you will leave this room with far more bruises than you entered.”

  Toka spat at him, and the man sneered before leaving. The boom of the heavy wooden door closing made Toka jump with a start. At least he was alone. For the most part. The Orso rang a bell, and immediately a host of servants entered. Toka sniffed the air, recognizing the scent. They were bobcat shifters, and they looked miserable. The Orso gave them instructions, and Toka remained still as the servants entered the pool. One of them produced a set of keys, and he began to remove the shackles.

  “Do not think of escaping, foxling,” the Orso grunted.

  Toka wasn’t stupid. Even if the guards weren’t posted outside the door, there were hundreds around the castle, all of them Orso warriors who could ensnare him before he got very far. He was unfamiliar with the castle, which made finding a hiding spot risky, not to mention his foxling scent would give him away.

  The shackles were removed, followed by his clothes. It was strange being on the receiving end of a servant’s bathing. They were meticulous, and Toka gritted his teeth when they parted his cheeks to scrub at his intimate places. The reason behind it made him feel sick to his stomach. He caught one of the servants’ gaze. The young man quickly looked away, but Toka had seen the sympathy in his big gold eyes. Toka was clearly not the first to be taken against his will. He remembered Rayner’s words, and he wondered how many of these servants Pavoni had forced himself upon. The man was vile.

  Toka was sad for Pavoni’s servants. Looking at them now, they were all young, about Toka’s age, and pretty, but there was a deadness in their eyes. These young men had lost their hope some time ago, resigned to their fates at the hands of an egotistical madman.

  Once Toka was clean, dried, and dressed, he was escorted into a bedchamber that could only be Pavoni’s, judging by its extravagant décor. Toka had never seen so much gold. One would think Pavoni was a dragon instead of a bear, with the way he hoarded the precious metal. The room was also a testament to the man’s ego. There was nothing that was not gilded, embroidered, or engraved with Pavoni’s initials. The gold-and-iron four-poster bed was a monstrosity of velvet curtains and gold silk sheets, and more throw pillows than Toka had ever come across, all embroidered with Pavoni’s initials, naturally.

  Toka stood before a floor-to-ceiling mirror, frowning at his attire. The glittering gold sleeveless tunic was almost sheer, falling just low enough to cover Toka’s privates and backside. A gold rope served as a belt, tied loosely around his waist. His wrists were bound in gold fur-lined cuffs, the gold chain between them long enough for him to rest his arms at his sides.

  Similar fur-lined gold cuffs were secured around his ankles, the chain’s length allowing him to walk, but not run. They’d placed gold sandals on his feet. He was almost naked and felt vulnerable and exposed, the heavy chains a constant reminder of the freedom he’d lost. Undoubtedly that was what Pavoni wanted. Toka looked every bit the part Pavoni wished him to play—prized pet to an Orso king.

  Perhaps “prized” was too strong a word. Pavoni had plans for him, and all to hurt Rayner.

  Rayner…

  Toka’s heart splintered, knowing he would never again see Rayner’s smile, never feel his touch or experience his kisses. He would never feel the warmth of Rayner’s embrace, the strength of his arms, or hear his whispered promises. Toka dropped to his knees and then his backside. He hung his head and covered his face with his hands, letting the tears fall. He was desperate to shift and crawl under the bed to curl up and hide beneath his brush. There was no one to see him or to hear his cries of agony. Or so he thought.

  “Toka?”

  His head shot up, and he met the princess’s gaze in the mirror. He was surprised by the hurt he saw in her delicate features. How could someone so beautiful and kind share the blood of someone so vile? She approached him, then kneeled by his side, tears welling in her bright amber eyes.

  “I’m so sorry,” she whispered, cupping his face. She removed a handkerchief from her skirt’s pocket and wiped his cheeks dry. “Don’t let him see your tears. It would only bring him satisfaction. Be strong, for Rayner. You must be strong.”

  Toka nodded. She was right. He would not allow Pavoni power over his heart. Gently she took his hands and helped him to his feet.

  “I must leave you now. He’s on his way. I am so sorry.” She kissed his brow and fled to a panel below a painting of a large brown bear in battle. The panel pushed inward, and she disappeared into the darkness. A heartbeat later, the door to the bedchamber opened. Toka swallowed hard. He straightened and rounded his shoulders.

  Pavoni’s lecherous grin made Toka’s skin crawl, but he remained silent and stoic as the large man approached. He stopped before Toka and opened the velvet box in his hand. Toka’s stomach turned at the sight of the gold collar. Its matching tag was engraved with Pavoni’s name, and a gold bell was fastened to it. Pavoni removed the collar from the box, tossed the box to one side, and then placed the collar around Toka’s neck.

  “So that everyone will know you’re mine.” He fastened the clasp, then ran a finger up Toka’s neck. “I’ll have you begging at my feet soon enough. You’ll see.” He struck the bell with his finger, the shrill little ring grating on Toka. Lust filled Pavoni’s gaze, and he ran a hand down Toka’s arm. “You are truly beautiful.” He moved his hand beneath the tunic and squeezed Toka’s thigh painfully hard. “Ask me to take you.”

  “Never,” Toka replied through his teeth.

  Pavoni slipped his hand to Toka’s backside and squeezed his cheek. Toka bared his teeth and snarled. He wanted nothing more than to tear Pavoni’s throat out, and he would, given the chance.

  “Say it,” Pavoni roared.

  “Never!”

  Pavoni snatched hold of the chain securing his wrists and jerked Toka after him, leading him to the bed. He propelled Toka against it, bent him over, and forced his head down against the mattress. Toka closed his eyes and gritted his teeth against the cold hitting his backside when the back of his tunic was shoved up to his waist. His feet were kicked apart, and he heard the clinking of Pavoni’s belt, when a knock on the door resounded. Toka almost cried with relief.

  “What the blasted hell is it? I’m busy!”

  The door creaked open, and a voice spoke up. “Your Majesty, the lords are here as you requested before your trip to the Soldati realm, remember?”

  Pavoni cursed under his breath. “It slipped my mind. Have them wait outside the royal throne room. I’m on my way.”

  “Yes, Your Majesty.”

  Toka was jerked back by his hair, Pavoni growling in his ear. “Consider yourself fortunate. I will have you before this day is out. Now come. I want everyone to see my pretty new toy.” He took hold of Toka’s chain and all but dragged him out of the room and down the corridor. Toka did his best to keep up with Pavoni’s long strides. If he fell, Pavoni would undoubtedly drag him along the ground. They reached the throne room, and Pavoni marched down the red carpet to his throne. He sat, then jerked Toka to him, turned him so he faced away from Pavoni, and pulled Toka onto his leg, forcing Toka to straddle his thigh. He slipped his fingers into Toka’s hair, his free hand slipping down Toka’s chest then moving to cup Toka through his tunic.

  “You feel so good,” Pavoni hummed. “Tell me what you feel when I touch you.”

  Toka considered his answer carefully. If he said disgust, Pavoni would only be amused. He thought of what would irk Pavoni the most. Toka held his head high. “I feel nothing.”

  “Lies. Tell me I disgust you. Tell me how much you loathe my touch.”

  “Your touch means nothing. Therefore, I feel nothing.”

  Pavoni slammed a hand against Toka’s back, sending him soaring forward. He hit the ground hard. On instinct, he covered his head when Pavoni descended upon him.

  “Let’s see if you feel nothing now, dog!”

  Toka did his best to shield his head, his legs pressed together as Pavoni kicked at him over and over. A blow to the face left him with a bloody nose and bloody lip. His muscles screamed in agony, and when he thought he might lose consciousness, Pavoni stopped.

  “Who told you to come in?”

  “Forgive us, Your Majesty, the guard said you were ready for us.”

  Pavoni bellowed for his men and ordered Toka be returned to his room. The Orso guards pulled Toka to his feet and dragged him away. He limped as quickly as he could, one arm around his middle, the other in the painful grip of an Orso guard. Toka felt sick to his stomach, and the back of his eyes stung. His head was throbbing, and his body protested any movement. The Orso guards dropped him like a pile of trash on the small bed of straw next to Pavoni’s bed.

  Toka curled up on himself, shivering. He shifted into his fox form for warmth, the heavy chains loose enough for him to slip through, but he was in too much pain, too exhausted, and too frightened. Pavoni was sharp and conniving. He would never have allowed such an oversight, unless he was absolutely certain Toka had no hope of escaping. Why else would he not enchant Toka’s shackles? Toka brought his brush up over his nose and whined. At least this way, he wouldn’t cry. He couldn’t lose hope. I must be strong.

  “Why do you antagonize him so?”

  The soft voice startled him, and he quickly shifted back. He sat up, holding himself tight as Princess Verity came to kneel beside him, a cool, damp cloth in her hand. She gently cleaned his face.

  “It will only fuel his anger. He will kill you, Toka. Give yourself to him, and the blows will cease.”

  Toka shook his head. “I will never offer myself to him, and I won’t lose myself to him either. If I do, it would mean losing Rayner, and our love. It’s all I have left. I won’t let Pavoni take the hope I have in my heart.”

  She dabbed at his split lip, and he caught her hand.

  “If he finds you here… I don’t want you to get hurt. Please.”

  “You suffer terribly, yet you… fear for me?” Verity searched his gaze, though for what, Toka couldn’t fathom. She pulled back, then reached into her skirt pocket and removed a small glass vial.

  “Here. Take this. It’s temporary, but it will buy you some time.”

  Toka didn’t know why she was helping him, but he quickly took the small vial and drank down its content. He’d handed it back when the most violent, agonizing pain jolted through his body. He gasped for breath and fell onto his side.

  “I know it hurts. It will make you sick, but only for a day, two at most.”

  “Th… thank… you.” Toka gave her a small smile when a sharp jab to his gut had him crying out. It was as if his insides were being turned inside out. He shut his eyes tight and gritted his teeth, but each churn of his stomach produced a greater, more agonizing blow to his body.

  Verity shoved the empty vial into her pocket just before the door to the room was thrown open. “What the hell is going on? I can hear screaming from the blasted throne room!” Pavoni narrowed his eyes at Verity. “What are you doing here?”

  “Brother, he needs a doctor.” Verity rushed over to Pavoni and took hold of his arm. “I was on my way to see you when I heard Toka’s painful cry.”

  “What’s wrong with the bloody creature?” Pavoni scowled at Toka. “Surely I didn’t strike him that hard. Bloody foxlings are such pathetic, weak creatures. Can’t take even a little pain.”

  “Please, brother. He’s very ill.”

  “Fetch the blasted doctor, then.”

  Verity nodded and hurried off, leaving Toka alone, writhing in pain. Pavoni grabbed a fistful of Toka’s hair, forcing his head up.

  “All you’ve done is buy yourself some time, but it won’t stop me from claiming you,” he snarled, taking hold of Toka’s jaw and squeezing until Toka flinched. “Soon I will fuck you until he’s nothing but a faded memory.” He shoved Toka down before spinning on his heels and thundering out. Toka cried in both relief and anguish.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Rayner found Riley sitting in his favorite spot beneath the large willow tree in the east gardens. It was where Riley often enjoyed an afternoon nap, and where he came to read a book when Khalon was busy tending to business. At times the young prince simply needed what he called a “breather.” It amused Rayner how many human words and phrases Rayner, Khalon, and the rest of the court had picked up since Riley’s arrival. Although the Soldati had walked among humans since humans first acquired the ability to walk, they rarely interacted or stayed among the creatures long enough to completely pick up their customs. Every so often, Rayner would catch himself using one of Riley’s words. Khalon was worse as he was only ever away from Riley when he truly had to be.

  The east gardens helped Riley clear his thoughts. Next to the library and the kitchen, the gardens were Riley’s favorite. It was easy to see why. The gardens stretched around the sides and back of the castle and bloomed year-round, regardless of snowfall in the winter. In the forests beyond the gardens, the leaves changed colors and fell, but the Soldati Royal Garden remained perfect. The grass always rich and green, the trees lush, and the many brightly colored flowers in bloom.

  Trails were flanked by hundreds of flowers of all types and colors, painstakingly arranged. Statues of frolicking tigers could be found among the rose bushes and neatly trimmed hedges. Stone benches offered places to sit and watch the trickling fountains. It was breathtaking. Yet without Toka, Rayner found little enjoyment in the majesty around him.

  Riley sat with his back against the large trunk, but this time, there was no book in his hands. He simply stared off into the distance. Rayner joined him on the grass, mindful of not stretching his healing wounds. His Soldati blood would heal him soon enough, even without Ezra’s aid, but it was best not to take any chances.

  “Don’t be cross with him,” Rayner said softly, drawing a knee up to rest his arm on. It had taken Rayner time to clear his head and work through the emotions clouding his judgment, though now he was more conflicted than ever. He understood why Khalon had done what he had, and Rayner was certain it was the most difficult decision Khalon had been forced to make since becoming king, one that was taking its toll on him. And yet Rayner could not help his anger at having his love torn from his life. Despite his grief, he felt responsible for the discord between his prince and his king. Riley had so much to learn without Rayner making things difficult for him.

  “Cross? Oh, I’m beyond cross. He let that son of a bitch take Toka. I can’t…” Riley shook his head, his lips pressed together as anger rolled off him in waves. “I love Khalon, I do, but I don’t know if I can be with a man who would do something like that. Doesn’t he care?” Riley turned his reddened eyes toward Rayner, and it squeezed at Rayner’s heart.

  Rayner was touched by Riley’s fierce defense of Toka. The man’s heart was filled with so much love and compassion. “Of course he does, but you must place yourself in his shoes. Everyone in this kingdom looks to him for protection, to provide for them when they’re in need. Added to that, there is the human world to consider. The responsibilities that weigh on his shoulders are great. Khalon has lived centuries, ruling the Soldati realm as it has always been ruled. What he did was for his people. By giving up Toka, he kept our kingdom in peace. Surely in your world, sacrifices for the greater good have been made.”

  “In my world, we don’t give up to the demands of tyrants,” Riley spat out. “What’s to stop the next Pavoni from marching in here and making demands? Threatening Khalon with war. Will he give in to them as well? Who’s next? You? Me? Ezra? Adira?”

  Rayner hung his head in shame. “Toka was payment for my crime.”

  “Toka is a living being,” Riley growled, his voice laced with his frustration. “He shouldn’t be payment for anything! And as far as your crime, you didn’t do it!”

  Rayner swallowed hard. “The prince and princess gave their word. Their rank surpasses my own.”

  “Even if they’re lying?”

  Rayner couldn’t help his smile. He took Riley’s hand in his. “You have such faith in me.”

  “I know you,” Riley replied softly. “You would never have done what that bastard said you did, and just because their rank is higher than yours doesn’t mean their word should be taken at face value. You didn’t even get a trial.”

  “It doesn’t work that way.”

  Riley jumped to his feet and threw his arms up. “That’s ridiculous! So I can go around accusing people of shit they didn’t do, and because I’m a prince they’ll get punished for it?”

  Rayner stared at him. “Um, generally. Even if there are witnesses, they’re likely to fear speaking against someone of higher rank.”

  “Oh my God, that’s such bullshit!” Riley paced furiously before him. “What kind of fucked-up law is that? How does that protect people? We’re relying on those in power to be honest? Yeah, because that always goes so fucking well. The Soldati have been around since the beginning, protecting the human world from demons. Have the Soldati not learned anything from our human mistakes? Like how not to repeat fucked-up history? Humans can’t seem to work that one out, but I thought there was hope for the Soldati.”