Cin exhaled a long suffering sigh. It seemed his humiliation would know no bounds. As if being paraded around the crowded hall wearing nothing but a loin cloth that revealed more than it covered, in a room full of leering females, wasn't enough; now he, along with the other captured males, were being chained to the walls and ceremoniously put on display like a pieces of art.
Their arms were shackled taught above their head so they almost stood on tiptoes; legs chained obscenely wide. And since all had been given a healthy dose of Dragons Blood before entering the room cocks of all shapes and sizes stood at attention, ludely jutting out, some with pearly drops of pre-come threatening to spill.
Cin absently tugged at the infernal chains- nope, not gonna happen. Immediately deciding that trying to pull them out of the wall would be a very bad idea. He'd probably pop his arm out of the socket trying and keeping all his body parts intact would be a good thing especially if he wanted to make a break for it.
Miserably, he soaked in his surroundings. The spacious hall had vaulted ceilings and highly polished wood floors. Rich tapestries, depicting erotic scenes, hung from bare stone walls, a hearth tall enough for a man to stand up in had a low fire burning and torches lit the room giving it a soft eerie glow.
A dais, obviously designed for royalty, over looked mahogany tables that were covered with dazzling white lines accented in the Princess's signature color, dark purple; loaded with food and drink. The tables were set up in a U-shape, with overstuffed crushed velvet cushions and pillows strewn about the middle, facing a play area.
The play area had several males, none of whom he recognized, which was probably a good thing, bound to various apparatuses. The females were laughing in delight at the misery of one poor bastard in a pillory. They randomly tormented him by cruelly twisting his nipples; pinching the raised red welts on his ass and making him kiss the leather tip of the crop before raining blows on him.
Most notably, heavily armed guards stood discreetly in the shadows keeping a tight watch on all the going-on; quick to react if any of the "guests" of Castle Peitho grew rebellious.
Cin
had
to do something to take his mind of his current situation. The rogue in him demanded it. And who was he to deny his nature? It wasn't like he had anything better to do anyway. Taunting the princess was officially his new favorite pastime.
He watched Fia's cheeks pinken, eyes blaze with malice and her fists curl in tight little balls. She was so bent-out-of-shape that she was practically levitating. Cin had to bite his lip to keep from laughing at her- all that animosity because he winked at her. She really needed to learn how to relax.
With a menacing glare Fia spun on her heel and fisted Cin's throat; dug in her fingers and squeezed hard enough to prove her point. Though his face was turning red from lack of O2 he still narrowed his golden gaze on her and smirked as if to say
It was alllllll worth it, sweetheart
.
Fia loosed her grip and studied him for an uncomfortable amount of time. There was a fine line between being outstandingly brave and monumentally stupid and she couldn't tell which he was. Then again, it's uncanny how much they parallel.
"Do not fuck with me, Cin. You won't win."
He thrashed his upper body, "A little female like you shouldn't be playing with a male like me. I don't lose," he hissed.
Duly noted.
Fia had had her fill of craven males; this male was anything but gutless. Not only did he have an iron will that would be a welcome challenge to break but had a sexy arrogance to back it up. And as much as she wanted to wipe that damn smirk off his face she admired the fact that he still had the balls to antagonize her. And wasn't that sexy as hell.
"Know this, Cin- I know what you are and how to contain you."
"And just who do you believe I am?" he quirked.
"You're from the legendary Order of the Gold Dragons-shape shifters; the fiercest of your kind. Your eyes gave you way; your pupils elongate with your emotions. "
He didn't deny it.
She nodded at the gold star tattoos on his pecs,"The stars are your dragon colors; and the half sleeve is your lineage." Damn those stars on his pecs were sexy; she wanted to trace them with her tongue. "And those nipple rings- a rite of passage when a male reaches his maturity."
No response.
"You need to understand something," she shook her head, "You're not going to escape from here; I won't allow it. As long as you wear my Amethyst bands any majickal powers you have are stifled. And besides, you're quite pretty. I rather enjoy looking at you. "
"Release me, Fia, or so help me-" Another hollow attempt at powering out of the chains left his wrists bloody and bruised.
"What exactly do you plan do to? Bleed on me?" she goaded.
A low growling sound rumbled out of his chest and she swore she saw a whiff of smoke curl out one of his nostrils.
She shook her head callously. "Let's make a deal. You tell me how to find The City in the Mist and I'll let you go."
"Damn, female, you ask too much of me." He scoffed. He'd rather die one thousands deaths than tell her how to find to his home. "Why do you want to go there?"
"I'm looking for Pandora's Box."
"Pandora's Box?" he mocked. "How can I help you find something that doesn't exist? It's a
myth
."
"All myths start from somewhere; some kernel of truth that's been twisted over the years. Pandora's Box is no different." She said in all earnest.
"I can't help you, Princess." As General of the Army of Gold Dragons he was well aware of the ridged rules regarding outsiders being allowed within city walls and had, in fact, enforced those rules on more than one occasion.
