Chapter 9

Avalyn

"You have visitors, Mistress. The guard said that your slave is here." Tessa whispered in my ear and I nodded, getting up. I was done eating my breakfast anyways.

Nik, who was busy talking to Jester looked at me in question. "It's Eliyah. I'll meet you in our bedroom later." I pecked his cheek.

"I'll come." He immediately began to stand up.

"I'll be fine, Mi Amour. Continue your breakfast." I patted his shoulder, gave him a last smile and walked out with Tessa on my heels.

The first thing I saw when we reached our living quarters was a seven by four feet cage on wheels, inside which, Eliyah stood. He was wearing torn black jeans and was glaring at the guard and the Lady besides him.

"Good morning, Queen Avalyn," the guard and the Lady bowed.

"Rise." I said and both of them stood straight.

"Lady Adira, Queen Avalyn," the female extended her dainty hand with unnaturally long nails, "pleasure to make your acquaintance."

"Likewise," I said with a formal smile. She was short with long brown hair, green eyes with heavy makeup around it and a dark blue lip. She was wearing a dark green dress with a plunging neckline. For some reason, I associated her with a snake.

"This is Slave Eliyah. As per the conditions of the auction, he belongs to you for the entire day." The guard said formally. "You will be required make the payment right now, Queen Avalyn. Seventy five thousand to me and seventy five thousand to Lady Adira."

"Tessa, can you please go get my cheque book?" I asked.

"Yes, Mistress." She nodded and then left.

I looked at Eliyah. His hands were gripping the rods and his large figure was a little hunched as he leaned down, trying to loom over us and express dominion. I knew from one glance that he was a big man. With no fat and muscles in all the right places. His dark shoulder length hair covered half his face that shielded him from my eyes.

I stepped forward and the sound of my heels gained his attention. He had deep, cerulean blue eyes, straight nose and full lips with a razor cut jaw. The moment his furious blue eyes landed on me, I knew he was angry the world and more than that, he is angry at himself.

And the scowl on his face shifted to a taunting smirk, "the moment this gate opens, I'm going to kill you." His voice was filled with a promise.

"You step out of line and I'll see to it that your feet won't step out of your cage for a very long time," Lady Adira gave him a saccharine sweet smile.

I pressed my lips together before I say something I'd regret.

And then she turned to look at me with a smile, "you have my consent to punish him if he does anything to displease you. Let it not be said that Lady Adira disappointed a Queen in any way," she said with a superficial, airy laugh.

"Of course," I nodded, going along. Then Tessa came out with my cheque book. I wrote down two cheques— one in Lady Amira's name and one for the Vampire High Council, which I seriously doubt will be used for 'God Sol's Temple' and gave it to them.

The guard had opened the cage and Eliyah shot out but Lady Adira yanked at his leash, choking him. He turned around, glared at her and then tried to attack her.

She pulled out a whip I hadn't noticed earlier and laid a harsh lash on his chest.

Eliyah grunted and then let out a scream when La—I shouldn't even call her a Lady anymore, began laying multiple strikes on him, reprimanding all the while, "I told you," whip! "step out of line and," whip! "you'll be punished!" Whip! "But you never listen!" Whip! "She's a fucking Queen." Whip! "Have some respect." Whip! "If you try this again I'll have you butchered." Whip! "Don—"

"Stop!" I said in horror after I unfroze.

What the hell just happened?

Eliyah was lying on the floor, trying to appear as small as he could and trying to get away from the inevitable assault. My breathing was harsh.

"Forgive me, Queen Avalyn—" Lady Adira started, "I know he's behaving like a wild animal. He's not normally like this but after the Gladiator Competiti—"

"Shut up!" I shrieked. Her eyes widened, like she couldn't imagine in her wildest dreams that I would ever say that to her.

"What is the matter?" Nik was besides me the next second. He was caressing our bond, trying to calm me down but I was past that point.

"Let me deal with this," I told my mate before glaring at Adira. "How much for him?" I asked her, motioning towards Eliyah who was still lying on the ground.

Her face shifted, all the kiss ass-ness gone. "He is not for sale."

"Name your price!" I gritted.

"My slave is a very valuable asset for me. His blood type is rare— it's something you werewolves won't understand," she sneered, "he's a great fuck and he wins all Gladiator Competitions. His value is immeasurable."

'Don't argue with her too much. The enforcer here will report everything back to Orlando. It'll be...problematic.' The way Nik said, I understood.

I nodded stiffly. "Get out. You'll have him after midnight."

Sneering one last time, she left.

The guard—enforcer, bowed, "I'll be back at midnight to pick him up, Queen Avalyn. Have a good day," and then he left.

Nikolai snapped his finger and one of our guards stepped forwards and picked Eliyah up. "Take him to the spare bedroom upstairs." The guard nodded and left.

"I want him Nikolai," I said.

"I'll figure something out." He nodded and kissed my forehead. "Give me some time."

"Thanks," I nodded and then went upstairs, after the guard.

I saw the guard put Eliyah on the bed.

"Thank you." I smiled.

He lowered his head. "My pleasure, Queen Avalyn." And then he left.

I sat on the bed besides Eliyah and began healing him. He had lash marks all over his torso—front and back. Some were deep and some were very deep. And all of the wounds were bleeding. Eliyah's face was scrunched up in pain but he didn't make any sound. He has strength inside of him. And for some reason, I feel responsible for him. It wasn't just because I bid for him and this incident. I felt that way when I saw him yesterday too.

Slowly, one by one, I had healed all his wounds. A minute later, his eyes fluttered open and landed on me.

"Thank goddess, you're okay. I was so worried." I let out a relived breath. "I'm so sorry this happened. I should have stopped her earlier, I did not expect that at all. I didn't know she could be that cruel. But I've healed all your wounds. I know that it doesn't compensate for everything but I hope it makes you feel better. If anything is hurting, you can let me kn—"

"Do you always speak this much?" He interrupted me.

My mouth snapped shut. I guess I had been rambling. He looked the other way, towards the balcony. And in his gaze, I saw sadness and longing. And again, my heart went out for him.

"Today is your free day, Eliyah." I said softly. "You can do anything you want, until you don't hurt anybody. You can sleep how much ever you want, you can eat whatever and how much ever you want. Although, I suggest you don't go out of our quarters, it won't be safe. But if you really want to, I can ask someone to go with you or if you don't like that, I can come with you."

His eyes snapped to mine and quickly filled with tears.

I began removing his collar. He didn't move, just kept staring at me in disbelief. "I'm saying the truth. It's not a trick or a game." I said gently.

He kept staring at me but didn't say anything. "I've had a long night, I'm going to go sleep for sometime. You can do as you like and if you need anything, you can ask anyone here." With a last smile and a pat on his arm, I left him alone.