Chapter 8 – Inspection

Raine

"There is no need. I have already seen her naked. She bares no marks of an Immortal," Cage insisted, his eyes dark and stormy.

Armand did not respond, his face cold and impassive . It was clear his instructions were not negotiable. The man next to Armand, Vladimir, leered at me. His entire presence was intimidating. He had a thick chest and arms, and shaved head. His black eyes raked over my body in cruel anticipation.

I shuddered.

He mocked, "Really Cage, was she that good of a fuck, you had to bring her home?"

Tension rolled through Cage's frame.

Vladimir's smile widened at Cage's response and he continued, "Oh well, I guess I will know soon enough."

I went rigid in Cage's arms, fear beating a rhythm through my veins. He couldn't be serious. But somehow, I knew he was deadly serious. I clutched tightly at Cage for protection. To my utter dismay, rather than disagree with the horrid man, Cage carefully set me on my feet, and proceeded to reach for the hem of my shirt, presumably to remove it.

Fury overrode my fear. I clamped a hand down on Cage's wandering fingers and hissed, "I am not stripping!"

He responded coldly, "Do not fight me on this."

I narrowed my eyes and maintained my defensive stance.

"We can do this the easy way or the hard way. Do not make it more difficult than is necessary," Cage responded briskly. Even though his tone was harsh, his back was toward the four men and his eyes pleaded with me to trust him.

I resisted a moment longer, searching for the truth in his expression and then released my hold on his hand. He lifted my shirt over my head. Even though he moved slowly, pain ricocheted through my chest when I raised my arms. I whimpered. From the corner of my eye, the scary vampire, Vladimir, smiled wider, clearly enjoying the sound of my pain.

I shuddered again.

I looked down. Someone had wrapped a makeshift dressing around my chest covering the wound. Cage carefully unwound the material and let it fall to the ground, revealing my upper body. He then reached down and tugged off my blood stained shorts and underwear in one fluid motion. I stepped out of the garments, leaving me completely naked in front of five strange men. Cage stepped away from me, presumably to allow them to look for whatever marks Armand referred to.

I held my arms in front of me, shielding as much of my bare breasts as I could from their view. My hands were clenched into fists.

My stomach dropped when Vladimir stood to his feet and strode toward me. He gripped one of my wrists and forced it away from my body, while his other hand came up to fondle my revealed breast.

Without thinking, I reacted out of reflex, slapping him hard across the cheek and spat, "Don't touch me!" Shit, it was like hitting a rock.

His eyes flashed crimson and his grip on my wrist tightened painfully. Any more and I was certain it would snap into pieces. A small cry came from my throat.

He smiled at me lasciviously. "I think it's time I taught you some manners." He released my wrist and reached for his belt instead, undoing it.

"Vladimir, there is no need for that!" Cage hissed angrily.

My eyes widened as fear shot through me.

Vladimir's voice lowered hypnotically as he commanded, "Get down on your knees."

I stared at him in horror, knowing exactly what he was going to force me to do. Again fury ran hot through my belly and I spat, "No, you perverted fucker!"

The entire room gasped. The severity of their response surprised me. I guessed no one ever told this man no. But I sure as hell wasn't going to agree to what he wanted. I would rather die first.

I didn't even see one of his hands move before I felt his fingers wrap painfully around the back of my neck. He snarled, "You can't be compelled?"

Compelled?

What the hell was he talking about?

And then I remembered Cage's similar tone of voice when he ordered me to be quiet earlier at the pool. They could compel people! Bend their will and force them to do what they wanted.

But apparently not me.

And from their look of shock, my ability to withstand their compulsion must not happen often.

"Bitch!" he hissed as he forced me down using the hand clamped around my neck. I cried out in pain and clawed at his arm, trying to free myself from his grip. My attempt to fight him had no effect. I was no match for his power.

He continued to undo his pants with his free hand.

Panic rushed through me.

I couldn't do this!

I wouldn't!

Cage roared, "No!!!"

And suddenly, Vladimir was no longer in front of me. I stumbled off balance from the unexpected release and worked to get back on my feet.

Both vampires growled fiercely, blurring from view as they moved too quickly for my eyes to track. Each strike sounded like a crack of thunder as it reverberated off of the walls. I trembled uncontrollably.

Armand and the other two Council members stared a bit bored. Cage and Vladimir abruptly parted, but Cage stalked him, moving to the side looking for a weakness. Cage snarled, "She's mine!!"

Vladimir spat blood out of his mouth and sneered, "I thought you didn't approve of owning pets!! Although, she would be fully dressed now...of course, without the collar."

Pet?

Was he implying Cage intended to keep me as a pet?

I remembered the naked woman swimming in the pool. My head snapped toward her. She was wearing one thing, a jeweled choker necklace. Shit, it wasn't a necklace at all – it was a collar!

I couldn't seem to get enough air into my lungs.

None of this could be real!

I had to be having some horrible nightmare.

But no matter how hard I tried to wake myself up, the reality around me didn't change. I was still stuck in this horror movie.

Cage snapped back, "No, not as my pet...my mate!"

The entire room fell silent.

His mate?

What the hell did that mean?

My head spun as I desperately tried to understand what was happening, but none of it made any sense.

Vladimir hissed, "You can't be serious!"

Cage was vibrating in fury, clearly committed to his statement. Armand stood to his feet. He raised a hand toward Cage and Vladimir. Both fell silent immediately. Armand walked toward me slowly, his gate smooth and graceful. There was no denying his fierce authority. He stopped in front of me.

I looked down.

He was shirtless, the muscles in his arms and chest rippling. I noticed he had a complex tattoo running from his right bicep into his chest. It appeared to have a sinewy lion, but I only got a quick glance, so couldn't identify the other images. It reminded me a family crest.

He reached a finger under my chin, forcing me to look into his eyes. I couldn't stop from trembling. His unfathomable eyes were intensely blue as he stared at me. He spoke quietly, "Get on your knees."

Unlike before with Cage and Vladimir where I had felt nothing, this time I felt the weight of his command pulling on me, but I was still confident that I could resist it. I just somehow knew I shouldn't. My trembling increased as I sank to my knees in front of him.

I didn't release his gaze as I waited. He hesitated a moment longer, apparently satisfied and commanded, "Stand."

With great difficultly, I stood shakily to my feet. He stepped back and inspected my skin carefully, his eyes roaming slowly down my body. When he reached my feet, he ordered, "Turn around."

Immediately, I turned. I knew he was continuing his inspection of my back. He lifted my hair to inspect my shoulders and neck. I tried not to flinch. After another long minute, Cage nodded in affirmation to a command from Armand I couldn't see.

Cage strode toward me, undoing the buttons of his shirt on the way. He removed it from his body and motioned for me to put it on. I eagerly slipped my arms through, ignoring the rush of pain in my chest, in my utter happiness to be covered again. I buttoned the garment quickly, thankful he was so much taller than me because the hem of the shirt covered my butt and private parts. His arm came around my waist to steady me, as he waited for Armand to return to his seat.

Armand began, "This is unexpected..."

I wasn't sure if Armand was referring to me or Cage's intent to have me for his mate, whatever that meant.

Cage remained silent.

Armand continued slowly, "I will not consent to the union...yet. However, she is admittedly unique. You may keep her as your possession until her fate can be decided."

I felt some of the tension release from Cage's body. I held onto him tightly. I thought about how quickly my life had changed. A few hours ago, I was blissfully ignorant of fantasies and monsters. Now, I was clinging desperately to a man who told me he intended to kill me. I was going to need some serious therapy if I lived through this.

Armand spoke again, this time to one of the other Council members. I believed Cage acknowledged him as Felix. "Find Felaern."

Felix replied, "How? You know that crazy bastard never stays in one place very long. We haven't known his whereabouts in over a year."

"Whatever it takes. Find him."

He looked back toward me and murmured reflectively, "You say the hunters want her dead?"

Cage nodded.

"She hardly looks worth anything. Let alone a weapon to be used against the hunters. Nevertheless, their fear of her may work in our favor. We need to know what they know. Get me a hunter."

"Done," Cage responded.

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