Page 35 of Forbidden Desire
“That will not help you.” I winced, the attack only hardening my resolve. “I shall obey my brother’s orders, and if I need more men to hold you down, I shall find them.”
“No.” Another protest, but this time her voice was weaker and choked with emotion. “I don’t want more of them.”
“Then you must cooperate,” I encouraged her to see reason. I would have my way whatever she said.
“Wh-Why must you strip me?” she demanded. “There is no need, and you have no right!”
“Wrong and wrong again.” I smiled, aware of how the gesture agitated her further. “Being bared will help you to concentrate, help you learn your place, and I have every right—you are a stranger here. Our customs apply, not your own.”
“I’ll be too cold.”
It sounded like one last-ditch effort to reason with me, but it was as futile as the rest.
“No,” I reassured, motioning to the huge fire behind me. “The room is well warmed.”
Her eyes widened as she pulled in a breath, and for the first time, her gaze traveled past me to the flames blazing in the center of the hall.
“Wh-What is that?”
I glanced over my shoulder, realizing she had just set eyes on the aviary. At around five feet in height, the structure was made of our sturdiest wood, sculpted into an elongated oval, resembling a cage where a delightful bird might have been ensnared in. My lips curled as I focused back on the newest beauty it would hold captive. Rasmie had been right in his verdict—the aviary was the perfect place to hold her.
“That is the aviary, doe bheag.”
“You’re putting me in that thing?” Her breathing was ragged again, her feet scratching against the ground as Drewie and Duff dragged her forward. “No way!”
It was admirable the way she fought against them, but both men were as big as me. My little doe stood no chance.
“Settle down.” I chuckled as they hauled her past me. “This will be much easier for you if you would only comply.”
“You think I’m going to let you put me in there?” Struggling against her aggressors, she twisted around to meet my eyes, her attractive features warped into an ugly snarl.
“I think you shall have no choice.” I crossed the room to join them, gesturing for Drewie and Duff to lift her onto the elevated stage on which the aviary stood. “This is Rasmie’s will, and it is also mine.”
“What’s wrong with you people?” Emotion caught in her throat, her focus darting between the three of us. “How can you think this is acceptable? How is it okay to treat me this way?”
“Stop fighting, and I will show you another way.” I moved toward her, capturing her chin gently between my thumb and forefinger. “You are only here because you disrespected our maighstir, yet still you show no contrition.”
“That’s because I’m not sorry.” Her voice was a strained whisper. “I don’t care about him.”
“What about your sister?” I edged closer, once again drawn to the alluring stranger. “Do you not care how your performance affects her?”
“Do you think he will make her pay for this?” she squeaked, having apparently never considered the consequence before.
“If by he, you mean my brother, our beloved leader, Rasmie, then I do not know. It is his prerogative and well within his rights.”
“Oh, crap.” The fight in her diminished, her shoulders falling as her gaze drilled into mine. “Don’t let him hurt her, Jeemie, please.”
My brow cocked as she used my name, my balls aching at the way she made it sound. It had been so long since she had acknowledged me by name, I had assumed she had forgotten it.
“I can speak to him and ask for clemency,” I hesitated, letting the offer linger in the air between us. “If...”
“If I behave.” Her answer was a resigned sigh.
“Indeed.” I was pleased to have made my point. “If you put a stop to this performance and let me carry out our maighstir’s command.”
“You mean, let you strip me and put me in there?” Her gaze flitted to the aviary.
“It shall not be so awful,” I consoled, my fingers grazing her soft cheek en route to her hair. Like her sister, Elodie had wonderful, lush dark tresses that begged to be touched and manhandled. “If you look, you shall see the floor is lined with fur.”