More wine was poured over the woman’s body and then more mouths were upon her, sucking up the sweet liquid and tasting her flesh.

Faryn backed away, her legs growing weak. What was happening?

’Twas as if she’d been brought to a brothel. An oddly elegant and majestic brothel.

The lot them appeared delirious with pleasure. Eyes rolling back into their heads as lips, tongues and fingers stroked every part of each other. The other slaves in line, too, looked just as shocked as Faryn. Cheeks flamed red, eyes wide.

Before she could wrap her mind around what was happening, a shriek of pleasure left the slave’s lips and her body convulsed. Faryn’s own body pulsed with an unbidden hum.

Dear God, what was this place? The first gate of hell, Captain Noir had called it. But why Faryn?

What had she done to deserve to be banished to hell? Queen Orelia’s den was an erotic nightmare.

She had to get away from here.

And then, from across the grand hall, her eyes locked on Captain Noir himself, a dark expression on his ruggedly handsome face that made her unsteady on her feet.

Mo chreach!

Was Orelia truly choosing so quickly?

Wraith hadn’t even a chance to enter the great hall before they were upon Faryn, for devil’s sake!

He stood, paralyzed, and somehow able to keep his mouth closed as the two assessors approached her, poured wine on her. Then his pride soared as Faryn took control of the situation, and they moved the next woman in line. But that didn’t get the sensual thoughts that were sparked out of Wraith’s mind. He imagined Faryn, her body writhing in pleasure, mouth half-open in a silent moan, eyes closed tightly as four of Orelia’s servants pleasured her. Mouths on her breasts, mouth on her pearl, hands brushing all over her flesh. Och, watch it would be like to see her climax, legs shaking, a moan of pleasure on her lush lips. The image was so blinding and real, his body reacted violently, cock twitching.

Jealousy filled him at the thought of anyone in this room touching her but him.

She was supposed to be his. He wanted to be the one to give Faryn pleasure.

And there was no time to waste, as he caught sight of Orelia from across the room, her own gaze riveted on Faryn. She twitched her fingers and the two assessors moved back to Faryn. Ballocks!

Now or never. He stepped forward.

“Step away from the woman, ye heathens.”

The servants pulled back, their eyes filled with uncertainty. Lids lifted and a pair of startling glassy blue eyes locked with his. Faryn.

He clenched his teeth and hissed a breath. She was so beautiful, and from the look on her face, completely mystified. Seeing her thus only reaffirmed his goal to have her. Hell, he’d fight off every one in this great hall if he had to.

“Now, now, Captain Noir. Tsk, tsk,” came the queen’s voice as she melted from the shadows.

How many times had he seen her come away from some darkened corner, pleasure filling her eyes at having seen her servants bring a slave, male or female, to fruition? “Would you rob me of my pleasure so soon?”

As if on command, four-dozen, at least, armed guards also stepped from the shadows, prepared to put him in the ground. And he had no doubt, as he’d seen them do just that the last time he was here to another bloke. Wraith was a damned good warrior, but not against nearly fifty men—those just weren’t good odds.

Wraith stifled a curse and bowed resentfully low to her. “Queen Orelia, my most humble apologies.”

Orelia walked forward, her white gown a cloud of fabric, her jet-black hair floating in waves behind her. If she hadn’t named herself queen and been called so he would have thought her royalty anyway…but of a different world. Her eyes were as black as her hair and her lips as red as the blood that he’d seen flow on this very floor. She reached him and a long slender arm emerged from her gown, a red-tipped nail trailed its way up from his navel to his chin.

“I’ve missed you, Captain.” Her voice was breathy, and if it had been a decade earlier, he would have melted into a sodden mess on the floor. Done anything she wanted. But now he’d grown older, wiser. He wanted his life back.

He grasped her hand to stop its traveling over his person and brought it to his lips, kissing her knuckles before letting it drop. “I live to serve ye, Madame.”

She snickered and turned her black gaze onto Faryn, whose glassy eyes had come back to their glittering blue sharpness.

“You like her,” Orelia remarked, her chin jutting out toward Faryn.

“She has nice breasts,” he answered, not wanting to give away totally how he felt about her. “Her thighs are trim, her arse… ’tis lush.”

Orelia laughed, her head dipping back, exposing her throat. “You are still the same, Noir. You want her, don’t you?”

“I’ve a mind to bargain with ye.”

Her sharp black gaze lost its teasing as she whipped her head toward him. “A bargain?”

“Aye. I thought to speak to ye about it, perhaps later.” All eyes had now turned on them. If it was seen how much he wanted Faryn for himself the price would increase, or another man might step forward to fight him for her.

He was prepared to fight for her to the death, for keeping her for himself would not only garner him a warm and luscious bedmate but also secure his future. But revealing such amongst this den of vipers could cost him a far greater price than he wanted to pay. It could also mean the safety of the wench.

“Perhaps now, Captain.” Orelia’s gaze roved over him, and he could nearly hear her calculating mind at work.

“’Tis of no great consequence, Madame.” He shrugged, trying to keep himself looking disinterested even while his pulse quickened. “Do with the slave as ye will for now and I shall speak with ye regarding her fate after I’ve seen to my men and myself.”

Orelia’s lips curled. “I should like to see you…do with my new slave.”

Wraith raised a brow, hiding his disgust with the queen and her ring of sex slaves. “And by that, ye mean what exactly?”

The queen walked toward Faryn, who now stood tall next to the servants who’d earlier provided

her with a taste of pleasure. Orelia trailed her nails along the flesh of Faryn’s shoulders, down the valley between her breasts. He watched with barely restrained fury. Faryn’s brows drew together, about to rebel, until she caught his subtle shake of his head. If she would only listen, they could both get out of here quickly.

He didn’t want her to rebel against him; he wanted her to want him. He pushed the thought aside.

Unfortunately, for now, they were both at the mercy of Orelia.

Orelia faced Faryn and lifted her chin. The queen turned Faryn’s face from side to side, inspecting her. Her long red fingernails trailed over Faryn’s body. Faryn bit her lip. Her eyes met Wraith’s and he wanted to step forward and haul Orelia away from his woman.

His woman? She wasn’t his and he couldn’t think of her that way. She was a possession. And when he took her from here, she would not be his in the sense that first came to mind. Nay, she’d not be his. That implied a relationship, and for what she was going to give him, freedom… She would have to be discarded in the end.

“You are so ripe, young slave.” Orelia leaned forward, breathing in the scent of Faryn’s hair.

Faryn only lifted her chin higher. “You know what I think? We have a virgin.” Orelia shrieked with triumph and turned around to face Wraith. Her eyes were wide with excitement; however, their depths were not filled with happiness but something more sinister. “You know what this calls for, Captain?”

He raised a brow, knowing very well what it called for. While Faryn’s features remained passive, her gaze told him something else altogether—she stared straight ahead, challenge in her eyes.

Orelia lifted the hem of her white gown and pulled it up her thigh, revealing a small-jeweled dagger. “We must spill the virgin’s blood!”

C H A P T E R T H R E E

F aryn tried not to react to the words Orelia spoke or the way the light glinted off the jeweled dagger at her thigh.

Spill her blood? Did they mean to kill her? Was her end to be a virgin sacrifice? A shudder passed through her.

“Orelia, my queen,” Captain Noir drawled out. He drew closer to the queen and Faryn watched as the other woman’s chest rose more rapidly. Her lids grew heavy. Her reaction showed Faryn that this queen was half-besotted with the captain. Noir traced a finger over the queen’s chin. “I am willing to bargain for the lass as she is. Not tattered.”

Orelia’s lip puckered out in a pout. She stroked her fingers down the length of Noir’s chest and lower still to his manhood. She gripped him tightly through his breeches. Faryn watched, mesmerized.

When she lifted her gaze, the captain was looking at her, his dark eyes filled with…passion? Aye, passion. Desire.

Did that passion stem from his desire for her or for the woman who held him in her palm?

His lips curved wickedly and he winked at her. Faryn gulped. He was most definitely trying to get a rise out of her.

Dear God in heaven, what was she to do?

She must escape. She glanced around the palace hall but her gaze was pulled back to the captain.

He had removed the queen’s hand and shoved another pirate in his place. The queen and the newcomer embraced, their mouths meeting in a kiss. A carnal kiss. Their lips slanting over and over.