Chapter 20 · Kael Was at Her Death

"Lot seventeen." The auctioneer's voice cut through the crowd. "Unclaimed female. Bloodline unknown. Reserve price: fifty thousand."

I couldn't see Kael from where they'd chained me backstage. Just rows of wolves in tailored suits, leaning forward like they were buying racehorses.

"Do I hear fifty?"

"Sixty," someone called.

My wrists were raw under the silver cuffs. The guard behind me had his hand on my shoulder, fingers digging in every time I tried to shift my weight.

"Seventy."

"Eighty-five."

Rowan was still in the front row. He hadn't moved. Hadn't raised his hand. Just sat there with that vial in his palm, turning it over and over like a poker chip.

Mom's handwriting on the label. I could see it from here.

"One hundred thousand." That voice came from the left side. Female. Bored.

The auctioneer smiled. "One hundred. Do I hear one-ten?"

"Where the hell is Kael?" I said it low, just to the guard.

He didn't answer.