Captured & Seduced by Shelley Munro Read Free Book Online

leaving them alone. The jostling of the crowd shoved Camryn against his chest, inciting a riot of lust inside him. He breathed shallowly, groping for restraint, mentally slapping his feline into submission.
    A team of Red Mumber guards exited the building, pushing the eager entrants into a formal line, using brute force. Weapons gleamed from holsters at their hips, and they brandished silver blades, their red-toned faces bearing a touch of cruelty.
    Ry sighed in frustration. “Looks like this might take a while.”
    “When we’ve finished here, could we see the hell-horses?”
    Not a bad idea. Although Camryn’s expression didn’t change, she shook violently as if she had palsy. Ry noticed the beings around them stood back, suspecting her of harboring disease. Mogens had assured him the woman was strong enough to train a hell-horse. He hoped so since discussions of the beast’s ferociousness fueled conversation at the spaceport and in the city. According to rumor, the hell-horses had killed several contestants already.
    “What’s the prize?” Camryn whispered.
    “Money and the hand of the governor’s daughter in marriage.”
    Her brown eyes widened in astonishment. “You want to marry the governor’s daughter?”
    Hell no. Life on the run was no picnic. He’d never subject a wife to that. “I have a private bet with my brother. All the rest is unimportant.”
    “What—?”
    “Shush,” Ry interrupted. “We’re drawing attention.”
    Camryn gasped when a Red Mumber snarled in her direction. To Ry’s relief, she stopped her questions.
    Finally they reached the front of the line and paid their currency to the gray-haired administrator who sat behind a bulky desk. The man scrawled on his parchment, his quill scratching loudly.
    “Entry fee is one thousand quid.” He peered at them, picking up a quizzing glass to study Camryn. “Is she healthy? The ruler is seeking women for his harem. This woman would be to his taste. Give you two thousand quid for her.”
    “No.” Black fury gripped Ry, tightening every muscle in his body. His jaw set hard and he glared at the administrator for his audacity. “She is not for sale.” His tone should have ended the matter, but the administrator smiled with smug confidence.
    He lifted his quizzing glass to survey Camryn again. “Five thousand quid. That’s my final offer.”
    “My woman is not for sale.” Ry gripped Camryn’s forearm, willing her to remain silent.
    “Very well.” The administrator didn’t sound happy, and Ry knew he’d have to guard Camryn well. The administrator’s offer was as good as a price on her head to any being who’d eavesdropped. He stared a challenge at the Red Mumber waiting behind the administrator until the guard shifted his attention to his sandaled feet.
    They completed formalities, were told the areas they could hunt for their hell-horse, accepted their entry number and a copy of the rule book before leaving. “We’d better return to the ship.” Ry didn’t release her arm, dragging her from the manor and down the road in the direction of the spaceport.
    “I thought we were going to see the hell-horses.”
    “New plan.” Ry stopped abruptly with his back to the nearest building and scanned for trouble. Sensing the Earthling’s streak of obstinacy, Ry explained. “A lot of people overheard the administrator make an offer for you, which makes you a liability.” A bigger problem than she was already.
    “It wasn’t my fault.” Camryn scowled when she took his meaning. “You mean they’d force me into captivity, to be at a man’s whim because of my looks?”
    “Yes.” But not if he had his way . Ry propelled her along the rutted road.
    “Don’t walk so fast. I can’t keep up.”
    Ry glanced over his shoulder, catching a glimpse of a Red Mumber—the same one who’d stood with the administrator. The back of his neck itched in warning, especially when he caught sight of a second Red Mumber, the muscular beings