Unrest by Marteeka Karland Read Free Book Online

The winds of change are blowing...
     
    Once again, Raven found himself on the auction block. His master smirked, thinking his prize fighter was simply enjoying the carnal delights that came from bedding a high-born human, but Raven had other pursuits in mind. He wasn’t interested so much in the bedding as he was in the bathing. Each time they brought him into the bath chamber, he looked for…her. Sina.
    The first two times he’d volunteered, she hadn’t been present when the other females came to bathe them. He wondered if she would be this time. The other women had refused to speak of her, or what had happened to her. They simply avoided his questions, trying to distract him with their soft touches.
    But Raven was nothing if not persistent. The saying “like a dog with a bone” definitely applied to his kind. When he found something he wanted, he wasn’t satisfied until he got it. He wanted Sina.
    Now, standing there while he was inspected along with the other slaves, he had to wonder how far he’d go to claim her. He’d also promised the woman, Brita, that he would help her escape if she'd help him get Sina away safely, but he found he wasn’t sure he could honor that promise. Not directly. He’d do his best to take her away personally, but, in the event it wasn’t possible to get both her and Sina out, he’d see to it Brita had someone to get her out of the city. It was the best he could promise himself for now.
    “I’m not sure about this one,” a dour-looking man with a pointed goatee said. “Is he not the most vicious gladiator the games have seen since ancient times?”
    “Brandwulfr. Yes,” the master replied, indicating an overly large wolf shifter. “You said the mistress specifically requested him, did you not?”
    “Yes, but, seeing him this close, anyone can see he’d be as likely to hurt her as he would be to pleasure her.”
    “True.” The master nodded. “But he’s never had any complaints. Even from the women who didn’t exactly come away…unscathed.”
    “You know as well as I do, if she’s harmed, he won’t be the only one to die,” the other man bit out. “I’m not keen to bring Rudolph’s wrath down on my head.”
    The master shrugged. “Brandwulfr will be on his best behavior. Isn’t that right, wolf?”
    The legendary gladiator, Brandwulfr, bared his teeth, his muscles bunching as he rolled his shoulders as if preparing for battle. “I won’t do anything she doesn’t beg me for.” His raspy voice was more a growl than anything else. What woman would willingly submit to that? It was obvious he could care less if the wench got pleasure or not. Raven did his best to pleasure his charges, but only so he’d be chosen again so he could find Sina. Brandwulfr wasn't as...attentive. It was difficult to discern what Brandwulfr cared about other than killing.
    “I’m not bringing that to the mistress.” Goatee’s tone was full of disdain, though he didn’t get anywhere near Brandwulfr. No doubt afraid the man might do him harm should he get within arm’s reach.
    The master shrugged. “Up to you. I suppose it depends on how much you want to risk the mistress’s displeasure. If she truly wants this one, do you really want to exclude him? There are three more here for her to choose from if she decides she’s in over her head. Let her decide.”
    Goatee scowled. Obviously, he knew his mistress’s tastes, and she would likely be going for the dangerous, unpredictable Brandwulfr. To say Goatee didn’t like it was an understatement.
    “It’s not the mistress I’m worried about,” he muttered. “It’s her mother.”
    The master laughed. “I’ll see he’s washed well, then. Should I have the cat bitches see to his lusts beforehand?”
    “Do you jest? Of course you should! I don’t want a rabid dog attacking the mistress!”
    “Very well. I’ll see to it he’s tended to.” The master looked more than a little amused, but Raven sensed Brandwulfr was