Artemis barely registered the words being spoken around her until she was suddenly yanked from the line and dragged to the front of the podium. A violent shiver ran down her spine as her wide eyes darted over the sea of unfamiliar faces. Her stomach twisted.
"And now… we have this angel," the auctioneer announced, gripping her hair and pulling it up to expose her slender neck and delicate collarbone. The crowd erupted in whistles and murmurs, their lecherous gazes crawling over her. Artemis remained frozen in place, her body rigid with fear.
From his seat, Alexander frowned, his crimson eyes darkening. He wasn't sure why, but he didn't like the way the auctioneer was touching her.
"Ladies and gentlemen, how would you like to have this fair, untainted twenty-year-old maiden beneath you, screaming your name?" the auctioneer crooned.
A fresh wave of disgust rolled through Artemis. The room filled with eager voices, bids rising higher and higher.
"Five hundred silver."
"Six hundred silver."
"Two hundred gold."
"One thousand gold."
A collective gasp rippled through the hall, silencing all other voices. The tension was so thick it felt suffocating. Every head turned toward the second row, where a man sat with a smug expression.
Alexander's scowl deepened. He didn't need to turn around to know who it was.
"Councilman Silver…" the auctioneer stammered before forcing a smile. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he bowed slightly. "I-I'll get her packed for you—"
"Five thousand gold."
Silence.
Every eye in the room snapped to Alexander, including Artemis'.
Lexus Silver frowned in irritation, his expression darkening. Alexander, however, merely smiled as he rose from his seat and strolled toward the podium.
Artemis stared in disbelief at the man who had just purchased her for such an absurd amount. He stepped close, reaching out to take a strand of her dark hair between his fingers. A strange shudder passed through her, followed by a tingling sensation in her chest.
"C-Councilman Quinn," the auctioneer stammered, clearly shaken, "do you want her… branded or—"
Alexander raised a hand, silencing him instantly.
"I wouldn't want my pet's fair skin ruined. That won't be necessary, Robert," he said smoothly. "Take her to my carriage and wait for me."
Artemis' breath hitched. His voice—deep, rich, and unreasonably seductive—branded itself into her mind as the voice of my new owner. She swallowed hard, her heart hammering.
Alexander descended from the podium, heading back toward Mr. Harper while Artemis was led outside.
"Mr. Harper, I'll be leaving early. I'll send someone to pick you up," Alexander said, adjusting his coat.
Mr. Harper, still stunned by the extravagant bid, finally found his voice. "Alexander, don't you think you spent a little too much on that… slave girl? Five thousand gold is not exactly chicken feed."
Alexander turned to him with an unreadable smile. "Mr. Harper, how is my spending habit any of your concern, hm?" He tilted his head slightly, amusement flickering in his crimson eyes.
The older man paled under Alexander's gaze and let out a nervous chuckle. "R-Right. My apologies for overstepping."
Satisfied, Alexander cast a glance toward Lexus, who still sat in the second row with a soured expression. Alexander's lips curled into a smirk.
"Then, I'll take my leave," he said with a nod before turning away.
"Nice to see you again, Councilman Lexus," he added, offering a slight bow.
Lexus' scowl deepened, but he said nothing.
As Alexander stepped outside, his smile lingered.