Vanished Sisters: The Lycan King's Slave Island Chapter 98

Natasha's POV

"You can have me," I said, my voice breaking. "Completely. I'm still—my virginity is still—mostly intact. I know that has value. I know men want—"

"What?" Caelan's eyes widened. "No, stop—"

But I was already pulling my tunic over my head, exposing the binding around my chest. My fingers fumbled with the knots, clumsy and desperate.

"I'll do anything," I said, tears streaming down my face now. "Anything you want. I'll be whatever you need me to be. Just please, please buy me tomorrow. Don't let them discover what I am. Don't let them kill my sister. I'm begging you—"

"Stop." Caelan's hands closed over mine, halting my frantic attempt to undress. His grip was firm but gentle. "Natasha, stop. Please."

I looked up at him, gasping for breath like I'd run for miles. The tears wouldn't stop falling.

"I can't," I sobbed. "I can't stop. I'm so scared. I haven't slept. Every time I close my eyes, I see tomorrow. See them discovering me. See my sister screaming as they—"

"Breathe," Caelan said firmly. "Natasha, breathe. You're having a panic attack. You need to calm down."

He guided me to one of the chairs by the fireplace, his hands on my shoulders, gentle but insistent.

"Sit," he said. "Sit down before you collapse."

I sat, my whole body trembling. Caelan crouched in front of me, his hands still on my shoulders, keeping me grounded.

"Look at me," he said. "Natasha, look at me."

I met his eyes. Amber-green. Kind. Concerned.

"I'm not going to take advantage of you," he said quietly. "I know you're desperate. I know you're terrified. But I won't—I can't accept your body as payment for help. That's not who I am."

"But—"

"I loved my wife," he interrupted. "Loved her deeply. And one of the things I loved most was that she chose to be with me. Chose to love me back. Not because she had to. Not because she was desperate or scared. But because she wanted to."

He took a deep breath.

"If—when—I'm ever with another woman," he continued, "I want it to be the same. A choice. Not a transaction born of desperation."

Fresh tears spilled down my cheeks. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have—"

"Don't apologize," Caelan said. He released my shoulders and sat back on his heels. "You're in an impossible situation. I understand why you did it."

He stood up and moved to his desk, pouring a glass of water from a pitcher. Brought it back to me.

"Drink," he said. "Slowly. And then we'll talk about tomorrow."

I took the glass with shaking hands and sipped. The cool water helped calm my racing heart.

Caelan settled into the chair across from me, his expression serious.

"I will attend the auction tomorrow," he said. "And if the opportunity presents itself—if no one of higher rank shows interest in you—I will bid for your purchase."

Hope flared in my chest. "Really? You'll—"

"But," he interrupted, raising a hand, "I need you to understand the limitations. I'm a minor lord. I have some wealth and influence, but not much. If one of the higher-ups decides they want you—if Fergus or Gregor or Sebastian takes an interest—there's nothing I can do. I can't challenge their claim."

The hope guttered like a candle flame.

"So you might not be able to buy me," I said flatly.

"I might not," Caelan admitted. "If you catch the eye of someone more powerful, I'll be powerless to intervene."

"Then what do I do?" I whispered. "How do I—"

"You hope," Caelan said. "You hope that you don't attract the attention of the Lords. That you blend in with the other slaves on display. That you're unremarkable enough that someone like me can claim you without challenge."

"And if I'm not? If they notice me?"

Caelan's expression was pained. "Then I'm sorry. There will be nothing I can do."

We sat in silence for a long moment. The fire crackled in the hearth. Outside, I could hear the wind in the trees.

"I'll try my best," Caelan said finally. "I promise you that. If there's any way for me to purchase you tomorrow without attracting unwanted attention, I will. And once you're mine, I'll protect you. Hide your secret. Keep you safe."

"But you can't promise I'll actually become yours," I said.

"No," he admitted. "I can't promise that."

It wasn't the guarantee I'd desperately hoped for. But it was more than I'd had before.

"Thank you," I said quietly. "For being willing to try."

Caelan smiled sadly. "I told you before. I'm not like the other Lycans."

He stood and offered me his hand. I took it, letting him help me to my feet.

"Go back to the fortress," he said. "Try to get some sleep. Tomorrow will be difficult regardless of what happens. You'll need your strength."

I nodded, even though I knew sleep was impossible.

---

I slipped back into our room to find Davelina and Lucy still awake, waiting anxiously.

"Well?" Davelina asked immediately. "What did he say?"

I told them everything. About Caelan's promise to try to buy me. About the limitations of his power. About the possibility that a higher-ranking lord might claim me instead.

When I finished, Davelina looked devastated.

"So it's not a guarantee," she said.

"No," I admitted. "It's not."

"But it's a chance," Lucy said. "More than we had before."

I nodded. "It's a chance."

Davelina pulled me into a fierce hug.

Lucy joined the embrace, the three of us holding each other in the darkness.

Tomorrow would come whether we were ready or not.

And all we could do was hope that when it did, we'd somehow survive it.