He stripped her down to collar and the cuffs, chained her hands behind her back, and leashed her again. “They know you can be bought. What do you think they think of you now?”

She stared at him, tired and confused. “Sir?”

He dragged her out of the room, down to the center atrium. “Let them look at you, Princess. Let them see you for what you really are.”

“Sir?” They were, of course, looking, staring. She could feel their gazes on her. She could feel his breath in her ear.

“You are mine. That is all you are, Princess.”

She had run out of patience. “You bought me, Master. You claimed me. There is nothing to me but you and this collar. I’m yours.”
He stared at her, much as everyone else was staring. “Well. Why didn’t you say so? I did now know that you… I didn’t know.”

He took her in to his room again. He clothed her in simple clothes, a pretty dress, a stylish vest. “We will have dinner tonight in our room.”

“Yes, Master.” Stavanna was more confused, more lost, than she had been since the auction house.
“Call me Ander. It was nice of the King to host us, don’t you think?” He lit the lamp on the table, and poured two glasses of wine.

“Very kind.” She sipped cautiously, and, just as carefully, tasted his name. “Ander.”
His smile was something to behold. “I think we’ll make a wonderful couple, don’t you?”

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