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Suddenly, I find my nipples hardening into sensitive peaks – my body betraying me as I beg and plead with my new master. I just hope it works. If instead, he grows annoyed at my insistent begging, Marcel might just throw me over his shoulders and make me endure the hard slaps of his huge palm across my ass.

I stare up, into his impassive eyes, and I see nothing.

What more could I possibly do?

Then, I have a moment of inspiration – and swallowing what remains of my pride, I bend and kneel at Marcel’s feet.

My cheeks burn red with humiliation, especially as the Bullfrogs chortle and laugh all around me. They gibber in their brutish, guttural tongue – and I don’t need to understand their language to know what they’re saying.

They’re laughing at how quickly I’ve broken.

They’re laughing at how eagerly I’ve fallen prostrate at this alien warrior’s feet – just like all those women who flock to join the Aurelian harems.

But the worst part? As I humiliate myself, I feel heat growing between my legs. As I kneel there, I feel my clit begin to tingle with need. I nearly sob from frustration – I shouldhatethese men – but my body is betraying me.

The logical part of my brain screams in protest – but it’s no good. I know these three Aurelians are virtually as despicable as the Toads are – but their very abhorrent act of buying me actually wound up saving me from an even more terrible fate.

I shiver, and accept that it’s as if my body is controlling my mind. It suddenly feels so right to let these three warriors take control. I look up, and Marcel breathes in deeply as he stares down at me – tasting my scent in the air.

He licks his lips.

I moan a little, and I hope none of the Bullfrogs heard it.

I’ve know the rumors about Aurelians, and suddenly I can’t think of anything else.

I was told this one particular rumor in a bar one time – and if only from the way Marcel has been sniffing the air, I now instantly believe it.

Aurelians can smell and taste the need of a woman.

I gulp. Suddenly, there’s a new edge to the shame I feel about my humiliation.

Not only am I kneeling in front of them andbeggingthem for help – but all three Aurelians cantastehow my body is reacting to this act of submission…

How it’s making my clit tingle, and my thighs hot with wetness.

Snap!

Suddenly, there’s a crack that sounds like bones breaking. My searing eye-contact with Marcel breaks instantly, and I look past him in shock.

There, behind his leader, the Aurelian with the hollow cheeks is sitting, snapping his fingers.

He has a haunted, faraway look in his eyes – and, as I watch, the towering warrior stands until he’s beside his leader, and then snaps his fingers again.

The sounds pierces the room.

Slowly, the Aurelian points toward Tessa.

The Bullfrog who’d just purchased my friend yanks her backward, stroking her hair possessively. Strands of mucus and slime stick to her fair hair, stretching in ropes between her matted locks and the Bullfrog’s glistening fingers.

Tessa glances toward me, her eyes pleading.

I know what those eyes are saying. She’s begging me to help her.

But I can’t. I can’t do anything – nothing except pray the Aurelians will have some shred of decency and try to spare my friend.

And if they don’t have decency?

“I’ll do anything,” I whisper, so softly that only the Aurelians can hear me. “Anything.”