But he didn’t need to nudge her already flaring urge to submit to him any further. It was quite obvious from how she’d been acting that his claim was wrecking as much havoc on her mind as it was his.

“I have to shift some assets around to pay in full, but it will not ruin me. You don’t need to think about repaying me anything—it’s a small sacrifice compared to what you have to give up because of my kind.”

She went quiet next to him, and he smelled a touch of sadness in her otherwise delicious scent.

Kain bit down on his urge to coo at her to make it go away, forcing his focus to stay on the road. She had every right to feel sadness, and the more he indulged his need to treat her like a mate, the tighter he’d get wrapped up in the overpowering instincts that would refuse to let her go.

Selma was quiet beside him until they finally stopped at a small hotel off the highway. It wasn’t exactly as high-class as he’d have preferred to offer his Breeder, but at least it was better than the seedy motel they’d stayed at when she was still on the run.

“If we look for something more suitable, we’ll have to steer too far off course,” he explained as she looked at the Best Western he’d chosen for the night. Mild shame made him slam the car door hard enough to make her jump, which immediately had his protective urges rising. Being mated was seriously hard work.

“You know I’m not exactly a glamour girl, Kain. This is more than suitable.” She gave him a sardonic look softened by a small smile. “Come on. I’m tired from the drive.”

Frowning, he followed her in to book their room. Despite the lingering sadness in her smell, she still seemed completely at ease around him. Though his claim would continue to have an impact on her for the rest of eternity, he knew of no other newly-claimed woman who acted this calm right after being mated. Even when Breeders had experienced a smooth transition into their new lives, they tended to be skittish and traumatized in the weeks after an auction.

Selma, who’d been so terrified of his kind she’d risked her life to escape them, now seemed to be in complete balance, as if the brutal claiming in front of his peers had mellowed her.

The girl remained a mystery to him.

When they finally made it to the small, plush room, Selma didn’t even bother giving it a cursory look before she stripped down right in front of him.

Kain bit the inside of his cheek as he watched her step out of the pile of fabric at her feet and head for the bed—naked.