A man knelt in front of the cage, giving me a perfect view of his swooshed honey-gold hair. The others hung back as silhouettes. His long locks draped over his broad shoulders like he had stepped straight out of a myth.
Blazing gold eyes met mine. They seemed to see every secret I'd ever tried to hide. His face was unnaturally perfect — sharp nose, full pink lips, smooth skin. Long, veiny hands reached through the bars and gently caressed my cheek.
"You don't get to manipulate us this time, Ravine," he said, his deep baritone voice strangely soothing despite the threat.
"You're going to be punished."
Warmth flooded my belly, intense and unwelcome. Get a grip. You don't even know these men. But my body clearly hadn't gotten the memo.
"Her eyes are glazed," he murmured to the others. "You know what that means."
Low, sexy chuckles rippled through the group.
Keys jingled. One of the men — impossibly tall — moved to the top of the cage. A sharp green ridge ran along the top of his head. He opened the door, reached in, and lifted me out as if I weighed nothing. Then he set me on top of the cage and tilted my chin up with two fingers.
Piercing green eyes locked onto mine.
"I'm really sorry about this, kitten," he said softly.
Sorry about what? I thought, still expecting violence.
His veiny hands moved to my wrists, snapping the leafy bonds like they were thread.
He circled my wrists gently, then bent his head and pressed warm kisses to my pulse points. His impossibly long, silky neon-green hair brushed against my thighs. When he straightened, he brushed stray leaves from my negligee, his fingers grazing my side and sending electricity through me.
"You know Ramses just wanted a feel," one of the others teased.
The group burst into laughter.
"Oh, fuck off — all of you," Ramses shot back, but there was no real heat in it.
He scooped me up again without warning. In his arms, I caught a glimpse of his green beard before he shifted.
The man became a massive Minotaur — green-scaled, bull-horned, and thunderously powerful. He took off running, carrying me securely against his back. The others transformed too.
Above us, the golden-haired man became a magnificent dragon, his wings catching the sunlight like living gold. The blue-haired Aquasteine ran in human form, keeping pace effortlessly. The leopard-man — sleek and spotted — loped beside us, flashing me a wink.
"Don't worry," the leopard called out mid-stride, voice carrying easily. "We'll make sure you enjoy at least part of your punishment."
I opened my mouth, then wisely closed it again.
This is insane.
The Minotaur slowed as we reached a sprawling mansion. Towering white-and-gold columns gleamed under the sun. It made every billionaire home I'd seen in magazines look modest. Ramses shifted back to his human form mid-step and set me gently on my feet.
The four men flanked me — green, gold, blue, and leopard-streaked — as we passed through golden gates. Two masked guards in elaborate samurai-like armor stood at attention.
I couldn't stop staring. Blue frangipani petals carpeted parts of the grounds like living confetti. Strange trees with pink bark and heavy calabash-like fruits lined the paths, their leaves vivid shades of green and red I'd never seen on Earth
I knew I looked like a kid in a candy store, but I couldn't help it. This place was breathtaking.
And I was apparently married to the four gods who owned it.