Free Prince of Cats by Susan A. Bliler

Neomee took advantage of the light by peering around Bray’s shoulder to discover a very large, very angry Cat standing six feet in front of Bray.  Hondo, she assumed, was surrounded by four other Cats .
    Wordlessly, Bray stepped aside and pulled Neomee in front of him keeping his hands clamped tightly on her upper arms.
    Hondo inhaled sharply, anger flashing across his face as he glared at the collar she wore.  “This changes nothing.  She still attempted escape.”
    “It changes everything, and you know it.” Bray challenged.
    Neo mee stood on trembling legs and wondered how they managed to hold her weight . Amon, they’re going to kill me!
    Bray left her side to approach Hondo, “We are bound Hondo, she cannot be harmed.”
    Neomee silently prayed that there was truth in Bray’s words eve n as her mind begged for her to invoke some form of self-preservation. Before she could conjure up a back-up plan, Hondo shouted, “MA’AT!” and the Cat standing beside him cast a thick woven net that covered Neomee , the weight of it dropping her to the ground. 
    Bray ’s roar echoed through the tunnel s as Hondo and the other Cats backed away . 
    “If you will not allow her to be killed than I demand that she go before the Priest.” Hondo sneered at Bray, “You know you must comply.   It is m a’at, it is our law.”
    Bray turned and s co oped Neomee up, net and all, and threw her over his shoulder before crossing to stand in front of Hondo.  The two Cats glared at each other wordlessly before Bray turned with Neomee and exited the tunnels.
    Once above ground, Bray turned his head to say over his shoulder, “Don’t worry, I won’t let them kill you.” 
    At his revelation, Neomee’s fight instincts kicked in and sh e began struggling in his hold.  If this was her one chance at escape, she was going to take it.  The arm clamped around her thighs tightened and her struggling waned as s he was carried into the temple’s altar room.
    The room was used for ritual, sacrifice , and punishment.  S he didn’t want to be involved in any of the three .   She tried to kick her legs free but was awarded with a hard swat on her ass that made her gasp.
    “Damn it lily , be still.”  Bray set her down so she stood on her own two feet and he slowly peeled the too heavy net from over her . 
    As she made an attempt to flee, Bray pulled her so that her back was pressed into his chest.  H is arms wrapped like a python around her body and prevented her from striking out at him. 
    Damn his massive arm s !  
    Neomee wr iggled against him trying to free herself, but froze as he whisp ered in her ear, “Keep that up lily and we’ll need to excuse ourselves before we meet with the Priest .” 
    She didn’t have to guess at his meaning when he held her firmly with one arm while the other hand slid down the length of her body and back up skimming her most intimate par ts through her sheer white gown, exciting her in a way she was relieved he’d never know.
    “Stop it!”  Neomee spat venomously.  Her face tinged crimson as the Cats lining either side of the altar room rumbled at Bray’s public display.  She could literally feel sexual tension materialize as if the room had been misted with pheromones.  The Cats eyed her greedily , jostling each other as she passed .  Neomee leaned back into Bray, leery of the Cats.  
    She jumped, startled as Bray roared then hissed at the Ca ts lining the wall, “MINE!” he roared . 
    Neomee disagreed, but had no intention of saying so .  
    Bray stopped in the middle of the room and held Neomee in place as a wooden door against the back of t he room opened and an impossibly tall man dressed in a long black tunic entered the room.  The Cats fell silent.

Chapter 11
    “So, this is the slave who would attempt to escape our House of Cats?  Bring her closer.” 
    Bray still held Neomee trapped in his massive arms as he ushered her forward, leaning to whisper in her ear,