To Collar and Keep Read Online Free Page A

up. Nobody knows what I look like so I’ll be dismissed.”
    “And what if another male sees you and decides you’d suit a pretty collar? Handmaidens are fair game,” he warned, clearly trying to put her off.
    “Oh…” She frowned deeply. That was something she hadn’t considered, but she was too excited at the chance to meet her prince.
    She’d just sneak a peek at him. They weren’t supposed to meet, but if he didn’t know who she was, it wouldn’t matter. She had to see him. She didn’t think she’d be able to hide her face on the day of the true meeting. If he saw any form of disappointment in her face, she’d be a goner for sure. He deserved better than that, no matter who he was. But how to not get caught?
    “Here,” Sebastian groaned, digging into his pocket and pulling out a leather strap collar. He threw it in her direction. “That should work as a deterrent.”
    “Ummm…” She lifted it, it was rather heavy. She didn’t ever think her brother would own something like this. Never having seen a collar before, she inspected it, turning it in her hands. It looked basic enough.
    “It straps. Trust me, I wouldn’t risk binding my sister,” he told her as her fingers moved over the heavy buckle.
    “What are you doing with a collar? Wait, do you have one with fixed bindings?”
    “Well, you never know.” He shrugged off the question awkwardly.
    “No I don’t…why would you? Have you seen someone you like?”
    “Drop it, Arabella!” He growled in an unfamiliar authoritative voice that had her halting in compliance.
    “Okay,” she answered timorously. “Sorry.”
    “Don’t be, it’s a sore subject. Take the collar or leave it, I’m beyond caring at this stage.”
    She bit back her sarcastic retort. He was only trying to help. She just hoped that when she got offered a collar for real it was done slightly better than that. “Hopefully I won’t need it, I’ll use it if I have to, though. I just want the only collar I wear to be the prince’s. If he accepts me.”
    “Like I said, he’d be a fool not to. Plus, I doubt he has much choice, just feel lucky he doesn’t know how bossy and demanding you are,” Sebastian teased, back to his normal self. “Don’t worry, we aren’t telling him that until you’ve got the collar around your neck. He’s doing us all a favour by taking you off our hands. So I’ll cause a distraction and you go see the Satyr you’ve been promised to.”
    “Distraction? Exactly what kind of distraction?” she asked warily, ignoring her brother’s teasing.
    “Don’t worry about it, Bells. I’ve got just the thing.”
    “I’m very worried, but I’ll save the questions till later. Remember it’s got to distract Mom, not Father. Try not to piss him off.” She dashed to the cupboard already going through the maid’s things.
    “That truly wounds me, Bells,” he mocked, holding his hands over his heart. “Like I’d need to try and piss off dear old Dad. Now you have an hour, use it wisely. He’s up in the tower suite, so you’ll have to be clever about how you approach it. Not that you’re ever anything but clever.” He grinned as he ducked out the door.
    She chose a dress suitable enough to her standards and quickly pulled it on. Wrapping her long crimson hair up in a bun, she pinned it out of the way. Her hair would be the one thing that could give her away. She checked a mirror to make sure every strand was tucked back and that she looked presentable. Satisfied, she pocketed her brother’s collar and stepped out the door, fighting the rise of excitement she felt.

Chapter Three

    Harley looked out over the placid waters of the lake just over the main building of the hotel and sighed. The moon shone brightly above, coating the grounds and the house in an eerie glow as well as deep shadows. It was peaceful, quiet and serene. Those who were indeed out and about on the grounds of the resort were keeping to themselves and not marring the beauty