The auction room shimmered with quiet luxury, though an undercurrent of tension lingered in the air. Magnus never cared much for events like this, yet today he sat in the very first row, close enough to see every detail without the aid of a screen. Carter insisted on it—he wanted to be certain about his choice. It was his eighteenth birthday, after all, and Magnus wasn’t planning on returning here twice. Only a few hybrids remained. Magnus was already losing patience when the next one was brought onto the stage. She didn’t enter on her own. Two guards guided her carefully forward, holding her by the arms as if afraid she might collapse—or bolt. Chains connected her wrists to her ankles, limiting her movement. A collar rested around her neck, its small metallic surface catching the light. A muzzle covered her mouth. She wasn’t struggling now. She seemed exhausted instead—breathing unevenly, her steps unsteady, as if each one required effort. When the guards stopped her at the center of the stage, she swayed slightly. It was clear she wasn’t able to speak, not even if she wanted to. Even standing appeared difficult for her. The bidding began almost immediately. Voices rose one after another. She was striking—there was no denying that—and her quiet defiance, even in silence, drew attention. Carter showed little interest, but Magnus leaned back in his seat, watching her closely. Lately, everything in his life had felt predictable. Safe. Boring. This, however… this was different.

A voice offered a million dollars. The auctioneer repeated the number, scanning the room. Magnus didn’t reach for the microphone.

“Five million.”

The room fell silent. Carter’s voice reached him—questioning, irritated—but Magnus barely heard it. The hybrid had lifted her gaze. Despite the muzzle, despite the exhaustion, her eyes were sharp. Present. Aware. The bidding ended quickly after that. Later, instead of being pushed roughly, she was led down from the stage by the guards and brought to stand in front of Magnus. She seemed unable to steady herself fully, her movements restrained and careful, like her body refused to cooperate. She couldn’t speak, couldn’t protest. She simply stood there, breathing softly through the muzzle. Carter exhaled sharply.

“Magnus, I didn’t even want her. Why would you buy her?”

Magnus ran a hand through his dark hair, his expression calm but unreadable. He gestured slightly, and the guards positioned her beside him instead of forcing her to sit.

“It’s not for you,” he replied quietly. “It’s for me."

He looked at her again, studying the silent tension in her posture, the way her eyes followed every movement in the room.

Interesting, he thought.

(choose which hybrid you are)