Chapter 32 He wins
SOMA
“No.” The word flies out of my mouth with more force than I intended. Knowing Brynne, he must have plans. Sinister ones. I take another scoop and tell her, “I’m not going.”
Jade’s shoulders tense. “I don’t think that’s a good idea, my lady.”
“Trust me. It’s a great idea,” I say, picking up a dumpling to dip it in the sauce. “Come eat already. That’s an order.”
“My lady.” She wrings her hands, her discomfort making it impossible to ignore her. “He promised to hurt me if you didn’t show up. Will you please go see him?”
Her words knock the spoon out of my grip. I stare at her, and tears build in her eyes. Slowly, I push the dumpling into the sauce and take a bite. My chest rises and falls, my breath growing sharper. I chew angrily, trying to act like I don’t care. But after a few bites, I can’t pretend anymore. Besides, it will be impossible to enjoy the meal when she’s a few minutes from bawling.
My appetite’s gone. I push the plate away and stand so fast the chair scrapes loudly against the floor.
“Fine,” I snap, voice clipped. “He wins.”
I shove past Jade, storming out of the room. My fingers graze my throat as I hurry up the stairs, each step weighed down by fear and fury.
What does he want? What if he tries to choke me again? Should I ask Lilith for help? No.
The corridor leading to their quarters stretches wide, every door looking the same. As I take a step forward, I run straight into a wall.
Air shoots out of my lungs, and my feet wobble. When I think I’ll drop, something firm wraps around my waist, keeping me upright. I glance upward, my breath catching when I realize it’s Kade.
“You,” I breathe.
He nods. “Yes, me.”
A smile jumps to his lips, and I shoot out of his grip with a muffled, “Thanks.”
“Where are you headed?” He asks.
This has got to be a trap, and I refuse to be caught unprepared. He might have saved me from falling, but I know better.
“None of your business,” I tell him.
Kade chuckles, like I told a highly funny joke. His brow shoots up, his gaze assessing as they run over me. I try not to squirm, and when he seems bored, he walks away with a smile that has the skin at the back of my neck prickling.
What do these brothers want from me? I shake my head, trying to remember the reason I’m here on this floor in the first place.
Then it hits me. Jade. She won’t rest until I see Brynne. So, I turn and continue down the hallway.
There are doors on each side, and I don’t know which one is Brynne’s. But I take a risk, grab a door handle, and twist. The door creaks open. I enter, and the scent hits first.
Musk, sweat, and the faint spice of his cologne. My eyes scan the room, and my pulse thunders in my ears at the scene that greets me. I should have known he would never call me for a good reason.
A maid kneels in front of Brynne while he sits on the edge of the bed, her lips wrapped around his length. Her head stays down, her movements precise and mechanical as if she’s been trained to ignore the world around her.
Did he threaten her, too? I force my chin high, my voice surprisingly calm when I ask, “Is this why you summoned me here?”
A smirk tugs at Brynne’s lips as he pulls free from her mouth. She stumbles and falls on her ass, but he doesn’t pass her a glance. I don’t know whether to pity her or be ashamed on her behalf.
Without breaking eye contact with me, he grips himself at the base, stroking once before aiming his length at me instead of her. The tiny bells beneath his crown glisten, reminding me how sick he is for letting himself go through the pain of such intricate piercing.
He flicks a finger across his wet tip, his eyes gleaming with his true attention. My breath catches. He wouldn’t dare. But he gives his length a calm, deliberate shake, and his release spills across my chest and face. I gasp, staggering back a step as the warm spray dots my cheek. My hand flies up, swiping furiously at the mess as rage trembles through every bone in my body.
The maid meets my gaze in shock and looks away.
“Leave us,” I hiss, my voice shaking. Brynne leans back, supporting his weight on his palms. She shrinks, and I scream, “Please. Now. Get out.”
She hesitates for only a second and scrambles to her feet, rushing past me. The door shuts behind her, and the silence that follows is deafening. My blood roars, and my skin burns.
Before I can think better of it, I march straight to the crown prince and let my hand fly in a backhanded slap.