Page 66 of Lake of Sapphire

She tried to mask her fear with rage as she moved to push past me, her shoulder brushing against mine. It caused her to fall off balance instead of moving me.

“You know that’s not why I came,” I said as I turned to face her.

“Right. You’re better than that. It’s so unlike you to force a girl to strip down to embarrass herself for a few laughs with your friends. You wouldn’t do that at all,” she seethed, nostrils flaring. Her cheeks were rosy pink, her eyes swollen.

I sighed and ran my fingers through my hair. She wasn’t going to forgive me for what happened tonight. I couldn’t blame her, and I shouldn’t try to convince her to. It would be better if she hated me. It would be safer for her to stay separated from me. But fuck, it killed me.

“I came to give this back to you.” I held out the golden necklace between my fingers, the white circular pendant dangling by her face.

“There is no sense in me wearing that if I’m going to have to pretend I can be compelled anyway. I really don’t see the point when you and your friends can force me to do whatever you want for your enjoyment.”

“I didn’t enjoy tonight.”

“Right. I can see how it was a difficult night foryou.”

“Scotlind…” I started and stopped. I didn’t know how to explain everything to her, and no matter how much I hated every second of that, it was far worse for her. I couldn’t take back what had happened, what she had to do. “Just… just take the damn necklace. Wear it. People in the castle can make you do worse things than what happened tonight.”

“So should I thank you? Was that you being noble and honorable? Trying to give me a warning or some sick reminder of how weak I am? How anyone can walk all over me?”

I stifled a wince, forcing my face blank. “It wasn’t a reminder,” was all I said.

“Just leave, Sie,” she huffed. I wasn’t going to budge, not a damn inch, not until I saw that necklace between her breasts, fastened and safe around her neck.

“I said get out,” she seethed, using her body weight to push my chest.

I looked down at her. I would find her scrunched forehead and furrowed eyebrows adorable if I knew it wasn’t directed at me. I blew out a breath, bracing myself for what I would have to do. She would never forgive me for it. It would only confirm her belief about me and pin me as the bad guy. As much as I hated it, as much as I wanted her to not hate me, I needed her to be safe more.

I took a step toward her as she backed up into the wall. “You will wear the necklace, and you will not take it off again.” I felt the compulsion pulse through my veins before the golden swirls worked up my arms. A surge of energy ran through me. My raw power radiated from my fingertips, begging me to use more. I hated how much enjoyment I got out of using my abilities. It was untapped ecstasy rushing through me, caressing and seducing me not to stop. I willed it back, hating the fact that I was taking away free will more than I craved the feeling it gave me.

She gasped as she reached for the necklace and placed it over her neck. The white pendant falling between her breasts.

“I thought you weren’t going to compel me or was that just another one of your lies.” She pleaded as a tear escaped her eye and ran down her cheek.

“I will never compel you for my amusement, Scotlind, but if it means keeping you safe, then yes, I will. I have no problem compelling you,” I said as I left her shaking behind me. I saw her slump to the ground, sliding down the wall as she clutched the necklace that would now remain forever on her neck.

TWENTY-THREE

SCOTLIND

The next day,all three of my servants came to wake me up to get ready. I yawned loudly as I stretched my stiff body, unwilling to pry myself out from under the fluffy comforter just yet. I was exhausted from crying. I had spent the night curled up into myself until sleep finally overtook my body.

I couldn’t shake off what had happened last night. I was disgusted with everything. Shame and embarrassment clung to me like sweat, hugging my skin, unwilling to wash away. I hated the high rank. I hated how they thought having abilities made them superior over others. How they abused rank zeroes, merely for their own entertainment, just because they could.

I couldn’t help my lingering gaze on my three maids. Were they victims of Alec’s game too and compelled to forget?

For the first time since arriving here, I wished for my regular, monotonous schedule. My gut twisted, knowing I would have to spend the day with Sie. No, not just a day, butdayswith him, as this tour was supposed to stretch out over a few nights.

Once Ashley, Annabel, and Roslyn were satisfied with how I looked, they led me toward the castle’s main entrance.

To my surprise, both Kole and Abherham were waiting for us. Kole had a crazed expression on his face as he glared at me.

He pulled me aside right away. “If you ever think you can sneak off while I’m guarding you again, you will regret it,” he managed to say through gritted teeth. His voice lowered so no one else could hear.

He couldn’t have known about last night. I’d slipped back inside my room without him noticing. I was sure of it. Unless he was only pretending to be asleep? I grimaced at the thought, at him seeing me so vulnerable.

My cheeks heated as I gave Kole a small nod, unable to conjure up enough effort to speak. Last night left me empty, and if I was honest, I wasn’t planning on leaving my room again. I started to walk back to the group that was now gathering underneath the arched stairwell.

“Damn, nix,” Kole groaned under his breath. It was the first time he dropped thelittlein front of the word when addressing me. Even though I hated when he called melittle nixand found it degrading, this was different. He wasn’t taunting me like he usually did. He wasn’t calling me that just to get a rise out of me. There was no smirk on his face, just a cold, deadly demeanor. He used the term and meant it for what it was—an insult.

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