Page 50 of Heartless Prince

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Mellie ledme up the stairs and into a spacious ballroom on the second floor. It was already filled with other girls in gorgeous gowns and men in tuxedos and masks, and the air carried the heady scent of perfume, cigar smoke and liquor.

I drew in a deep breath, fear stabbing at my guts as I stared around, taking in the elaborate beauty of the room. It had high ceilings and a polished hardwood floor with multiple chandeliers hanging from plaster ceiling roses, and heavy-framed oil paintings hung on the wood-paneled walls. On one side there was a small stage with a string quartet playing classical music, and the far side was lined with tall French doors which led onto a wide balcony outside. From where I was standing, I could see that the balcony overlooked the dark ocean beyond the mansion. Moonlight made the gentle waves sparkle and shimmer like a million jewels had been dumped into the water, and I marveled at the view.

If it wasn’t such a horrible event, I’d actually be thrilled to be invited to such a luxurious ball. Instead, I had visions of throwing myself off the balcony and hoping I tumbled into the water below so I could swim far, far away from this terrible place.

Mellie left me on my own so she could go and find her father, and I went and hung by a wall with a few other girls, hoping I could blend into the background. No such luck. Several masked men came up and spoke to me, offering me drinks and chuckling at my obvious anxiety as if this were a regular gala and I was just a nervous girl waiting for her Prince Charming to sweep her onto the dancefloor.

I tried my best to be civil and held myself back from clawing the men’s eyes out like I so wanted to—I didn’t want to be murdered, if I could help it—and the night went on, minute after heart-pounding minute. At nine o’clock, when waiters in black suits went around the room offering a fresh round of canapés, I saw a chance to slip out onto the balcony and get away from all these horrible Crown and Dagger assholes.

I quietly stepped outside and headed over to the far side of the balcony so that prying eyes wouldn’t see me through the French doors. Then I took in a deep breath, drawing the refreshing ocean air into my lungs.

“Lovely out here, isn’t it?”

I turned to see who had spoken. My heart sank as I took in a tall white-haired man in a Venetian mask. I’d seen him across the ballroom earlier, groping the terrified blonde from Kansas.

He stepped closer to me. “It’s nearly winter, so you’d think it would be freezing and windy, but we’ve been blessed with perfect weather tonight.” He slid an arm around my waist, and I gulped. He wasn’t here to discuss the weather. “I saw you sneak out here. You were hoping I’d follow, weren’t you?”

I swallowed hard. “I just wanted some fresh air.”

He laughed. “I’ve been watching you all night. I know you noticed me too.”

Yeah, noticed you being a disgusting sleaze,I wanted to say. I bit back the words and stayed silent instead.

“I’ve decided to bid on you and the little blonde farm girl,” he went on, eyes glittering behind the awful mask. Hungry, lecherous, terrible eyes. “If I win you both, I can compare the two of you and see who responds better. See whose cunt and asshole is tighter. I’m guessing hers, because she’s more petite than you, but you never know….” He moved his hand down lower, fingers digging painfully into my left ass cheek. “I know we’re supposed to wait for the Bonding ceremony to take your virginity, but I’ve never liked rules. I should bend you over this balustrade and fuck your tight ass right now, make you bleed all over my cock. If it’s not pussy, it doesn’t really count as losing your virginity, does it?”

My breaths came fast and shallow, and my hands shook with terror. “Please,” I murmured in a ragged voice. “Don’t.”

He didn’t listen. He pushed my dress up off the floor, hands groping between my legs. My panties tore, and he spat on one finger and slipped it into my ass crack, massaging the digit over my puckered hole. “Spread your legs, bitch,” he muttered.

“No! Stop!” I pleaded. His free hand went to my mouth, muffling my shrieks and cries only seconds later.

I heard him unzip his pants, and he grunted in my ear. “You better not get me dirty, little whore.”

I closed my eyes, waiting for the agonizing violation. It never came.

“Get the fuck away from her!” said a furious and familiar voice.

I whipped my head around to see Elias stepping out of the shadows, his face etched with fury. “She’s been promised to me. I’m sure you wouldn’t want to aggravate my family by taking something that belongs to me, would you, Mr. Porter?” he went on.

“I was only going to fuck her ass. Hardly counts,” the older man said, loosening his grip but still holding onto me.

“Let her go right now or I’ll smash your fucking face into pieces,” Elias said, his voice cold and dangerous.

There was a heavy silence for a moment. Then the other man let out a derisive sniff. He let me go, zipped his pants up, and strode back inside.

I fell to my knees in front of Elias, sobbing grateful tears. “Thank you,” I said between gasps and sniffles. “He was going to—”

He cut me off. “Did I say you could fucking speak, slut?”

I recoiled and stared up at him, my eyes wide. What was going on? Last night, he looked like he might actually believe me when I told him I hadn’t sold myself here, but now he was acting like we never had that conversation. Like I was still nothing but a slave to him.

“Elias, I….” I trailed off and shook my head. “What’s going on?”

He dragged me to my feet and slammed me up against the wall. “You don’t learn, do you? You can’t even follow simple fucking instructions.”

“I don’t understand,” I said. “Please, tell me why you’re being like this.”

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