Page 21 of Vicious King

There was a doorway on the far side of the bathroom, and through it was a large walk-in closet, big enough to be its own room. It was filled to the brim with gorgeous clothes and shoes. At one end was a huge mirror, and beside it sat a vanity with multiple drawers, all filled with makeup, hair products and perfumes.

Right at the back, tucked away in a little hidden nook, was a writing desk and comfortable study chair. The desk had a lamp and multiple leather journals and pens scattered over one side. The only thing missing was a computer, although it was clear I would never be allowed one of those while I was here. Too risky—I could get onto the internet and let the world know what was happening here.

“I figured you’d like this room because of that.” Elias nodded toward the writing nook.

“Thank you,” I said. “This whole place is beautiful.”

“I’m not sure if the clothes will fit you, because I didn’t exactly have much time to organize them, but they can be replaced.”

“I’m sure they’ll be fine.”

He smiled. “Why don’t you take a shower and find yourself something comfortable to wear to bed while I sort out some food?” he said. “You’ll probably want to have a rest after you eat.”

I nodded, a yawn suddenly creeping up my throat. I hadn’t noticed till he brought it up, but I was absolutely exhausted after the day we’d had.

After taking a long, hot shower, I headed into the closet and rifled through the drawers in search of some pajamas. I found a beautiful pink and cream silk cami and shorts set. I slipped into it, almost groaning with pleasure at the feel of the luxurious fabric sliding over my skin. They weren’t typical winter pajamas, but they were too gorgeous to pass up. Besides, the heating in the palatial mansion was so good I could barely even tell it was winter outside.

It was hard to believe that just a couple of hours ago, I was freezing and soaked on the edge of a cliff, desperate to hurl myself off it. It seemed like it all happened to a different girl in another lifetime.

Elias was sitting on the bed when I returned to the main part of my suite. Next to him was a tray of hot food and two steaming cups of mulled wine. The heavenly scent of cinnamon and orange from the mulled wine filled my nostrils, and I sighed with contentment and flopped down on the bed, taking a mug in one hand.

“Want to watch something while we eat?” Elias asked as I took a sip.

I swallowed, then smiled shyly. “Sure.”

He set up a movie on the massive TV, and I reclined against the bedhead with all its cushions, nibbling at the food and taking sips of the delicious hot wine. Elias came back and did the same, sitting in silence as the movie played out before us. My eyelids began to feel heavy after a while, and he slid an arm around me, letting me slide farther down the bed so I could nestle into his chest.

It was easy to pretend for a while that we were a real couple, sitting in a hotel suite as we enjoyed delicious meals and did regular couple stuff like snuggling up together on a bed while a funny movie played in the background. But then my eyes drifted over to the windows and the thick silver bars dragged me back to reality.

This was no hotel, and Elias wasn’t my boyfriend. This gorgeous, opulent room wasn’t really mine, and it never would be.

It was a beautiful cage… but it was still a cage.

* * *

“Rise and shine, Doll.”

I opened my eyes to see Mellie standing over my bed, a smug smile on her beautiful face. I groaned and sat up. “What are you doing here? Where’s Elias?”

I didn’t remember going to sleep last night. I wasn’t even sure if Elias spent the night, or if he slipped out after waiting for me to drift off.

Mellie shrugged. “I think he had to go do something with his dad. I don’t know what. Anyway, I’m here to go over the ground rules with you.”

I gaped at her. “What, you work here now?”

She beamed and nodded. “I told you, I’ve proved my worth to the society, and now they’re rewarding me by letting me take part. It’s my job to liaise with all the new girls here and help them get settled, especially as none of you were actually ready to be integrated just yet.” She paused to let out a long, heavy sigh. “God, it really is a crying shame that Albemarle Island flooded, isn’t it? The School won’t be fixed for months. It’s such a nice place, though. So far away from the real world. I can’t wait till it’s all restored.”

So the island had a name. “Yeah, it’s really nice,” I said stiffly.

She glared at me, and her blue eyes no longer seemed so pretty. They were just cold and stony. “I’ll let that one slide. But only that one.”

“So you really quit college for this?” I blurted out, unable to help myself. I still couldn’t believe a girl like her, with all the opportunities and privilege in the world, would choose this for herself.

She snorted. “It’s not like anyone from my family really needs qualifications. We can walk into almost any job we want with just a few phone calls. So what’s the point of getting a degree?” She waved a hand. “Besides, I got sick of listening to Willa and Greer moaning and bitching about you all the time. You know they can’t stand you now?”

Bile rose in my throat. “Yeah, I know,” I mumbled. I couldn’t blame them. They were my best friends and I’d seemingly cut them off without a word. Then my parents had informed them that I thought I was too good for them and therefore they weren’t allowed to have any sort of contact with me.

If I were them, I’d hate me too.

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