Page 24 of Vicious King

She shrugged in a non-committal manner, as if it wasn’t a big deal at all. “Yeah. But like I said, it’s mostly drugs and alcohol that makes the girls look so happy. Oh, and the Artemis Festival, of course. That’s a good inspiration for them to behave themselves.”

My forehead crinkled. “The Artemis Festival?”

Mellie glanced at her watch. “Long story. I’ll explain it to you another day. Sorry, gotta head out to see the next girl.”

She swept out of the room. I let out a long sigh and stared up at the ceiling. According to the clock hanging on the wall near the bed, it was eight o’clock, but I didn’t want to get up and find the dining room for breakfast. My thoughts were too clouded with melancholy to think about eating.

Even though I’d vowed to escape this place, I had no idea how long it would take. It could be months. Years. Until then, I’d have to put up with all the terrible things that happened here, and I wouldn’t be allowed to utter a single word of complaint. Not even to Elias. I needed him to help me, and that meant being a good slave to him and telling him everything he wanted to hear. Fake compliance and happiness, like Mellie said.

There were some instances in which I didn’t have to fake it, though…

A slow, warm tingle started deep in my belly, spreading throughout my body as I thought of yesterday’s hot and heavy encounter with him. It felt so right to let him kiss me, touch me, pick me up and fuck me. In those heady moments, I’d never wanted anything more, and a tiny part of me even wondered if I was falling for him. But now that I was alone again, reality was setting in.

For now, I could be with him in this luxurious place. I could let him care for me, protect me, keep me warm and coddled and safe. I could even want him and crave his touch every day and night.

But at the heart of all that, I was still a captive. A prisoner trapped in a gilded cage. Despite any feelings I had for him, I could never truly be with him.

I could never, ever fall in love with him.

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