Page 66 of Lamb

“Where do you get these lines from?” I shook my head, trying to make sense of what exactly had just come out of his clever, talented mouth. “Did your inbuilt algorithm text search for that? Because if so, that is cheating.”

Lamb’s only response was a small quirk of a smile before turning to Mint, rendering my argument invisible and forgotten.

Mint was keenly skimming over Lamb’s words, but I could see from the slight taut of his brows and lips that he had also been shocked by his brother’s cinematic speech. From the interactions I remember in the club, it would be weird for them to see this side of Lamb; he was a trickster and a troublemaker as much as he was their capable vice president. The AI had masked well, but since my arrival, it had become corrupted, and now it seemed like he did not care who saw his robotic persona underneath.

“Got everything you need?” Lamb queried, looking over Mint’s clipboard at his scribbling. He squinted and frowned before Mint pulled the clipboard protectively to his wide, muscular chest.

“Yeah, just give me a few to get everything we need set up, and then we can start.” He rose from the chair, brushing past Lamb who made no effort to move an inch away from me, and began rooting through his mountain of luggage.

“You never answered.” Lamb looked back at me, his hand resting on my head and soothing down over my plait. His eyes followed the gesture, an out-of-place softness to them.

I swatted it away.

“Answer what?”

Lamb reached to pet my head again, undeterred by my strike.

“The bet …” He soothed his hand down over my shoulder, sliding his fingers through my soft, brushed hair. “Either I fail to free you and you leave, or I succeed and you marry me.”

“As simple as that,” I scoffed.

“As simple as that,” Lamb repeated, his tone carrying none of my sarcasm, only a lightly amused tone.

I rolled my eyes, realising that Lamb was becoming a dog, and this would be his metaphorical bone.

It was not that I doubted Lamb’s capabilities, but I had been scarred too many times from hope. Had too many fantasies that I would be able to escape the fate set out for me. I was to die by my father’s hands, whether that took him one or a thousand tries. It had simply become a matter of when.

Even so, there was no harm in agreeing to Lamb’s outrageous bet. Only he would be the one to be disappointed when this all fell through. A shame for him to lose his streak, betting against impossible odds. It was not like him at all.

But fate makes fools of us at least once in our lives. This would merely be his turn.

I extended my open palm and watched his smile brighten on his otherworldly face. If I had thought he was handsome before, then I had been wrong. If I could, I would never sell that smile, not even for a pretty coin.

“Bet.”

Chapter Eighteen

LAMB

“Iam going to smash it,” Ash growled, lunging for the round disk on the wall.

My actions were reflective; leaping between the clock and its assailant, I wrapped my hands around her waist, her furious fists darting over my shoulder as all ninety-five pounds of her slammed against my chest.

She wriggled and withered against me, unable to break free and only stirring me to hold her tighter. I liked the feel of her body rubbing against mine, even at the cost of a barrage of pinching and rapid cursing.

Seeing her pinching attack was futile, her furious limbs settled. Instead, a dark shadow crossed over her face, eyes zeroing in on the exposed section of my neck, her tongue darting out to wet her lips.

“Do it,” I purred, leaning close to her ear, feeling the shiver ripple down her spine. “Bite me.”

Ash stilled, her gasp snagged on those damp lips, eyes wide, pupils dilated. I could see the confusion in the bite of her lip, unsure whether to push the line or retreat from it.

I knew whatIwanted her to do.

Instead, Ash relaxed in my grip, her body parting a penny’s worth from mine. Her eyes escaped my hold, flickering back to the clock ticking quietly.

“The noise is driving me insane,” she growled.

Ash wasn’t taking the start of her detox well. Even in my grip, she swayed, and in her attack, I felt her weakness and exhaustion. This was only the beginning, and a storm was brewing inside her, escaping in small bursts of anger and irritation.

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