Page 139 of Deceit

“W-what if I refuse?” she chokes softly.

Vincent’s hand squeezes her leg tightly before he shares a look with me, Liam and then finally Ronan.

We know what will happen if she refuses, and we all know that the task of removing her would be left to the man that is currently holding onto her like she is his life raft.

“You can’t, Skyla,” I say, speaking for everyone. “They’ll kill you.”

A strangled sob escapes her as she buries her face in her hands.

“Why does everyone have to be there? If we have to do it, why can’t we do it in private?” she asks, blinking back some of her tears as she does.

“To ensure the ritual is completed properly,” Ronan says diplomatically.

“No, it’s so a bunch of fucking perverts can watch!” she snaps.

Ronan doesn’t disagree, and it makes my blood boil. This is fucking bullshit. I knew there was going to be an expectation for our wedding night, obviously. You’re not gifted a virgin bride and told you can handle her however you see fit. But no one ever told me I’d have to take her virginity in a room full of people. It’s going to feel uncomfortable enough for me, but her being the only woman in the room, no doubt naked. My stomach rolls at the thought.

“There’s more,” Ronan continues.

Of fucking course there is.

“You all will be there as well,” he says, looking at Liam and Vincent.

“What?” Liam asks.

Ronan turns around to look at him as he nods.

“All Elders and Legacies of appropriate age. The last ceremony was over six years ago when you all were too young to attend. Now…you’re not.”

“All Legacies of age?” Vincent clarifies.

Ronan nods and Vincent stands.

“Where are you going?” Skyla asks as he heads for the door.

“No one can watch you if their eyes are plucked from their fucking heads.”

“That’s a fucking stupid idea!” I call out as Skyla shouts for him.

“Vincent! Please! Get over here.”

His name on her lips forces him to pause, his hand gripping the door handle tightly before he spins to face the room. His chest is heaving, his eyes wild and crazed. I’d imagine this is what one of the best eliminators for the Brethren looks like when he’s on the verge of a kill. Like a wild blood thirsty animal ready to be let loose.

“This is the shit that cannot happen,” Ronan says as he gestures to all of us. “You cannot allow your emotions to get the better of you. Too many eyes will be in that room. One move like that,” he says, as he points to Vincent, “and all of our lives could be at risk. Most of all hers. So, you lock it down, you space out. You sing fucking show tunes in your head. I don’t give a fuck, but you cannot react.”

Liam, Vincent and I all share looks of frustration and concern as we nod.

“You think this is going to be easy for me?” Ronan laughs bitterly. “Do you think I enjoyed keeping this from you? It’s been fucking killing me, but I knew you would all freak out, most of all you, baby,” he says to Skyla. “And I knew there was nothing any of us could do. I’ve talked to my brother and…it didn’t go well. This is happening or people are dying. And if you die, I die,” he says as he reaches for Skyla’s hand.

She lets him take it as she stares at him and shakes her head.

“I can’t believe this.”

“I know and I’m sorry. I’m so fucking sorry, baby. If there was anything I could do, I would. I’ve already tried and failed,” he says on a pained rasp.

Skyla nods numbly, but doesn’t say anything, none of us do apart from Ronan. He goes into detail about what tomorrow will look like for her, and what she will be expected to do once she’s in the room. When he’s finished, she stands up, her face looking pale if not a little green.

“Excuse me,” she says, as she makes her way to the bathroom. Liam and Vincent both stand but she waves them off as Ronan hangs his head.

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