Page 108 of Deceit

Skyla and Bartlett are eating lunch at their usual table while I sit across from them, fucking around on my phone. I’m sure my father’s spies will love all the shots they are getting with Skyla and I today. To make things better, I’ve hardly looked at another woman for longer than two seconds. It will pacify my father, but my cock is feeling neglected as fuck. For the next month it looks like I’ll be jerking it, because I’m not risking shit for some half assed blowjob or stretched out pussy.

Nah, I’ll wait until after the ceremony, when all eyes are no longer solely on me.

I still don’t get why all of this is happening. Having the ceremony on October 31stmakes sense. It’s a powerful day forthem, and what better way to undermine and form a stronger bond for the Brethren than completing a union like ours on that day? But why not an entire wedding? I haven’t been able to figure that part out yet, and I’ve been trying to stay out of my father’s way as much as possible lately.

I’m lost in my thoughts, and I don’t see what happens next before it’s already in progress. Bridgette, very pathetically and clearly fake-falls behind Skyla, falling forward with her China plate. Before Bridgette ‘falls’ she raises her arms, forcing thethick plate to hit Skyla in the back of the head, the material shattering apart against her, before all of the broken pieces fall to the ground.

A collective hush falls over the room and before I know what I’m doing, I’m on my feet. Rounding the table, I bend down to where Bridgette is smiling like the evil fucking cunt that she is. My hand wraps around her throat, as I easily lift her up into the air before pinning her against the wall. Her eyes are wide and limbs flailing,as her toes just barely scrape the floor.

Her hands are clawing at my wrist, desperate to get me off of her but I can fucking promise, she will lose that fight.

“Now that I’ve got your attention, this is a reminder for you and anyone who is smart enough to listen,” I bellow, turning my head to make eye contact with as many people as possible, before bringing my eyes back to the worm before me. “My fiancée is off-limits. If you look at her, I’ll gouge your fucking eyes out. If you talk to her, I’ll cut out your tongue. And if you touch her,” I say, allowing a feral growl to rip through my chest as I chuckle. “I’ll fucking kill you,” I say lowly, allowing the ferocity of my words to melt into this thick woman’s skull.”

Her face is beginning to turn blue, and I know I have a choice to make. Will I get shit for killing a member’s daughter? No doubt about it, but she doesn’t even belong to an Elder family. So does it really matter?

“Shit, hold still,” I hear from behind me, as I turn to see Bartlett attempting to pull pieces of plate from Skyla’s head. A head that has a decent sized red spot soaking her blonde hair. Rage ignites inside of me once more, but I don’t allow myself to give any more of it to Bridgette. She’s not worth it.

Tossing her to the floor, I release her as I turn back to Skyla and practically shove Bartlett away.

“Hey!” she gripes.

I ignore her, inspecting the wound and seeing that it is deep enough that she will need stitches. Kneeling down to her side, I see Skyla hiding her face. I try to pull her hands free, but she holds on tighter.

“Is your face hurt too? Let me see.”

She shakes her head as her words come out muffled.

“I just want to leave.”

I nod at that and slip my arm beneath her knees, wrapping my other around her back as I lift her up. She comes to me easily, as I carry her bridal style out of the dining hall. I kick the door open, walking through easily as Skyla buries her face into my chest. I feel the occasional drop of blood land on my arm from her head, but I don’t give a shit. I hold her a little tighter, allowing her as much privacy from all the prying eyes as I can.

I don’t even realize that she’s crying until we’re stepping inside the nurse’s area. She’s silent about it, but tears are pouring down her face and leaving mascara tracks in their wake. It makes my chest fucking burn, to see someone I know to be a very strong woman broken down by someone so insignificant.

I’m not sure Skyla understands what will be happening in the next month, at least not fully. She doesn’t see this place like a kingdom, but it is– Gallows Hill, Salem, the country, really. It is all one large kingdom of the Brethren, and I’m first in line for the throne, which means so is Skyla. I will rule over all like I am their king, and she is my queen. She can’t cry over commoners like Bridgette when she was raised from birth to rule.

Walking us through the room, I choose the first empty bed I see, closing the curtain around us as I set her on the edge. Slowly, she loosens her grip on me before pulling away all together. Forcing away the small tug that pulls on me when she does, I force her chin up to me. Those bright green eyes meet mine, red and watery as she attempts to turn away. I don’t let her, though.

“You’re right to never let them see you cry. I’m not them, though.”

“No, you’re worse,” she says hollowly, her voice slightly rasping like she’s doing her best to choke back more tears.

“You got that right,” I agree. “But I’ll never take your moment of weakness and turn it against you like they would.”

Her brows furrow as she looks up at me. “Why?”

“Because you didn’t to me.”

She stares up at me, blinking for several seconds before she nods her understanding. My mind has played that night over and over again. My father lashing out, normal. Him doing it in front of Skyla, surprising. Her tenderly caring for me and then not telling a soul after, fucking mind boggling.

Her eyes blink slowly and fear tears through me for half a second. I rip past the curtain as I shout out into the room.

“Someone get the fuck over here and help her!”

In a rush, two nurses appear from out of nowhere, gasping in surprise when they see the back of her head.

“What happened?” one asks.

“Someone tripped,” I say flatly, as I come around to the front of Skyla.

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