Page 117 of Demise

She nods her thanks as our food is placed in front of us. She gives mine a disgusted look, like she’s mentally counting the calories, before shaking her head.

“So, I think it’s best if we address the elephant in the room,” she says as she daintily gathers a few pieces of lettuce on her fork.

“Elephant?” I ask.

“You sleeping with my son.”

My eyes widen as she takes her bite, chewing slowly before swallowing.

“Sweet girl, you didn’t honestly think the two of you were subtle, did you?” Alison laughs.

“I—”

“My question is, what will your husband think?” she asks, a hint of malice in her smile.

Is she trying to blackmail me? For what? What on earth would I have to offer her? Deciding that playing nice is over, I sit up straight, drop my smile and fold my hands in my lap. I give her a look that my father would surely be proud of as a condescending smile curves my face.

“My husband iswellaware of Liam and myself.”

Her lips purse at that as she shakes her head.

“Ah, I see they arethosetype of Bond Brothers.”

“Excuse me?” I ask.

“The ones who share their women. The ones who use and abuse them until they are nothing but worthless trash who disappear. Careful, girl, your days are surely numbered at this rate.”

Not sweet girl anymore, just girl. Alrighty then.

“Speaking from experience?” I jab.

She waves her hand in dismissal. “Hardly.”

Her fork slams against her plate, gaining the interest of several diners, but she doesn’t pay them any mind as she leans forward, lowering her tone.

“My husband cherishes me, unlike yours, apparently. Look around, how many Elder’s wives are there? Just one, me. You know why that is? I keep my husband satisfied, and I keep my goddamn mouth shut. I live and breathe for the Brethren with a smile on my face. Anyone who tells you this isn’t a game of survival of the fittest has already lost. They’ve all lost, all but me.”

“And me,” I say, pushing my shoulders back a little further as I sit taller in my chair.

She rolls her eyes at me and shakes her head.

“Not for long at the rate you’re going. You’ve been a wife for less than three months and already your husband is auctioning you off like a common street whore. You’ll be dead and forgotten in two months.”

My mouth drops open in shock. “Is that a threat?”

“No, that’s a fucking guarantee.”

I stare at her for several seconds before I shake my head.

“Why did you invite me here? To threaten me? Blackmail me or something?”

“I invited you to educate you,” she says as she shakes her head, flicking her blonde hair over her shoulder as those pale green eyes, Liam’s eyes, come back to me. “And to warn you. Fall inline quickly and you might survive. Continue down this…path and—”

“You’ll make sure I’m never found again?” I guess.

A malicious smile spreads across her face as she lifts a shoulder.

“I’ll leave that job to your husband. Apparently, he has quite the talent for a nasty death.”

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