Page 77 of Into The Darkness

“Is this okay?” she asked.

“You look beautiful,” I whispered, pressing a kiss to her lips.

“Let’s get this thing over with. I need a shot of tequila.” I laughed and grabbed her hand, leading her up to my room where I poured her two shots.

“After this, what happens?” she whispered.

“After this, we can, I don’t know, make it official?” I offered, shrugging my shoulders.

“Do you want to make it official?” She narrowed her eyes in my direction.

“Ember”—my voice was a low raspy whisper—“I-I know I told you that you shouldn’t fall in love with me when we first met, but . . .” I was getting choked up over just thinking about not being with her and the thought that somehow our families would eventually try to tear us apart.

“I know, Ash. We will figure this all out . . . together.” I was going to tell her I loved her but even now, knowing how fucking hard it was for me to talk about my emotions, I needed her to know this.

She closed the gap between us and pressed her finger against my lips.

“I feel the same too.” She looked around the room. “I’m doing this tonight for us.”

I nodded before Rain came and knocked at the door, signaling it was time to head downstairs. After grabbing the bottle of tequila, I took a few gulps. I’d attended quite a few of these over the last few years, participating every so often, but now as their leader, I knew the stakes were high. It was a show, and I needed Ember to be the star.

“Ready, mi sol?” I grabbed her hand and led her down the stairs to the main room, which was already set up for the parties. The furniture was pushed against the walls, aside from a few couches in a circle in the center of the room.

The lights were dimmed and the familiar bass of the music we always played pumped through the speakers. If anyone walked into this, they would half expect me to say some ancient phrase or something, but the way it all started was simple. I’d nod to a few of the guys, then she and I would walk into the center of the circle and tear our clothes off. Usually, it took a few minutes before others started to either participate or jack off and watch.

After it was all complete, everyone left the couple and cleaned up before the doors opened and the party started. A lot of sexual tension was usually rampent in the room, which was why some continued to fuck on the sides, especially those who weren’t participating.

The only other rule that stood was, only members and couples who had gone through initiation could watch and participate. Not everyone who had been initiated chose to attend, but every so often, there were a few girls, depending on the night, with their boyfriends scattered around.

I guided Ember through a few guys making out with girls. There was free-flowing liquor, and Ember grabbed a bottle from Pico and downed it before we made it to the center of the room.

“This is fucked, Ash,” she whispered.

“We can leave right now.” I stopped. “If at any point you want to stop, you need to tell me.” She nodded, and I hated that this was the one thing my dad required, the club required, and the plan needed.

“Use your words, Ember.”

“I promise, I will tell you.” She made eye contact with Rain, who looked at me. Both of us giving each other a discerning nod.

“Come on, mi amor.” Her hand trembled in mine.

Sitting on the floor, a few guys stared at us, their eyes devouring our presence. As the club’s leader, this was a significant moment, though I wouldn’t reveal that to Ember. Taking a girl to participate in the ritual was something I had never done before, usually engaging only when I felt like it. I also recognized Ember’s exceptional beauty, and part of me was pleased that everyone could witness the power we exuded together.

“Sit,” I demanded, and Pico handed her the bottle again, which she happily took and placed next to us after taking a swig.

She started to sit across from me, but I gestured for her to sit on my lap. She wrapped her legs behind my back. No matter where we were, when we were together, it felt like the world stopped.

“I’ve missed you so much,” I whispered. It was a weight which carried a million truths. I had missed everything about her over the break. I knew the sacrifice she was giving to me, and tried to push back the guilt that she was still a pawn in my father’s plan.

“I missed you,” she murmured, and I knew with the combination of the alcohol and the electricity that we had when we were together, she would be okay.

I brought my hand to her chin and pulled her lips to mine, then murmured, “Let’s put on a good show.” She nodded, then my lips devoured hers. We were together in a world that only existed between the two of us, and if this was what needed to happen for me to be able to protect her down the line, we were both going to have to sacrifice.

Chapter thirty-one

Once the nerves went away, there was an exhilaration to all of this. It was quite symbolic that I grew up sheltered from everything and now I was literally baring myself for everyone to see. I was shedding the skin I had held onto for so long. Trust was the only thing holding it together. My trust that Ash would protect me, cherish me, and love me.

When our mouths met, I knew I was a goner. After a stupid misunderstanding on my end of how relationships were a give and take, I wanted so much to give this to him. I knew he would respect my boundaries and wishes, and if this was the only way we were able to be together, then I wanted to make sure I sacrificed for him.

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