Page 75 of Brandy Snap: Part One

Now that we were alone, Zania could push her aura at us as much as she wanted. Even though I wanted to puke, it was like she was the one who was sick.

If she was really Caspian’s mum, it might explain what I’d seen of him so far. If I couldn’t handle a minute of her, what had he been going through his whole life?

“Now. Answer me properly this time,” she tutted, looking down at me. “Where did you come from? Where did you meet my son? And why do you think you have any right to be here?”

“They’re the ones who invited me.”

“Very cute,” she replied. “But you’re clearly reaching above your station. I don’t know why they even bothered when it’s so obvious how unqualified you are.”

Eyes wide, I realised she was completely serious. She actually spoke that way to people and thought she wouldn’t get called out for it.

“Why would I care about how qualified I am when they’ve chosen me?” I asked.

“I’m telling you both now to give up this charade. Sin and Caspian have bigger things to worry about than a low-class omega and a male whore.”

Kai jerked as the colour seeped from his face. Pain stabbed me, echoing from him through our bond. A shudder flew through my body, my heart aching at his pure emotion that fed to me. I couldn't feel him since the rejection, so the pain he felt must be staggering.

Zania sighed as if we were merely a frustration.

It was like she had flicked a switch inside me. As soon as those words dropped from her lips, the quiet storm that always rolled under my surface burst through.

If my breathing hadn’t changed, if my senses hadn’t expanded with my aura, I wouldn’t have picked up the slightest whine from Kai that nearly broke my heart.

“That’s so interesting,” I said quietly, trying to stop my knees from shaking as I straightened my back. “Because I was taught that a host should be gracious above anything else.”

“Excuse me?” she asked, arching a brow with a haughty smile.

“This is your party, isn’t it? You put in so much time and effort to arrange all of this. And a host should be overjoyed to receive their guests.”

In the Knottinghill Spa staff rooms, there were posters on the walls that listed the expected behaviour of the hosts and how they should treat the guests who bought them. I always thought they were preachy and extreme, considering what kind of service the hosts offered.

But now I was glad I’d read them when I was bored waiting for guests to leave their rooms so I could clean them.

“What nonsense is this? Do you seriously have the audacity to tell me how to manage my own parties?”

“I’m just curious,” I said, amazed at how I could speak through my nerves. “If you treat all your guests like this, I’m really surprised you have any at all.”

My ass was clenching so hard I thought it was going to go numb. Thank God Kai had sent me a dress that fell to the floor so that they couldn’t see how much I trembled. Terrified didn’t sum it up, but I had no reason to fear her just because she spat venom at us. But the problem was that the venom had seeped into my blood and I was already infected.

But hearing Kai snort gave me more confidence.

I copied her, sighing heavily. “It really is a shame because I was looking forward to meeting my pack’s family. But even after five minutes, it’s clear that you don’t understand what it means to take care of your guests.”

It was strange how challenging her was less nerve-wracking than asking Caspian to fuck me.

She went quiet, and I really felt like I’d won.

Until her bony fingers shot forward, clasping my arm and yanking me from Kai’s grasp.

“Hey!” I cried out as she dragged me backwards, and I lost my balance. She flipped me around so fast I didn’t have time to react. I shouted as she suddenly grabbed my hair and yanked me so my back slammed into her chest.

“Kai!” I yelled, reaching for him, my skull suddenly burning as she tugged my hair up and away from my neck.

Panic tore through me as Kai simply lifted his fan to cover his mouth, his eyes sharp as he observed us.

“What are you doing!?” I yelled, looking around for help. Everyone was too far away. Even when I called out, it was like they were blind or we were invisible. They wouldn’t come running no matter how much I cried.

Zania made a noise of triumph as her palm landed on my neck and she pinched me hard enough to send bolts of pain shooting across my shoulders and into my skull.

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