Page 19 of Wrath

Her smile fades, but before I can question her, she starts dishing up the porridge. “Please get Anna so the warriors can eat.”

I glance at the three bowls. “That’s not enough,” I tell her.

“Wrath is nil-by-mouth until further notice.”

“Says who?” I demand, and she smiles again.

“Believe it or not, you’re not in charge, Wynter.”

“You’re going to starve him for his behaviour last night?”

“Not me,” she admits. “I’m in charge of the girls in the cave, not the guards.”

“He has to eat. He won the fight, and he’ll need fuel after putting himself under so much strain.”

She nods in agreement. “But it’s their decision.”

I chew on my lower lip before giving a stiff nod. But as I leave the kitchen, I take two bread buns from the basket and stuff them in my apron.

Anna is scrubbing the bathroom floor in the guards’ quarters. “Would you like me to do the food delivery?” I ask.

She looks surprised by my offer. “Are you sure you don’t mind?”

I smile all the way back to the kitchen. “I’m doing the food run,” I tell Martha, who can’t hide her smirk as she points to thetrolly loaded with the three plates. I think she’s getting used to my behaviour. “They each have fruit today,” she adds, placing a basket on the top shelf. “And if you send Lenny my way, I have bacon. That should keep him busy for ten minutes.” She gives a knowing wink, and I head off.

Lenny eyes me with mistrust. “Where’s Anna?”

“She’s busy cleaning the bathrooms. I offered to help out. Also, Martha has bacon in the kitchen.”

He grins and unlocks Zeus’s door. “Great. Let’s make this quick.”

I take in his breakfast, seeing him chained at the table. “Good morning, Zeus. I hope you slept well. Martha sent fruit today,” I say brightly. He grunts, and I laugh. “It’s polite to say good morning back.”

“When it’s a good morning, I’ll say it back,” he tells me.

I greet Maximus the same way, smiling more when he grunts in response. “I think he’s growing to like me,” I tell Lenny. “Look, there’s only one more. You go and get the bacon, and I’ll sort Abraham.”

He laughs. “Nice try. I’m not a pushover like Alex.”

I shrug. “Suit yourself, but Jax was already in the kitchen when I left, so don’t blame me if he eats it all.”

His eyes narrow, and he sighs heavily, dropping his keys into my hand. “Lock it properly,” he orders, heading off.

I give Abraham his breakfast in the same way as the others, smiling wide. He also grunts, and as I’m leaving, I ask, “Can I call you Abe?”

“No,” he mutters.

I grin. “Thanks, Abe.”

“I said no,” he calls as I close the door, but I think I hear a hint of a smile in his tone.

I rush over to Wrath’s room, unlocking it.

My step falters at the sight greeting me. He’s completely naked again, with his hands chained above his head and his ankles shackled together. The sound of a woman’s cries fills the room, causing me to wince in embarrassment. I reach for the television switch, flicking it off and sighing in relief when the noise stops.

Wrath’s head twists my way, and his eyes widen. He glances nervously at his stomach, and my eyes fall to the wetness coating his skin. His penis is glistening with the same wetness, and I feel my cheeks burn with more embarrassment. Jade once told me about the stuff that comes out when a man has sex to get a woman pregnant.

I step closer. “Should I . . . erm, wipe that?” When I drag my eyes to his face, he looks mortified. I offer a sympathetic smile. “It’s not your fault, Wrath.”

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