Page 34 of Filthy Beginnings

“That’s not what I asked.” He let a bit of his dominant Alpha command roll into his voice. “I want the truth.”

She shifted on his lap. Inhaled a deep breath. “No. It’s too bitter.”

She remained perfectly still, as if wary of what he would do next.

Which is why he forced himself to smile when what he really wanted to do was rip out the throats of every consortium bastard who’d made her afraid to say what she wanted. “Got it. No more energy drinks.” He placed the cannister back on the table and grabbed his water bottle instead. “Better?”

“Much.”

It was strange that she could be so bold about sex and shy with the rest of her wants, but he suspected he understood the contradiction. They’d trained her to be a pretty, carnal prize. She hadn’t yet fully learned she could be anything else.

He brought the container toward her lips.

She grabbed his wrist, stopping him just before the bottle reached her lips. “Thank you.”

He understood. “You don’t need to thank me, Scarlett. I should thank you for trusting me enough to tell me the truth. Too many fuckers haven’t listened to a word you say. Not me. You tell me what you want. I do it. That’s how we operate from here on out. That’s my vow to you.”

She studied him, the shimmering colors of her skin flashing faster than before. “Okay.”

Through the invisible bond between them, he sensed her hope and her nerves.

“We’ll practice this. It will get easier.” He picked up a Verishian meat pie. Fighters were supplied delicacies from across the galaxy during the tournament. “You like this one?” He held it close to her lips.

She wrinkled her nose.

He laughed. “No, huh? I’m not a fan either.” He tossed it back onto the tray and chose a sweeter plant dish from his homeland,svalketh. “What about this one?”

“Yes.”

“See, we got this.” He slid a small piece between her lips and muffled a groan.

He’d never understood until now what it was he truly needed in his life. Now he did.

It was this. It was her.

He relished every bit of food he slid between her perfect lips, but as they neared the end of the meal, he could hold in his question no longer.

“So, what did Kadon Stormhart say to you?” He fed her another choice bit ofsvalketh.

It took way too long for her to chew and swallow. “What?”

“I might have been in the thick of my matches, but I saw Egan bring you to speak with Kadon’s father and the golden boy himself.”

“Yes, it’s part of my duties as a prize. Kadon’s father, Andor Stormhart, is a Brotherhood member and a big investor in the consortium tournaments. Big investors like him are always offered a special look at the prize.” There was a wariness to her voice Damien didn’t like and that same tight smile he’d hoped never to see again.

“That better be all he did.”

“Of course, even an Alpha as powerful as Andor Stormhart can’t touch a prize.”

“What did Kadon say?” He noticed she hadn’t yet given him an answer.

It looked like they’d need a lot more practice to get her comfortable opening up.

She shrugged. “Not much. We exchanged a few words. He asked if he could bring me a drink. Egan told him I was fine.”

So the fucker was nice as well as handsome. Great.

There wasn’t anyone alive who didn’t know Stormhart’s father was a bigwig in the Brotherhood with deep pockets who’d made his fortune through raiding. He put a lot of money and time into his son’s training and it showed. His heir, Kadon Stormhart, was an excellent fighter.

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