Page 102 of Seduce

“Yes, as long as you have something to bring to the table,” he agrees.

Finishing my dinner, I stand to bring it to the sink. Someone takes it from me, and they begin to say goodnight to me. I’m floored at how quickly they throw me out to spend time with her. Damn.

Shaking my head, I make way to the car, leaning against it as I text my brother.

It’s okay to be angry at me, but can you tell me where you are?

Silence welcomes me, and my heart rate begins to race. He doesn’t respond to me, so I get into the car to drive home. I hope he’s okay, because the last of my innocence is tied to his.

Twenty-Four

SILLA

I’ve been training for today, but I still don’t feel ready. Kenzo, Sidney, and I sparred together the last few days, and they both commended me on my form. It ended with Sidney fucking me in the shower when we got home from the gym, and I loved every moment of it.

Staring up at the castle now, I wish I didn’t have to go inside. The Gods only know what is waiting for me. Taking a deep breath, I remind myself that I can do hard things for thirty seconds at a time and then I can start the timer over and do it again. Time is relative.

“We’re here,” Ayden breathes next to me. I nod, forcing myself to breathe.

“I know,” I whimper, swallowing hard. Gray pulls me to him, dwarfing me.

“You have how many weapons on you?” he rumbles, rubbing my neck.

“Six,” I rasp, blinking hard. Andrya helped me do my makeup, and I don’t want to fuck it up. I have four poison pins in my hair, a knife strapped to my thigh, and a small knife in my boot. I am wearing heeled boots so that my shoes tap against the floor as I walk, a concession to my normal heels.

“How many ways can you gut a man, Kitten?” Ayden asks, playing along with Gray.

“Six,” I tell them, my voice sounding a little stronger.

“How many people expect you to survive today, nay, need you to?” Gray grunts.

I can see where he’s going with this, and the vise around my chest begins to loosen.

“Six,” I say clearly.

“Good fucking girl. Now let’s go inside and sort out the crown,” Grayson growls.

Nodding, I take a step toward the guard gate. A guard looks cruelly down at me, but I keep my head up high. I don’t know this guard, though it doesn’t mean much.

“My name is Drizella Tremaine, and these are my guests. We've come to dinner at the behest of the King and Queen,” I tell him, my tone haughty and cold.

His eyes widen and he nods wildly, losing the tone. I despise men who swing their dicks around when they’re working. Just do your job. He quickly opens the gate, telling us to walk through to the front door.

We aren’t the dirty little secret tonight, that’s definitely different. Forcing myself to continue breathing, I walk up the driveway to the door. My step-sister arches her eyebrow at me in annoyance as she stands at the front door, throwing me off balance.

Cinder never answers the front door nor waits for anyone.

Her gaze takes me in, her upper lip curled up. “I see you’re no longer in those terrible clothes,” she says in reference to the casual clothing I wore when she video called me last week. “I suppose I should be grateful for small mercies. Grayson and Ayden, I am so glad you’re here. You’ll love the surprise we have for you.”

My sister must be on crack, because I never enjoy her surprises.

“It’s good to see you, Your Majesty,” Ayden murmurs as Cinder steps back to allow us to move inside. “Has this chandelier always been here?”

I take this as the warning that it is, looking up because she’s always had a fancy candle chandelier in the main foyer. Pressing my lips together, I hold in my horror as I see that there are three human heads mounted on spikes. The entire chandelier is macabre, with black crystals covering all of it.

“I felt like I needed a change.” Cinder sighs. “Isn’t it beautiful? Everyone is upsetting me lately, and I’m hoping this will remind them to tread lightly and do their jobs. The halls will run red if the staff can’t get their lives together.”

Striding away, we follow a few steps behind her, careful not to dawdle.

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