Page 17 of Seduce

“As she said, Lana does what she wants when Cinder isn’t watching. The car ride back won’t be fun.” Silla sighs.

“Is she always like that?” I ask as she reaches the door.

Stopping, she looks at us over her shoulder to respond. “Cinder is unpredictable, and always finds a new way to surprise me. I may not seem myself when you next see me. Please don’t ask.”

Walking out, she leaves us dumbfounded as the door quietly shuts behind her.

“What… what did we just do?!” Andrya cries, tears welling up in her eyes.

“We’re getting her away from that monster,” Isaac growls. “I’m just not sure of the cost yet.”

My hand sweeps the papers off my desk as a wave of helplessness and anger washes over me.

“We couldn’t do this without finding a way for her to be with us,” Ayden says, his hand finding my shoulder as I breathe heavily.

“No,” I grunt. “Godsdamnit, I just need her to survive whatever Cinder is going to do to her.”

CINDER

They think they’re so smart. Drizella looked too perfect to have been freshly fucked, so I doubt that’s what happened. The five of them are still as infatuated with her as they were a year ago. I figured that the shine would have worn away.

Drizella isn’t as optimistic as she once was. You can’t live through the horrors that she has and believe that unicorns are real and rainbows appear when you need them the most. I’ve beaten it all out of her, and what I haven’t, trips to the guard and soldier's quarters have.

I don’t like to share my toys. There’s something about my step-sister that has always fascinated me. Her sheer force of will. Even when she hides her eyes, pretends to be this meek little thing, her eyes betray her.

I don’t see that spark anymore. Drizella doesn’t deny my whims, though she has yet to climb into bed with Lana and I willingly. I don’t like to have to chain her to the bed, so I haven’t yet. Blood doesn’t wash out well from my sheets. Lana and I found this out when we played too roughly with one of the servant girls.

We asked one of the guards to bury her for us, too busy rolling around in her blood to bother. Queens don’t wield shovels anyway. I am no longer the house pet for Lady Tremaine. We remain civil, but there have been so many times that I’ve wished I could kill her.

Too many people would ask questions though, and she hasn’t really broken any laws.

“Fiddlesticks and penis rings,” I growl, the closest I get to cursing. It’s beneath my station, but I’m so irritated.

The five people who can help me with this Underground nonsense are completely smitten with Drizella, and it disgusts me that I just agreed to send her with them. I’m staying awake until the car gets back to the castle, but the more I pace, the angrier I become.

My gaze travels to the items I pulled from my special closet. Lana enjoys pain on occasion, and allows me to indulge. However, these aren’t for her. Not today.

The heavy doors open to the castle, making me turn. I changed hours ago into a silk nightgown and pretty robe. My nipples show through, a clear example of how turned on I am by what’s about to happen.

“Cinder!” Lana calls out loudly, making me move toward her. My slippered feet don’t make a sound as I cross the floor.

“I’m in here, Darling!” I tell her, leaning out the door to my office. I asked the guards to move in my bondage horse, because it’ll be the easiest way for me to restrain Drizella.

Speaking of which, her hair is in disarray, and she’s limping. Tears track down Silla’s face, making me wonder what Lana did. I won’t ask or kick up a fuss, but I have an understanding with my dark-haired beauty. Evil lives inside of Lana, which is why we get along so well.

Good girls always finish last, after all.

Lana grins as she tosses her hair over her shoulder, walking toward me. Her fingers dig into Drizella’s previously immaculate braids as she drags her, and my step-sister looks a mess. Just another thing I’ll have to punish the slothful woman for.

Lana’s hair trails down her body, a sign that she’s getting comfortable for a long night. It caresses her curves, something I would love to do with my tongue and hands right now.

Alas, I have to punish Drizella instead for her missteps. I loathe being pushed into a corner, and that’s exactly what the twins, Isaac, Sidney, and the Warden did today. I have no plans to ever let this girl go.

“Lana, did you have fun on the ride home, or were you dreadfully bored?” I coo, my fingers tangling in her long hair to guide her head back to kiss me. I enjoy towering over others, which is why I’ll typically wear my heels. Drizella has always been shorter than me, and I have this odd fascination with knocking her off her feet whenever possible.

“I passed the time well enough, Cinder,” Lana gasps as I release her.

“Such a good girl for me,” I murmur. “Did Drizella rack up any more punishments?”