Page 28 of Beautiful Delusions

“Why are you doing this to me?” I ask quietly, tears filling my vision. He reads my lips and frowns. Genuine hurt passes his features as the umpire announces me for the entire school to see.

“The newest, and last there will ever be, welcome the Thorn Brother’s Pet!” The crowd goes crazy with a mix of cheers, boos and then, there’s Letty and her girls. Braving a look in their direction, they’re stunned, gaping. I shy away, letting Kyan slip his arm into mine as Lucas takes the other side, Ezra up front holding the leash high for all to see. I’m led over to the throne. The courtside seat where I am to remain on display in my lingerie for everyone to see. Clearly, the feminist movement didn’t reach this corner of the state.

My ass grazes the velvet purple cushioning, my knee crossing over the other and my back rigidly straight. There are two lessons I took from my time at juvie. First, show no fear. Even when you’re dying inside from self-hatred or humiliation, you can’t let anyone know. The second is in the act of zoning out. Multiple characters instantly appear at my distress, barricading the court from sight. Even as the umpire reels off rules and a booming klaxon sounds for the game to begin, Jazzie is laying her head on my lap.

Could have been worse, she tries to reason.

Dude, another figure scowls, planting a hand on my knee. She’s new and looks intriguingly like Letty. “They stripped her and left her here to be gawked at. I wouldn’t be surprised if people started throwing tomatoes.”

These aren’t their rules, remember. The previous Pets orchestrated all of this,Jazzie stands, blocking the view of the hoop, which was scored in the first two minutes.All they want is to share a lover and not be ridiculed for it.

I don’t look away from her. The alternative is to let my gaze drift towards the stands. No doubt, Letty is feeling beyond betrayed. There goes my newfound friends and seat at the canteen table. I’ll have to bring my claws for English Lit on Monday morning. I don’t do well being backed into a corner, and a violent lashing out is on the horizon.

Save it for those it should be directed at, honey,the new girl leans on Jazzie. I don’t know her name yet, but I have respect for the ‘Kill the Cunts’ banner she’s holding. My nostrils flare. She’s right. I’ll save my anger for the Thorn Brothers, let it fester until the right moment. No matter who decided this throne stunt was a good idea, they know me. They knew I’d hate it, that it would have a damaging effect on my self-esteem, and they did it anyway. Drumming my fingernails on the throne arm, I sit back, becoming enveloped in my fantasies.

Outside of my protective bubble, chaos reigns. My head thrums with sound, a rogue commentator nearby relaying back the game I refuse to watch. The Waversea Warriors aren’t working together as well as usual, and maybe it has something to do with their key players being distracted. Radley, however, are on full form thanks to a new captain. I hear this all, yet I couldn’t care less.

Instead, I drown out everyone. Those in reality, those in my mind. Before my eyes, I will the room to transform. Vines coil around the basket poles, thick with thorns and pulsing withpurple roses. Bark, akin to the muesli the brothers eat every morning, ripples across the court’s flooring, softening the sound of sneakers hitting the wood. From the bleachers, a canopy of trees lurches forward, distancing me from the arena but also filling it with shadows. Pockets of darkness which I use to tuck away all those in my eyeline. This is where my talent flares. Where I can wrap myself in a safety blanket and leave my troubles far behind.

Time drifts by, the numbness in my limbs barely resonating. I’m too preoccupied watching a butterfly flutter past, dancing with a squirrel hanging on a low-baring branch. The next klaxon, which echoes around the arena, doesn’t even make me flinch, my senses dulled to my true surroundings.

“Half time,” Ezra smacks my thigh and grabs the leash. “Get your ass back here.”

Tugging me along by the leash, my eyes are hazy, unable to catch up. I’ve slipped too far, false imagery lingering on the edge of my vision as I look around. Lucas and Kyan are right behind. Stumbling into the locker room, the door is slammed closed with the rest of the team outside. The quietness inside somehow hurts my ears even more than the arena, like a ringing I can’t stifle. Then I remember where I am. Who I’m with. At the first opportunity, I rip the leash from Ezra's hand and tear the collar off.

“Did you all enjoy that?” I shove at his chest, kicking off my shoes. “Objectifying me?!” Another shove has his back hitting the lockers. “Am I just some joke to you?!” Arms grab me from behind, but I keep my glare on Ezra. He’s so much easier to be angry at because I know Lucas hasn’t just upset me. He’s hurt me. As if I didn’t mean anything to him at all.

“Calm down,” Kyan grunts, pinning my arms back. Red coats my vision like a raging bull is released within. Doubling my efforts, I kick Ezra in the skin, wishing I’d left my heels on.

“Why would you choose me for this bullshit? Pick any other whore with no self-respect. I never wanted this. Now the entire school has seen me in my underwear, sitting on the sidelines like a court jester.” My nostrils flare as I’m dragged backward and forced to sit in Kyan’s lap on the bench.

“That’s not…,” Lucas appears, running a hand through his auburn hair. “It wasn’t like that.”

“Oh really? Please enlighten me–what was it like?” There it is again, in his green eyes. That same flash of hurt from earlier. I hate it when he doesn’t smile, but it’s not my job to placate him.

“The throne is in our direct eye line. We wanted to show you off,” Lucas mumbles, his hands raised in defeat. I’m not buying it.

“As your slutty pet,” I scowl. Ezra darts forward, gripping my chin and twisting my face upwards.

“As our Queen, you idiot. Having you there bolsters us, makes us feel special to have the most exquisite woman in the room as close to the court as possible, and her attention issupposedto be on us.” I stop struggling, the air knocked from my lungs. In my peripheral vision, all of the female characters who plague me are shaking their heads, and had those words come from the others, I may have been able to convince myself they were lying. But Ezra? Ezra hasn’t doesn’t tell me what I wantto hear. He doesn’t dosweet,and I doubt he’d start now if it weren’t true.

“We didn’t mean to ridicule you,” Kyan adds softly beside my ear. “We only want to…”

“To?” I push when no one continues.

“Worship you,” Lucas answers, kneeling before me. “The second we graduate, I’m being shipped off to be married. I don’t get to date, to feel butterflies, to enjoy the cat-and-mouse flirtation game. This is the extent of my relationships.”

He toys with the diamond straps at my shoulders as Kyan’s hold on my arms loosens. Ezra’s blue eyes soften for the first time, his hand resting on Lucas’ shoulder. This is what they live for. The three of them, brothers of pure survival who will do whatever it takes to remain bonded. Including dating together, and screwing together.

“That’s what this has all been about,” I breathe as understanding dawns. Lucas nods, and even Ezra joins him on the floor.

“I wanted to feel as connected to my brothers as possible until I leave and to have fun. The pet thing was a simple solution. Girls usually jump at the chance, and…I’ll admit, it got kinda out of hand. No one has ever fought against us before. No one has been like you,” he brushes a hand over my cheek. “You’re unique, special. You make us work harder, and the reward is so much sweeter. I’m so glad you’re the one we get to have this last experience with.”

I have no fight left. He should have told me, but again–would I have believed him? That the rich kid who could have anything, anyone in the world, wanted me? Leaning forward, my forehead connects with Lucas’, a sigh filling my chest.

"Alright," I whisper, my usual lack of trust seeping away. It holds no ground against Lucas’ sincerity. He's so open, bared to me. "I surrender. I'm all yours. All of yours." His green eyesflicker with relief, and a smile graces his lips. Not the smug one he reserves for humiliation, but a genuine smile that melts my core. Ezra and Kyan echo the sentiment, their bodies relaxing. The tension in the air dissipates. I understand fully now what this is all about. How it helps to bond them to each other, but also to me. We’re one now, and I belong with them.

Before I can think any further, Lucas reaches out, a gentle hand cradling my face as he draws me closer. His breath is warm against my skin, his eyes holding an intensity which causes my heart to stutter in my chest. The moment stretches between us until his lips finally find mine. I moan, the height of hesitation and desire crashing down on me. All that’s left is the softness of Lucas’ lips, which feels like a plea and promise all rolled into one, entering us into new territory. I’m becoming their equal.

---