“You don’t like him?”
I pose it as a question when we both know it’s not. The way Ben acted around Xavier the night of the Bride Hunt was a side of him that I’d never seen before. Even now, I can’t make sense of it.
My foster brother pauses, his gaze shifting before returning to mine. “It’s not that I don’t like him. X and I have been friends for the last three years. He saved my life on the first day of initiation.”
Ben’s voice takes on a tone of reluctant admiration. I can relate. Xavier is always pulling emotion from me that I wish didn’t exist. Even now, finding out that he saved Ben’s life does something to my heart. It softens it. Weakens it.
“I’m still pissed at him for claiming you as his bride,” Ben mutters.
The brand on my skin throbs as the memories of that night flit through my mind. I’m bound to Xavier for a year, but this mark on my shoulder is permanent in a way that infuriates me. Yes, I can have it removed, but it shouldn’t have been put there in the first place.
“You and me both,” I say. “At least you’re not the one with a fucking ‘D’ on your body.” A thought strikes, giving me pause. “Would you have branded me if you’d been the one to catch me?”
Ben runs a hand through his hair. “I would’ve had to. You saw the way the council member was with X. Any deviation from the norm is grounds for punishment. I’m not talking about just being reprimanded. When it comes to the Order, nothing is off limits.”
A chill skitters along arms that has nothing to do with the night air. “I get it.”
He takes a step toward me. “But that doesn’t mean I would’ve wanted to. You’re not property, Delilah.”
“I feel like it. I don’t want to belong to Xavier.”
He takes another step. “I’m going to try to take you from him.”
I blink. “How?”
“By out-scoring him and the other recruits during the Trials. The brides go to the top three performers.” Ben cups my cheeks with both hands and tilts my head up . “Iwillbe one of them.”
“Why?”
“To protect you.”
“Xavier said the same thing.”
Ben clenches his jaw. “You belong with me. I know you more than anyone. I can make you happy.”
“This is a contract, not a marriage.”
“It might as well be,” he snaps, his grip tightening on my face. “You have to do whatever he wants. It makes me fucking sick to think of you with him.”
“I think now’s a good time to take your fucking hands off of her.”
The dark voice has Ben swinging around and shoving me behind him. I stumble before gaining my footing. Once I’m not about to faceplant, I lean around Ben to find Declan standing there.
He juts his chin at me. “That bride doesn’t belong to you, McKenzie.”
Ben stiffens, tension lining his shoulders. “She doesn’t belong to you either. Mind your fucking business.”
Declan blows out a breath. “Unfortunately, that fucker X put me on bride-sitting duty. So she’s coming with me.”
I step from behind Ben and lift both my hands, one palm facing each man. “Both of you need to hold the fuck up. I’m going back tomydorm room. After that, you can have a pissing contest, or whatever guys do to establish dominance. All I know is you’re not slinging your shlongs in front of me.”
The pair of them look at me with wide eyes. Ben groans and massages his forehead while Declan grins. I flip them off.
“Listen, I’m already caught up in the pile of shit the Order dumped on me,” I say. “I’m not interested in adding more to it by pissing them off. Leave me alone, and I promise I’ll stay put.”
“That’s not how this works, bride,” Declan says. “You’re going to Xavier’s room. I let you have your freedom during the day, but at night you need to be behind a locked door with security. It’s the safest option.”
I look at Ben, and he gives me a reluctant nod. “He’s right. The dorm rooms in the fraternity are the best choice.”
