“Especiallyif he’s my son,” Edward snaps.
“That sounds like it’s your problem, not mine.” I shrug, the movement at odds with the emotions streaming through me. “I don’t exactly like my current situation as a bride, but aftergrowing up in the system, being Xavier’s whore isn’t the worst thing to happen to me.”
His nostrils flare with disgust. “A bride will never be a crow’s wife,” he mutters.
I pretend I don’t hear the insult, even though I agree with Edward. Xavier and I are not only physically apart but distant in other ways as well. His upbringing is vastly different from mine, not to mention his financial and societal status. I don’t think those things make him better than me, but they sure as hell affect our lives and the way we view the world.
As much as I care for Xavier, marrying him is unlikely to happen.
I fold my arms. “Like I said, my relationship with your son is purely physical. I’m nothing more than his property.”
“You misunderstand, bride.” Edward’s expression tightens, his frustration barely concealed. “You are not merely his property. You are a reflection of his judgment, his loyalties, and ultimately, his potential weaknesses. Your role, whether significant or trivial in your eyes, impacts more than just your fate. It extends to Xavier.”
“So you say.” I roll my eyes, struggling to maintain my passive expression. “Me being here isn’t going to matter to Xavier. Trust me.”
Edward scoffs. “Trust a woman? Never.”
“It’s a figure of speech, ass—” At his glare, I snap my mouth shut. “I’m only going to say this one more time: Xavier doesn’t have feelings for me. Can I go now?”
“No. You being here with me is part of Xavier’s Trial. He knows I have you, but he doesn’t know what I’m going to do to you. It’s a tactic designed to rattle him, to push him to his limits.”
I jerk back at the thought of me being used to hurt Xavier. “So, this is all just to unsettle him? To see if he cracks under the pressure of not knowing?”
The council member nods. “Precisely. The first Trial tested his loyalty to the Order over his personal feelings. Now, we’ll assess his ability to maintain composure and focus under severe psychological strain. We’ll push him to the brink to see if he still possesses the mental clarity to apply his skills effectively, especially in a critical area like poisons.”
“Poisons?” My eyes widen at his cold demeanor. “What do you mean by that?”
“This second Trial isn’t just a psychological battle. It’s also a practical one. Like the other recruits, Xavier is currently locked in a scenario where he must use his academic knowledge to identify and neutralize a synthesized poison. How well he does, while distracted with concern for you, will tell us much about his potential as a leader under pressure.”
The sheer calculated brutality of the test is appalling but not surprising, given the way the last Trial was executed. I’m not sure if it’s the Order or Edward who’s using me as a psychological weapon, but I hate that they expect Xavier to maintain the presence of mind while under duress and handle a highly technical task. I can’t be responsible for anything happening to him.
I’ll never forgive myself.
“Xavier will be fine,” I say, willing myself to believe it. I turn my attention back to the monitors, and my gaze lands directly on Xavier. “He’ll neutralize the poison in no time.”
“Your faith in my son is admirable, if it’s real.”
Edward walks up to me, continuing even when I back up. Once I bump into the conference table, panic rises in my throat at his proximity. He places his hands on the smooth surface on either side of my hips, boxing me in.
I lean back as far as I can, but his breath fans over my face. He smells of expensive whiskey and mint, a combination that should be appealing but isn’t because of the vileness of this man. I swallow, attempting to dislodge the nerves gathering in my throat, and his gaze narrows.
“I’m not scared of you,” I say.
Edward smirks, the contempt in his expression giving way to something more disturbing. “Perhaps not, but you should be. Unless…”
He brings his hand to my face, the gesture slow and deliberate. He clasps my chin and tilts my head up. He’s too close, his gaze too intense. I try to duck my head, but his hold is firm, his nails digging into my skin.
“Unless you’re willing to trade a recruit for a council member?”
I lift my head, defiance rising in me, even as disgust makes my stomach churn. “Not interested.”
“Really?” He lifts a mocking brow. “Because from where I stand, it seems that you’re willing to do whatever it takes to survive. I can give you more than a recruit and more than mere survival. I can make your lifeverycomfortable.”
I slap his hand away and glare at him. “Go fuck yourself.”
Edward chuckles, and the sound has my skin prickling in warning. “You don’t understand the situation you’re in, bride. But you will. And when the time comes, you’ll beg me to spare your life by taking you to my bed. I’ll fill every one of your holes with my cock and make you my whore, and you’ll enjoy it because that’s all brides are good for.”
His words are a threat, a promise, and a warning. I swallow past the lump in my throat and straighten, lifting my chin despite the terror coursing through me.
