Page 60 of Anywhere

“I’ll stand by your wall and take your lashings, but not because you told me to. I’m doing it to prove to you that I’m more than just a woman. I’m stronger than all the men in this castle combined.” My da’s brows arched, but he didn’t argue. “I also want you to remember that each time the leather touches my skin, it only makes me stronger, and I will remember what you’ve done until the day I die.” I gently laid my hand over my da’s heart, his eyes softened, but it was too late.

“And I will never forgive you, not even for a moment. If Ma were alive, she’d be disgusted with the man you’ve become since her death. You are no pillar of honour, so don’t lay your head down at night and try to tell yourself anything different. They will be lies of a snake’s tongue.” Whipping the shirt over my head, I dropped it at his feet. “Women will rise from the shadows you’ve placed us in, and when we do, I’ll ride the horse that takes all the men like you to the dark fade.”

I marched over to the wall, wrapped my hands in the chains, and braced for what was to come. Living this life, I was conditioned to take pain. They honed me into steel wrapped in flesh and bone.

The whistling of the whip sailing towards me cut through the air a moment before the sharp bite hit my back. I closed my eyes as the sting forced tears to my eyes. By the fifth one, I had to bite my lip hard to keep from screaming. I refused to make a sound. I would never give him or the Faction my screams.

I gave up all my hopes and dreams and became a weapon for them. Working diligently to help protect those who lived on the Island. I would never regret my time with Rhys and gladly take a thousand lashings to have that night again.

“Twenty,” Da said.

Taking a deep breath, I turned and marched toward my da with my head held high. Bending over made my back scream in pain, but it only fueled my anger. I grabbed my shirt and stood to stare into my da’s eyes.

“You are no longer my da. You are just another man wielding power he shouldn’t have, and remember, I will never forgive you for this,” I said, then turned and marched towards the door. I glared at the guards until they moved out of the way. Pulling my shirt on, I was proud of myself for not wincing.

If I wasn’t already convinced that Rhys and Rook needed to be in charge, I was now. They couldn’t take power soon enough.

Rhys

I smiled as I wandered down the hallway towards the kitchen area. I hadn’t felt this alive in forever. The hardest thing I ’ve ever done was walk Mari to her room this morning. I kissed her until we were lightheaded, knowing it was the last time. Goodbye was bittersweet, but my heart was thankful for the time we shared.

But reality was calling, and I wanted to find Rook to thank him and make sure he was okay. I heard Rook grumbling before he rounded the top of the stairs from the large entranceway. He looked angrier than a badger poked at with a stick.

He glanced my way and swore a few times as he marched towards me. My eyes scanned over his face, and there was no hiding the bruise forming on his cheek or the fact that he was covered in dirt. He looked like he decided to roll around in the flower bed. If it weren’t for the scowl on his face and the fact I hadn’t felt anything, I would’ve sworn he’d just had a wild night of sex.

“Wha’ happened?” I asked.

“I’m really starting to hate this fucking place. That’s what happened,” the anger palpable as he stormed past me.

Turning, I caught up to him and glared at the side of his face.

“I mean can’t a guy just have a morning smoke? No wonder the guards look like a herd of giants when everyone here wants to kill you.”

“Wha’ da fuck do ya mean?”

“I’m pretty sure the meaning is clear. This place is fucking crazy. No, scratch that. Everyone who lives here is crazy.” He looked over at me, and his eyes shimmered with power and anger.

Reaching my room—which, I guess, was his room now—he pushed open the door, and it slammed against the wall.

“It might have been a lie that I was living overseas, but I loved it. People adored me, and I got to sing every night. I had fans draped off me, ate at the best restaurants, and slept in whatever bed I wanted. Fuck, I could pick up a remote and turn on a television or blast my stereo any time of day or night.” He turned in a circle, his arms out to his side. “This place is not only crazy, but it’s still in the stone age. You have people wandering around in armour and weapons like we live in the Middle Ages, and people beat you with large sticks. Bring on the fucking blue pill, ‘cause I wanna go back.”

“So we’re doin’ dis again. Ya know ya change yer mind fasta than a lass changes her undies.”

I smirked as he glared. It was way too much fun teasing him, but I did want to know what happened. Sighing, I closed the door as Rook continued to fume and toss clean clothes out of the closet.

“Ya look like ya decided to go a round or two wit a cat. Does dis have anythin’ ta do wit last night?”

“No, it fucking doesn’t.” He stopped and looked over at me, his eyes softening a little. “I’m never fucking going through that again, and I’m sorry. I really had no idea what was happening to you.”

“Aye, I know.”

We stood quietly, staring at one another. Rook seemed to want to say something else, just like I did, but neither of us said a word.

As if the spell holding him broke, Rook stomped out of the closet and scooped up his clothes before making his way to the washroom. He didn’t close the door in my face, so I took that as an invitation and followed him into the spacious room I loved. Everything was set up just how I liked it, and I never took for granted the luxurious shower and massive clawfoot tub that overlooked the back gardens. It had been a little getaway spot for me when I needed to soak and relax.

Rook stripped out of the tight black jeans and T-shirt, and my eyes went wide. Heat, as well as the hard-on, were instant as my eyes traced over the hard contours of his body. I couldn’t stop staring at his ass, which looked perfect for gripping. I itched to touch every inch of his body. The binding spell instantly flared like a wick set on fire.

He turned on the water, then hopped in the shower. And dear sweet spirits, my mouth watered. It didn’t matter that I had an arduous workout last night. I was up and raring to go. I’d never been so happy for the open-concept shower with no doors. The unobstructed view of his muscles, dark tattoos, and mouth-watering cock was for my eyes only.