Page 28

“What the hell is going on here, girl?!” I jerk awake by Violet being wrenched from my body. Richard, Violet’s fucker of an uncle, yells so loud his still drunk, slurring words echo around us. I’d love nothing more than to eliminate him. But I can’t completely abandon all the rules I have for myself… I need to find a justified reason beyond being a jackass.

“N-Nothing! W-we were r-r-reading and fell asleep!” Violet’s voice trembles and touches a soft spot in me that only exists for her. She’s pleading with the fucker. I can hear the tears welling in her eyes, and I’m the only one who's allowed to make her cry.

Swinging my legs over the bench, I reach out and grab Richard’s wrist from the hand he is holding onto Violet’s elbow with. When he doesn’t release her, I squeeze, keeping my eyes locked with his dark green ones. While Violet’s green is like an ocean’s foam or a cove's mist, his is thick, like the sludge of a swamp. Or the deep sea. The light specs resemble the bioluminescent barbels of the angler fish. Beautiful and perfect from afar, but deadly when you get too close.

“What will the Lazeroffs think when they find out you’ve given away the only thing you have to offer?”

“I haven’t given away anything,” she whimpers, and I squeeze harder, cutting off his circulation.

“Let. Go,” I command. My voice is deep and drenched with the poison Pru always tells me to watch out for. Pru says that my aura is generally intimidating, but that when I am intentional, I’m lethal.

Richard’s fingers part when I press my thumb down on the underside of his wrist, and I drop his wrist when he finally frees her. Violet immediately retreats to my rear, peeking over my arm at her uncle like a meek little mouse.

There’s something wrong with this guy. His lips pursed as he glares at Violet over my shoulder. I raise my hand in front of the fucker’s face and snap my fingers twice, “Eyes on me.” Richard lashes his gaze to meet mine, and I smirk. I can’t help myself. I need to poke the bear. He’s pissed. He’s pissed that she fell asleep with me. He’s pissed that Violet came to me. And most of all, he’s pissed that he listened to me just now.

Violet places her trembling fingers on my back, and I’m struck with the feeling that I shouldn’t let her be alone with this guy. So what if he is her legal guardian? Some people aren’t meant to have that role. And she’s fucking mine now, I can’t let him meddle in my plans with her.

“Put on some shoes and let's go,” he barks at her as he tosses her flats down at her feet. This guy has never known how to speak to a lady.

“She’s not leaving,” I say as I hold out my hand to stop Violet from picking up her shoes. And like my good girl, she listens. Richard raises a brow.

“I didn’t ask you, kid.”

“It’s clear that you see her as a burden instead of a gem that needs to be treasured. The House of Powers will take her and her mother off your hands.” It’s not a permanent solution. With her mother being a permanent resident at the hospital, we can only transfer guardianship until her mother passes away. But it’ll keep her away from this guy. And you bet I’ll set her up in a bedroom just a couple of rooms down from me.

Richard’s heavy breaths fill the space as his glare flits from me to Violet and back to me. He knows that’s what he wants. He is tired of taking care of his brother’s widow and a daughter that he never wanted. If he didn’t have to take care of them, he would leave this place and go live in the colony that we set up down south. A few moments of his internal battle, Richard turns on his heel and leaves, without a word to Violet.

A breath whooshes out from Violet, her entire body shaking like a leaf about to blow away in the autumn wind. Spinning around, I wrap one arm around her waist and fist my opposite hand in her hair. Gripping tight and pulling down until she’s gazing up at me. Her breaths come out in quivering, choppy spurts.

“Shhh,” I soothe, my thumb rubbing her lower back in a rhythmic up and down, while my fingers gripping tighter in her hair to keep her focus on a different pain, “You don’t have to worry about him anymore, my Flower.”

Violet

Chapter 12

“Fuck. You’re soaking me, Kitten. So fucking perfect and ready for me. I could slide right in and tie you to me forever.”

“You can… Have me,” my voice cracks as I try to keep it to a whisper.

Cain snakes one hand up along my chest, wrapping his long, veiny fingers around my throat. Removing his fingers from me, he slaps my ass.

“Cross your legs for me, Kitten.” I do as he says, grateful that the costumes surrounding us in the closet he shoved me in will provide a protective buffer. Our class may be over, but I haven’t looked at the schedule recently. Who knows if anyone will come in?

Cain grabs my waist and pulls me to him, gluing my back to his chest as he spanks my ass, and he thrusts his cock between my legs. My body quivers. With every thrust, he teases my opening and bumps my clit. This is torture. I want him.

“Please… You can have me.” I’m begging for him now, and I don’t care.

Cain bites down on the shell of my ear, brushes his lips down to my lobe, and growls a whisper.

“Don’t permit me to do something that is taking a herculean effort not to. When I fuck you, I’ll do it properly, on a bed with you beneath me. I’ll tease you, edge you on and on until you’re writhing against me, and I’ll keep you there. Because I love nothing more than watching you squirm for me.” I whimper and lean into his thrusts, his words making me come apart. Cain paws at my dress, fisting the material until he can shove his hand beneath it. He flattens his palm against my middle. “I know it’s your time. You wear these soft dresses, your voice rises, and you look at me like you want me to do naughty things to you.”

“Na koleni.” Kneel. Master’s command brings me back from my daydream. Or more accurately, my memory. Back to when Master showed up to rehearsals with a chamomile and peppermint tea for me. Twice a month, Master would bring me one, always seeming to know when I needed it the most. I always thought that he believed I was supposed to be on my period. But now I wonder: has he been so in tune with me that he knew when I was ovulating?

I transition from wall to kneel. I step backwards and rotate, then kneel before Master. My knees opened at an angle, and my hands resting on my thighs, palms up. Then I lift my chin to meet his gaze. Master likes me to make eye contact with him in nearly every position. It’s almost like making up for not making eye contact when out in public spaces.

I’m supposed to use these poses to reflect, to meditate. Allow him to control what I do physically, and give my mind the freedom to wander. It’s actually rather freeing, not having to worry about anything around me and focusing on what’s going on in my head. Although more than half the time, I end up reminiscing on moments with Master.

I’m honestly just as confused as ever. Does this mean more to him, as it does to me? Does he have feelings for me? Or am I just someone who is weak enough to provide him with his twisted desires? He’s practically royalty, the heir to the High Stewardship. He could have anyone he wants, but I doubt anyone else would agree to the terms that I have.