by Vivian Wood
They stared at me, eyes wide and mouths wide open. I wanted to laugh out loud when an icy blonde pushed to the front, smiling wide and saying, “Absolutely, Your Highness.”
Freya.
I remembered her name. I remembered the swell of her breasts that was visible now through her mint-green dress.
“Delightful,” I told her with a grin.
“Olivier!”
Now, I turned around with the grin still plastered on my face when I locked eyes on my mother. “Mother dearest! How nice of you to come here and scold me.”
“Now Olivier,” she said with a nervous chuckle. “Why don’t you join me in the front for the elimination?”
“I suppose I don’t have a choice,” I replied, grinning at the women behind me. “Will you excuse me, little dolls?”
They whispered among themselves and I felt their gazes following me as I made my way to the front of the room with the Queen. The moment we stepped away, she grabbed my arm and her nails dug into my skin.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” she hissed at me, and I grinned at her angry face. “I’m serious, Olivier! You can’t come to these functions after you’ve been drinking!”
“You mean my first sip of alcohol since my father passed away?” I ground out at her. “It’s been four years, mother.”
“Four years of you being sober, yes,” she replied. “Nothing compared to the decade you spent partying and drinking before that!”
I didn’t even look at her. I’d been living with the same knowledge for four years, and now I’d fallen into the same fucking bottle-shaped hole I’d been in for a decade.
It was easy to live life like that. Boozing, partying, fucking. Being a goddamn playboy. All those years ago, it had felt natural, but now, I knew it was a mistake. From the first sip of the all-too familiar wine, I knew I’d slip into my old ways.
We made our way to the front where my brother was already standing. My mother gave him a warm smile, and my stomach knotted once again. She even preferred Dad’s other fucking son to me. Figures.
“We shall carry on,” mother said with a cool smile. “Now that we’re all here, Bruno will pick the girls who will be proceeding to the next part of the elimination. Keep in mind two ladies will be sent home tonight.”
I crossed my arms in front of my body, glaring at my brother out of the corner of my eyes. He didn’t meet my eyes, but that eternal smirk was playing on his lips, pissing me off even more.
“Bruno, why don’t you begin,” my mother said, nodding to make him step forward.
“I’ve been entrusted with the task of choosing my dear brother’s betrothed,” Bruno grinned at the gathered crowd while I swayed from foot to foot. Fuck. I shouldn’t have drunk any of that wine. “So why don’t we begin? The first woman I’m picking is… Freya.”
I looked over in the direction of the ice princess. She beamed proudly, stepping forward to Bruno. My brother grinned at her and presented her with two stones for the collar she was wearing. He pressed one druzy and one onyx stone in her collar while I seethed in anger. I hated him touching her.
Just then, my thoughts switched over to Amber. I looked back at the gathered girls, but my vision was fucked, and all I saw was a flash of red, unsure whether it belonged to my girl or her lookalike, Eva.
I realized then what a jackass I’d been by not checking in on Eva or Amber after the incident I’d witnessed. I hadn’t managed to find the piece of shit who’d tried to hurt Eva, and I felt guilty for letting things get out of hand.
“Kendy.”
The African beauty stepped forward next, and I watched as Bruno presented her with two stones. Safiya was next, then Asya. I looked back at the girls, and this time I caught the glance of a pair of golden eyes, judging me from afar.
My chérie.
He picked Camellia.
Zara.
Monica.
Violetta.
The group of girls was dwindling, those golden eyes still staring in my direction. Now, there was panic in her gaze. She was worried Bruno wouldn’t pick her, and so was I. He was playing games again, just like fucking always.
Four girls left – two of which would be sent home.
“Eva,” Bruno said, and Amber’s doppelganger stepped forward.
I waited with gritted teeth, then, before he could call the next name, tugged on his arm, making him look at me in front of all those people.
“Remember what I told you,” I growled at him. “Remember who to pick.”
“Oh, brother,” he grinned. “I remember all too well. Now watch your step before you embarrass yourself.”
I stepped back, my fists tightening. It took every ounce of self-control not to smash my fist into his face and break his goddamn nose.
“Amber,” Bruno called out, and my knees nearly gave out.
Thank fuck.
The two remaining girls, cousins, looked at each other with grateful eyes. I was glad they were going home, not because they weren’t stunning, intelligent or interesting, but because they were too fucking young to be exposed to the court’s wicked games.
Then, my attention shifted back to Amber who stood in front of Bruno now, in a pretty midnight blue dress that flared out over her hips and accentuated the curve of her tits. I saw the way my brother’s eyes lingered on her. I also saw her flinch when he touched her.
I said my goodbyes to Chloe and Marceline, the young French girls. They seemed thankful, so I was relieved as well.
“Don’t rush into things,” I told them both as they stood before me. “You’re teenagers. You should have your youth. Have some fun with it.”
“Such great advice to give,” Bruno said, appearing next to me and clapping me on the back. “And something my brothers knows a whole lot about, don’t you, Olivier?”
I grit my teeth while he went on.
“Your titles will get you far in life, girls,” he said. “But don’t let them turn you into sad, drunken wrecks like someone we know.”
“Shut the fuck up,” I snarled at him. “You don’t know shit about me.”
“I know more than you think,” Bruno spat out. “And I hate you more every fucking day you pretend it isn’t true.
The girls exchanged worried glances, so I gave them a reassuring smile. “Someone will collect you now, so you’d better get your things.”
“Thank you, Your Highness,” they replied in unison, curtsying before me.
I turned my back on them, my eyes following my brother as he made his way through the room. I knew he felt me looking, because he turned over his shoulder and smirked at me before making a beeline for Amber. But I’d had fucking enough.
Just as I was about to go after him, a hand wrapped around my arm.
“Don’t make a scene.”
I looked behind me, ready to snarl at her to let go.
“Let him go,” my mother said. “You’re only indulging him by letting him fight with you. Swallow it and move in.”
“Like a little bitch?” I asked. “I’m not a pushover, mother.”
“No,” she replied, smoothing down the lapels of my jackets. “You’re a prince. And sometimes, it means walking away from trouble when you see it.”
“Unfortunately, we don’t share the same opinion on that matter,” I managed to get out. “Now if you’ll excuse me.”
I strode to the center of the room where Amber had been standing, but when I got closer, neither my girl or my brother were to be seen.
Once again, I grit my teeth in anger, but soon enough, I was amidst the crowd of the other girls, finding it hard to focus on anything but the rage deep down inside me.
I let it bubble. Let it simmer. I let it grow.
I spent the night with the other girls, watching out for Amber and Bruno’s return closely.
Once the clock struck midnight, I decided I’d had enough. It was time to face my brother, and take my property away from him before he fucking got his claws in her, too.
C
hapter Thirteen
Amber
“Do you have a moment?”
I raised my eyes to his, letting panic wash over me for a second.
“No,” I finally replied, finding Zara’s hand beside mine and holding onto it tightly. She squeezed me in response and glared at the man who had approached us. “I don’t, in fact.”
“Please, Amber.” He raised those soulful grey eyes to mine and I fought back the revulsion mixing with a strange burst of need in my belly. “I just need a few minutes of your time.”
“She doesn’t want to be alone with you,” Zara cut in with an icy glare. “I’m sure you can understand why.”
“I do,” he nodded, his face somber. “But I want to make it up to your friend. I just want a few minutes to say how truly sorry I am for what happened.”
“For what happened?” I asked with my eyebrows knitting together. “You mean what you did.”
“Yes,” he admitted. “For what I did. Please, Amber. Come with me.”
I looked across the room to find Olivier and found him in the middle of a conversation with the twins who’d just been eliminated. Anger surged deep inside me and I found myself giving Bruno a nod before I could really think things through.
A relieved smile lit up his face and he told me to meet him outside in a few minutes. Once he was gone, Zara turned to face me with a worried expression.
“Amber, are you sure this is a good idea?” she asked, worried. “I don’t think you should be alone with him. He’s already proved you can’t trust him, and I don’t want you to get hurt.”
“I’ll be fine,” I said, giving her a reassuring smile. “I promise. Don’t worry about me.”
“But…” Zara stared at me, biting her lip. “Don’t you remember what he… did to you?”
I did. I remembered all too well. I’d spoken to all the other girls after the challenge and found out Bruno hadn’t touched any of the others inappropriately. It only served to confuse me more. Why had he touched me, if it wasn’t part of the challenge? He’d scared me so much, and for what? Just to get back at his brother?
Zara was the only one I’d told about our time together in the library, too worried about the gossip and repercussions to share it with anybody else. She was understanding and vowed not to leave my side whenever Bruno was around. And here I was, already running after him like a stupid lamb following the wolf…
“I’ll be right back,” I told Zara, smiling at her and patting her hand. “Please try not to worry. I promise I’ll be fine. Wait for me here, okay? Don’t follow us.”
“Okay,” she nodded with a worried glance at Olivier. “Won’t the Prince… you know, freak the hell out?”
“Not my problem,” I shrugged. “I’ll see you in a little bit.”
I left Zara standing in the ballroom where she was joined by the other girls while I left the room. I descended the grand staircase until I reached the front doors, where two servants opened them for me and I stepped out into the winter chill of the night.
“There you are.”
I turned to face him, my breath escaping in white puffs of smoke.
“Hi,” I said, feeling more timid than I had since my arrival in Luxuria. “Where are we going?”
“Nowhere far.” He stepped out of the shadows, his sharp features overshadowed by those eyes, stormy as ever. “Take my hand.”
I stared up at him. He towered over me. His scent was thick in the air, clean, sexy masculinity. My legs are trembling, I noticed absent-mindedly. My cunt is wet.
I blushed at my own thoughts and took the hand he had offered me. He helped me down the stairs, and I watched my step in the high strappy heels I was wearing. I struggled on the pebbled driveway and he grinned at me, stepping in front of me. His presence wasn’t menacing for once. I couldn’t look away from his eyes.
“Need some help?” he asked gruffly. Before I could answer, he grabbed me and held me in his arms, smirking down at me. “Come on, little girl.”
He carried me to a small pavilion in the gardens, lit up with fairy lights that gave it a magical feeling. As he set me down on the marble ground, I couldn’t help the smile tugging at the corners of my lips.
What’s wrong with me? I thought. He’s a fucking freak. He tried to feel me up!
Yet the warm, tingling sensation in my stomach wouldn’t go away.
“I wanted to apologize you about what happened with the last challenge,” he said, gripping the rail on the pavilion fence. He was turned away from me, but I could see how his knuckles tightened against the wood. “I shouldn’t have done what I did.”
He turned around and sauntered closer to me, his eyes on mine.
“Sometimes I have to obey orders,” he said. “Even though I don’t want to. I’m a royal subject here. I don’t have the same rights as Olivier. Do you understand, Amber?”
I stared up at him, asking, “Are you saying what I think you’re saying?”
He sighed, looking away. “She’s not all that bad, little girl. She used to be just like you.”
“She’s a royal bitch,” I spat out.
“Careful,” Bruno chuckled. “She is still the Queen, and she has eyes and ears everywhere.”
I rolled my eyes just as he took a step closer. Dangerously closer. My breath hitched in my throat and I stared up at him through thick black lashes.
“So, she made you do it?” I asked in a low whisper.
“You could say that,” he growled out. “But you know, you can’t just blame her. I was more than happy to be a part of her devious plans.”
“Why?” I blurted.
“Why?” he scratched his chiseled jaw and my eyes followed the movement of his fingers. “I suppose I want her approval.”
“Why?” I asked again.
“Because I want to beat Olivier,” he said, his eyes burning with silent fire. “Don't you understand, little girl? I want to beat him in every way possible. I want to have what’s his. I want his property to be my own.”
My cheeks were burning up, but I couldn’t look away from him, not even when he raised his finger and gently touched it to the heat in my face. It moved over my lips, parting them. I held back the gasp that so desperately wanted to escape me.
“I want his pretty, young little toy whore, too,” he breathed. “I want her all to myself.”
"Stop," I managed.
"No." His voice was so deep. Troubled. "You love it when I'm bad."
“Why do you hate him so much?” I demanded, my heart beating into overdrive.
He smirked at me, saying, “You won’t believe me if I tell you now. And when you find out, you’ll long for the time you had no idea about little brother’s darkest secret.”
Once again, he left no room for a response. He took half a step closer, his lips lingering less than an inch from mine.
“Ask for it,” he muttered, and I whimpered at his closeness.
“W-What?” I whispered.
“Ask for me to kiss you,” he said.
I shook my head wordlessly and he started to pull back. My hand flew out, my fingers wrapping around his wrist. An electric current passed between us. Again. Fuck. No.
“Kiss me,” I whispered, my mouth remaining open in a silent plea for him to do it.
He did.
It took him less than a second to close the distance between us. His lips left no room for me to breathe. He enveloped my mouth, his tongue slipping into mine in a flash. He kissed me like he was paying me for it. Like he could do anything he wanted to me, knowing I wouldn’t say a word about it to a soul.
My hands found his chest and I tried to push him back, but he grabbed my wrists and held them to his pecs. Slowly, I stopped fighting it. I let my body fall into the submissiveness it knew so well.
“Fuck,” I whispered against his lips. I felt him smirking. Biting. Fucking forcing me to give him more and more, my body submitting as if it was what I was meant to do all along.
“Amber…?”
We
froze. He pulled back a moment too late. A moment that meant we had been seen.
He turned around first, facing the girl staring us both down. She was shocked, and I watched her face turn from stunned silence into angry surprise as she faced us.
“I…” I started.
“Mademoiselle Safiya,” Bruno said coolly.
Without so much as giving her another glance, he collected me in his arms again and carried me over to the front door. Safiya followed behind us. I could feel her seething glare on the back of my neck.
“I’ll see you ladies inside,” he told us, bowing before disappearing into the house.
Safiya and I stood in front of the doors, with me blushing and her letting out a huff of air.
“I… Safiya, I’m sorry,” I managed. “It wasn’t what it looked like, I-”
“It’s fine, Amber,” she replied with a cool smile. “We all have our reasons for being here, right?”
“No, I…”
“Save it.” She held up her hand to silence me. “I don’t really want to hear your explanation.”
“Okay,” I managed. I felt defeated. Numb. Angry at myself. “I’m sorry, Safiya.”
“It’s fine.”
She knocked on the doors and the two servants on the other side opened them for her.
“Oh, Amber?”
She turned around to face me one last time. I investigated her gaze, realizing for the first time just how calculating her eyes were. “You owe me one.”
The ballroom was warm, too warm. It made me feel dizzy, and it wasn’t a good combination on top of the three glasses of champagne I’d downed.
My new stones glistened in their collar and I felt several pairs of admiring eyes on me, but I didn’t care. I just wanted the night to be over already.
I’d tuned out Zara’s conversation with Camellia next to us, focusing on the crowd. I tried to spot either Bruno or Olivier but couldn’t see either of them.
“You seem distracted today,” Camellia teased me, and I responded with a tense smile.
“She’s a woman in demand today,” Zara giggled. “First Bruno, and I bet Olivier will come find her any second. Right, Amber?”