He continues to speak but my mind drifts off. I don’t understand what is going on, but at least he isn’t putting Emmet under house arrest. That has to be a good sign. He hasn’t hurt him, so maybe his punishment won’t be anything more than a slap on the wrist.
“...Luna Carter.”
My head snaps up as Emmet jumps to his feet, and Sir knocks him back down with one swift push.
“That’s a joke, I requested her first. That was what you said.” He tugs at his hair as his eyes become manic.
“You will accept your punishment, or I will force you out. You know what that means, don’t you, my boy? If you don’t graduate this year, then you are out of my will, and I will renounce you as my heir. Accept it graciously like a true Harkwright, and maybe you will get another shot in the future.” Sir turns back around, and his eyes fall on me.
I don’t know what he wants me to do, I wasn’t listening. Am I supposed to stand on the stage? Do I stay here? Shit!
“Homegirl, go to the stage,” D breathes, and I push to my feet as I make my way to the stairs.
My footsteps fill the room, and it sounds like I’m making the beat to my own death march. I know I’m being dramatic, but I am freaking out.
“Due to your claimer, your new number will now be Two. Your items will be moved to your new room straight away and a personal shopper will accompany you over the weekend to select some new clothes. Welcome to the family, Miss Luna Carter.” His eyes are soft as he offers me his hand, and the guys are staring at me with open mouths as I slide mine into his.
This is unorthodox and against his usual protocol, and why didn’t he say ‘welcome to the family, for now’ like he usually does?
Better yet, who’s my claimer, and why isn’t he standing on the stage with me? Damn it, I don’t know what’s happening.
I sit with my head buried in my hands as my door opens and I see Thallon standing in the doorway.
“W-w-we’re s-s-supposed to s-s-stay in our room,” I say, as I stand up and move over to the window.
“Hardly any of the guys are going to listen to that, and only Bradley has a guard detail. Fucking idiot, never should have gone after him publicly.” He shakes his head as he closes my door and walks over to my sofa.
“W-w-what do y-you w-w-want?”
“You’ve always got an entourage, I just thought I’d come and say a little hello while I know you’re alone.” I don’t know if he’s smiling or not, because I can’t bring myself to look at him.
I’ve had too many warnings thrown my way, and I’m scared.
“So, tell me. How bad was my boy Shane to you? Did he hurt your feelings? Make you cry a little.” My shoulders roll forward as memories of what Shane did, and tried to do, feel my mind.
The gardens, the gym, every slap, push, and face to the table he gave me. Yeah, Thallon has no idea. Or maybe he does, and he just doesn’t care. If he’s friends with the guy, then clearly he isn’t one of the nice ones.
“You m-m-mean the slaps, p-p-pinches, back h-h-hands to the face. G-giving me concussion, and the things he tried… tried to.” I can’t do it. I just can’t bring myself to say it out loud.
“Shane was never going to do anything, he wasn’t interested,” Thallon says, and I want to laugh out loud. Is he for real?
“You’re kidding right? After everything he did?” I can barely formulate any words, it’s just absurd.
“Did he ever do anything to you, Miss Vanilla?”
“No, but he tried.” I glare at the ground as though it’s done something terrible. I mean, I can’t exactly glare at him. Plus, I just told him this, why is he asking stupid questions?
“There you have it, if Shane had really wanted you, then he would have had you. It’s as simple as that.” He’s so cocky and I hate his self-assured grin.
“Yeah, because he was interrupted. It wasn’t through lack of trying.” Why is he arguing this. He wasn’t even there.
“Poor, innocent little Vanilla. Do I really need to spell it out for you?”
“Yeah, I think you do.” I spin on my heels, to find him closer than I expected. I put as much distance between us as I can.
“Very well. The first time he followed you out of the ball, there were plenty of witnesses to see him go. How else would Tom, Tucker, and Emmet know to follow him out? He knew it would be interrupted, therefore he didn’t really want it to happen.” My mouth is hanging open, how does he know any of this? “The second time was in the gym. Again, a room full of people ready to stop him.”
Aha, now I’ve got you.
“No, it was a room full of people w-w-who left when he told them to. He d-d-didn’t know Aeron was g-g-going to come in and ‘stop’ him.”
“But I bet he made sure your little friend was in there before he ordered them out. The one person who would go running to your defence. I bet he never told them not to say anything.” His grin is only widening, and I hate how much sense he makes.
“So, what? You think he wanted to get beaten up? That’s crazy, why would he do that?” There is no reasonable explanation for this one.
“No, but I bet he wanted to terrify you. He really hates you, Vanilla, he probably couldn’t help himself. What do you bring out of the guys in this place? Do you make it your mission to drive them crazy, and to moments of insanity?” He moves over to my sofa and drops down, draping his arm over the back.
“I don’t do anything, I’m just me. If you really want to know, then ask them.” Drop the attitude, it won’t end well.
“Have fun, Vanilla, this year is going to get crazy.” He gets to his feet, drops a kiss on my cheek, gives me a wink, and then walks out. How the hell have I ended up being claimed by him?
This can’t be happening! It has to be some kind of joke, right? I need it to be, almost desperately. I would give anything to wake up and find that this has just been one long, never-ending nightmare. I don’t know what he will do to me, and I can’t refuse him a damn thing. I pull at my hair, before sliding to the ground.
An envelope slips under my door a few moments later and a smile finally makes it to my face. It has to be Emmet, especially with Darius stationed outside.
I rush to the door and pull it open, foolishly hoping he’ll still be outside, but there’s only Darius.
“Is everything okay, Miss Carter?”
Yes, everything is fine, I was just trying to see who slipped the message under my door,” I say with a forced smile.
“It was just a member of staff. Don’t worry, it's safe. I can stand with you while you open it though, if you’d feel safer.” He stares deep into my eyes, and I slowly nod my head.
“Are you allowed to come in?” I ask, glancing down the hall.
“Yes, it will be fine. I won’t be long.” He steps into my room, and retrieves the envelope before closing the door and passing it over to me.
“Thank you.” I look up at him through my lashes, and they flutter as he grazes the back of his fingers down the side of my face.
“Open it, Snowflake, I can’t stay long.” I step into him despite his words, and he wraps me into his arms.