“Are you okay? I saw Thallon leave, I’m sorry that I can’t stop him from coming in.” He kisses the top of my head and I sigh.
“I’m okay, I just needed to be held by you for a moment. You give me strength.” I kiss his chest, before I step back and open the envelope.
You are hereby ordered by Thallon Harkwright to accompany him to a Harkwright wedding. To take place two weeks on Saturday. You are required to find a suitable dress during your shopping trip this weekend. You will be representing the Academy, do not let us down.
Miss Lucien
“Whose wedding?” I choke on the question as Darius grimaces.
“Is it Tucker? Darius, is it Tucker?” I grip his shirt and he cups my face.
“I don’t know, Snowflake. It’s either his or Shane’s, no one has told us. It will be okay, I promise.” I yank out of his grasp as I pull at my hair.
“I can’t watch him get married, it will kill me. Then again, if it’s Shane’s, then he could very well kill me. I don’t want to go, Darius, I can’t bear it.” He scoops me into his arms and peppers my face with kisses.
“I will be there, I won’t let them hurt you. No matter what happens, I will keep you safe, no matter the cost.” He kisses me briefly on the mouth before he leaves and his words fill me with a sense of foreboding.
No matter the cost, the cost to who?
I let out a shuddering breath, as shouting fills the hallway, but a numbness is taking over, as I move into my bedroom. I don’t even react as my door slams open, I look over my shoulder to see three of the four Harkwrights who mean more than they should.
“This is happening, Luna, I promise. I don’t care what he says, he can’t keep us from you. He doesn’t have the guts,” Emmet sneers, before breaking the distance, and pulling me against him.
“It’s okay, Little Zero, we’re not going anywhere. This won’t change a damn thing, you can’t get rid of us that easily,” Aeron says with a smirk, but it falls as my face remains blank.
“She needs time to compress, and come to terms with this new fucked up reality. I don’t think we’re helping matters,” Tom says slowly, measuring his words.
Emmet lets me go, before picking up a book and throwing it against the wall. At least he can’t break that, although I wish he hadn’t thrown a book, I don’t want it to get damaged. That might actually break through the numbness. I think it’s shock, and Tom’s right. I just need a few moments to figure out my own head.
“He isn’t keeping her, I give it a week tops. No longer,” Emmet fumes, before storming out the door, he slams it that hard, it rebounds off the frame.
“Come on, Aer, we need to go,” Tom tries again, but he only gets a scoff in reply.
“Fuck you, I’ll leave because she needs it, not you.”
“Stay safe, Moonbeam, we’ll never be too far,” he all but whispers before walking out, I think he knows Aeron won’t leave before he does.
“I guess I can at least agree with that.” He steps over the threshold, before spinning back around, grabbing me, and kissing me gently. Enough to make my heart ache, and then he’s gone.
I wanted to be alone, right? Then why does it feel so bleak, if this is my world when finding out Thallon owns me, how will it be when I discover just who he truly is?
17
How to Degrade and Clean
Luna
“How was the shopping?” D asks, as I slump down in my chair and try to go unnoticed by Thallon.
“Oh. It was great. Miss Lucien chose me the best shopping buddy ever,” I reply, my tongue dripping with sarcasm.
“I kind of regret asking, so did you find a dress for the wedding?”
I narrow my eyes and she swallows hard before picking up her coffee, and looking at anyone but me.
“I’m sorry, it’s just not been going great since the last assembly. I haven’t even seen any of the other guys, and I feel so alone.” I hang my head and she runs her hand over my back.
“Things will be okay, but I think something is going on. I’ve barely seen Jake either, and Mad changes the subject whenever I try to ask him why. You know those guys won’t be able to keep away from you for long though.” Her words aren’t soothing my frayed nerves. Because I don’t think Thallon will give anyone permission to be near me, or at least anyone that I would want.
“What happened with your number being changed? I thought it was being raised after what Bradley did.” I’ve been wondering this for a while now and it seems like the perfect time to ask.
“Mad says he asked his father that exact question. Apparently, he doesn’t see the need in changing my designation, not when I now ‘belong’ to his son. So, as long as Mad owns me, I get to keep my number.” She scrapes her fork against her plate, and I feel for her, I really do.
“I know it sucks, but at least it’s Mad,” it’s all I can think to say back.
“I don’t like being owned, I know Mad doesn’t see it like that, but the guys do. Can you imagine the wedding, we’re just going to be the novelty act? Something for the snobs to laugh and gawk at. To make themselves feel better with the hand they’ve been dealt in life, it’s a joke.” She slams her fork down, and I sit here, slack jawed.
That was more heated than I had expected. Maybe it’s because of what Bradley said when he stood off against Emmet, or the fact that she hasn’t seen much of Jake.
“D, is something else going on?” I tilt my head to the side, but she won’t meet my eyes.
“I told Jake something in confidence before we came back, and now he seems to be avoiding me and spending time with your guys. What if he tells them, or if he’s already told them?” She gnaws on her lip and I pat her shoulder.
“Do you want to talk about it? I won’t tell anyone.”
“It’s not that I don’t trust you, Lu, but you will want to tell the guys. I can’t put you in a position where you will have to keep secrets from them,” she whispers as she leans her head against mine.
“I know what happened with Jake was on me as well. But I won’t do it again, I won’t betray you, I promise.” She drops a kiss to my cheek before she stands up.
“I know you won’t, Homegirl, I know.”
She walks off and I go to follow after her, when a shadow falls over me. I look up to see Thallon.
“Off to class, Vanilla?”
“Is that the one you’ve chosen to call me?” I ask, flicking my eyes up to glance at him.
“Depends on my mood, Vanilla and Little Mouse. They both fit you nicely.” His hand lands on my shoulder, and I fight back the urge to jerk away.
“Be sure to come to my wing once you finish your classes. I have something extra special in mind for you.” His smile is kind and so are his words but his eyes, they tell a whole other story.
I don’t think I’m going to enjoy whatever he has in mind for me. I roll my shoulders back and leave the mess hall, and I am praying that the classes will drag.
I’ve had so many Harkwrights walk past me, and yet no Thallon. Was this his plan? To have me wait out here, because if so… I’m starting to think the guys were overreacting. If this is the best he can do to get into my head, then he has nothing on the others in this place.