“And?” My eyes implored him to go on. “What, are you like little children? You must have your brother’s favorite toy… or else?”
“Are you really just a toy, Amber?” Bruno said, raising his hand to my face. I flinched, but he merely tucked a stray strand of my hair behind my ear. “Don’t fear me, little girl. I don’t want to hurt you.”
“But you will?” I asked, raising my chin and looking him in the eyes.
“I might,” came the answer.
I pushed past him, realizing just how weak I was when his firm hand on my arm stopped me.
“Don’t leave just yet,” he growled. “Your test isn’t quite over.”
I looked up at him, and he leaned in. My body stiffened, and I froze on the spot.
“Don’t,” I whispered just as his lips almost touched mine. His breath was cool and mint-fresh against my lips, but I didn’t want his kiss, as tempting as the idea was. “Don’t kiss me.”
“What makes you think you make the rules?” he asked in a low whisper. “What makes you think I’m going to do as you say, little girl?”
I shivered beneath his gaze. His fingertips brushed my arm, where they’d tightened moments ago, touching the spots I knew would bruise the next day.
“Still so innocent,” he growled in my ear. “Still so sweet.”
I pushed past him this time, and he let me.
I descended the stairs two at a time, struggling to keep from falling over. My breaths were short and ragged, and I was eager to get away, but Bruno caught up with me before I made it to the doors I’d admired what felt like moments ago.
He appeared in front of me, tall and towering over my frail body. I’d never felt as vulnerable then right then and there, and I shivered in fear when he stepped toward me.
“Why don’t you let it happen, little girl?” he ground out. “Why don’t you let me take what I want?”
I cried out when he cornered me against the bookshelves. The copies of the stories from my childhood mocked me from the walls, watching on as the lumbering man before me smirked at my shivering form.
“You sure you’re cut out to be a princess?” he grunted. “There’s a lot more to the role than you might think, little girl.”
“Leave me alone,” I managed, but instead of coming out strong and determined, my voice was small, scared and raw. “I don’t want this.”
“Sometimes you don’t have a choice.”
With those ominous words, he crowded my space. He was touching me everywhere, his hands on my skin, my clothes, on my inner thighs where my dress was ruched.
I raised my eyes to his then, silently begging for him to stop.
Silver met gold when our gazes connected, and I willed him to stop his cruel assault on me.
And then, something switched on inside him. The change was barely noticeable, but I saw it because I was watching him so closely. It was almost as the monster retreated back into the shadows, and the man appeared in the spotlight.
He was questioning it. It was a matter of seconds – but enough time for me to get away.
I shoved past him, my elbow meeting stone hard abs through his blazer as I fled the library.
Bruno didn’t go after me.
I ran down the hallway, sobs starting to wrack my body when I stumbled into a small figure. We both cried out and nearly fell to the floor, holding onto each other to stop the fall. Our eyes connected, and I paled when I realized I’d just collided with the Queen.
“Where are you going in such a rush?” she huffed, and I smoothed down the front of my dress, curtsying like I’d been taught to do. “You shouldn’t run around like that, insolent girl. You could break something of importance! This castle is filled with priceless art.”
From the look she gave me, it was safe to assume I was closer to garbage than a treasure.
“I’m sorry, Your Majesty,” I managed weakly.
Now, she turned her head to the side and regarded me with newfound interest.
“Are you quite alright, dear? It looks like you’ve had a fright.”
It was the nicest, most personable she’d ever been with me.
“B-Bruno,” I spat out despite my better judgement. “He… He touched me.”
She stared at me for a second before letting out a small laugh and waving her hand dismissively. “It’s just a part of your test, silly girl.”
“Test?” I asked. “It was part of the challenge?”
“Of course,” she replied, nonplussed. “All the girls will go through it.”
I thought back to that library. To the way he’d cornered me, hurt me.
“You can’t be serious,” I told the Queen. “Some of those girls aren’t even eighteen years old, and you’re sending them in with that… that monster?”
“Bruno is not a monster!” she spat out, and for a moment I was certain she would slap me. Then, she collected herself and sighed before touching her hair to make sure everything was still in place. “Look, girl. It’s just a challenge.”
“How is being felt up by him a challenge?” I asked, not even attempting to disguise the anger in my voice. “How is being forced to endure his… attention… a test?”
“It seems like you still don’t have a clue,” the Queen smirked at me, taking a step closer and snarling in my face. “It’s your royal duty to do as you’re told, stupid girl. And after all… you’re nothing but entertainment for the court.”
Chapter Twelve
Olivier
My chérie was pulling away. I could feel her drifting from me, sliding out of my grasp while I desperately tried to reel her back in. But she wasn’t coming, wasn’t budging. She was slipping away.
It was now three days after the women’s last challenge with Bruno. It was organized by my mother, and I didn’t even want to think about it for too long. But the Queen insisted the girls needed to show how they’d interact with a member of their court, to prove their loyalty to Luxuria. I hadn’t asked her for details, and none of the girls had elaborated.
I’d spent the past three days spending time with my women, getting to know them better. And even though I was eager to dedicate most of my time to Amber, she didn’t seem to share the need to be close to me. She dodged me on several occasions, throwing icy glares in my direction when I spoke to the other women. And while her jealousy was adorable, I didn’t appreciate the cold shoulder. She’d need to be on her best behavior once she became Queen, and this childish attitude wasn’t helping matters much.
During breakfast on that Tuesday, my mother explained how the next elimination process would work.
“Your brother Bruno will pick two girls to send home,” she said, buttering an English muffin and refusing to meet my eye. She knew I wouldn’t like this one bit, and I set down my fork, glaring at her from my seat across the table.
“I didn’t agree to that,” I said.
“It’s part of the royal traditions, darling!” she quipped, batting her lashes at me.
I sighed and rubbed my temples. I knew I’d been impatient with her lately, demanding too much of my mother when she already had her hands full with the whole contest. But I was upset she didn’t like Amber and worried about what would happen when the two would inevitably be forced to live in proximity. I didn’t want a catfight on my hands. I just wanted them to get the fuck along. Is that too much to ask for?