Kade
Her red-rimmed eyes stirred a feeling Kade hadn’t felt in such a long time—sympathy. He hadn’t felt this way since his mother was still around. He didn’t like the feeling. It made him feel weak.
Kade saw Thirteen…he saw what Vince had done to her and heard what she said to Nine. It was nothing new. Vince had always been the kind to play dirty both in and outside of the bedroom. Many Unfortunates had suffered at his hands and many had died at his hands, but there was nothing anyone could do about it. That was the way the new world went…Unfortunates were disposable. One day they’re here and the next they’re not.
Kade slipped back into the solitude of his room and closed the door. Immediately, his eyes flicked to the fireplace. What was he thinking letting her go without punishment after she said no to him? He should’ve forced her into the fireplace while she was kicking and screaming, and he should’ve left her in there for the remainder of the day.
He pushed off of the door and stormed over to his desk. He hated that he was treating Nine like precious cargo, but he didn’t know how to stop it. This was why Kade didn’t want an Unfortunate in the first place. He could play cold and callous all day every day, but when it came down to hurting an innocent…he knew he couldn’t do it because of the foundation of kindness his mother built deep inside him as a little boy—the foundation that he thought he tore down, the foundation his father was making sure didn’t come back. ‘There is always an opportunity for kindness, Kaden. Even something as small as a smile can brighten another’s day.’ An angel, his mother was. It was surprising she lasted as long as she did in a world that doesn’t hold humanity in high regard. Kaden…He clenched his jaw. That was his biggest issue with Nine. He could stand her questions, her disobedience, and her glares. It was the repeated use of his full name that he couldn’t stand. Kaden. It reminded him of the boy he left behind, the weak boy who wanted to help humanity, just like his mother. When his father took her away somewhere in the city and she never returned, he buried that name with her. Hearing it brought back painful memories…memories that tortured his soul. He turned his back on his mother’s cause and he treated every Unfortunate that came through his door like shit. It was his only defence against breaking face and protecting them all. In order to survive here, Kade had to kill himself—his real self—and Nine would not be the one to revive him. Not now, not ever. Kade was going to take over his father’s empire and move into the city, and nothing was going to get in his way.
He dropped into his chair and flicked on his computer screen. His fingers moved smoothly over the glass, clicking on tabs and opening the blueprints of his main mine. Four tunnels in total were lost. He clicked on the CCTV footage and watched as the walls collapsed without warning. There was no explosion, no earthquake and no visible weak point in its structure. Of course, he could only see it from one angle. He needed a moderator he could trust to get inside. Soyer was out of the question, he was a moderator loyal only to his father. He needed someone who wasn’t as well known as Soyer…someone who would know that Kade was next in line to take over all of the Sario properties and businesses and would do anything to be a part of it. As Kade pulled up moderator profiles, he thought about the tunnels and how they led to a main centre. A centre with more than enough space to house all of the current twenty-seven Unfortunates that have gone rogue—assuming of course they all made it as far as the mine without dying. It was a tough trek, even with food and water.
Pushing the profiles to the side, Kade accessed the footage to the main sector inside the mine. Conveniently, the image was scrambled, showing nothing but a vibrating image of white, black, and grey. He returned to the profiles page. Something was definitely happening inside his mine and he was going to figure it out. If they come back with something, Kade would travel to the mine and kill all of the Unfortunates himself. If they came back with nothing, then the only option he had left would be to purchase one of the Knowles’ mines and abandon the last. The Knowles were the only other family that owned mines. They had four less than the Sarios did, but they were much more modern and safe. The price of a mine so well structured would cost a lot—probably more than the Sarios had. Then it hit him, if he offered something he knew Albert Knowle would like—a young, auburn-haired Unfortunate with violet eyes—perhaps Kade could negotiate a price drop. Albert Knowle was known for wanting things no one else had and his selective tastes in Unfortunates. He liked unique. He liked alluring mouths, big breasts, and slim hips—he liked to be seduced and sucked, not fucked—out of respect for his lovely wife, of course. It was perfect. Nine could take Albert in her mouth as many times as he wanted in exchange for a cheaper price on a new mine. Then, under Kade’s rule, the Sarios’ income percentage would increase, not decrease because of the loss of a mine. Kade leaned back in his chair and smiled; it was almost too easy. Quickly, he selected the third moderator down on the left. He was relatively new, but had more muscles in his neck alone than Kade had in his entire body. He’d do just fine. He tapped the ‘summon’ button and entered tomorrow’s date. Once he set the time for quarter past twelve, he closed all of the tabs and shut off his screen. Now all he had to do was teach Nine exactly what he wanted her to do. He knew she wasn’t going to be willing to do it. Not after the disagreement they’d just had, so Kade decided to wait and let her cool off. Tomorrow night, however, she’d learn. Kade would tie her up and force it on her if he had to. Forget being kind, forget doing what’s right. Kade needed to think about his future and the future of his family name. He couldn’t afford a distraction, not now. Not when he was so close to securing everything he’d worked so hard for…
∞ Nine ∞
(The next night)
I lie on my bed with my feet on the cold, concrete wall, mindlessly counting the cracks in the white paint. I went the whole day without seeing Master Kade. The silence last time persisted two weeks and I hope it happens again. I still haven’t gotten over the fact he tried to shove me into a fireplace or the fact I wouldn’t let him. Any other Fortunate would have killed me, or worse, humiliated me. Master Kade is different than the others and I can’t quite put my finger on it. Sure, he’s aggressive, inappropriate, and demanding…but he’s something else, as well. I wonder if his inability to hurt me is actually because he’s planning to use me, or if he simply can’t bring himself to hurt me. That, of course, would be completely out of character for a Fortunate, especially one born into the system and taught how to be…inhuman. I expected Kade to be more like his brother Vince. I shudder at the thought of the poor innocent Unfortunate that’ll be assigned to him in the coming years—not that it matters. I don’t get it…I don’t get why Fortunates receive their own Unfortunate for their twenty-fifth birthday when they can use any Unfortunate in the house anytime they want. Greedy, that’s all the Fortunates are. I can’t complain about my Fortunate, though. It’s been weeks since the ceremony where I had Kade’s symbol burnt into my flesh and I still have my virginity intact. Surely, that has to be some kind of record? He’s clearly getting what he needs elsewhere…with Elizabeth. The thought sends a harsh prickle of jealousy up my spine. Who would’ve thought I’d be jealous because my Fortunate hasn’t touched me? A soft knock at my door snaps me back to reality. I swing my legs off of the wall and onto the floor, sitting up. The door opens and Thirteen’s pretty, but bruised face peers in. When her stare settles on me, they water and narrow in. The look of her makes my heart ache with guilt. Here I am feeling a little jealous because Kade has sex with Elizabeth when I’m sure Thirteen would give anything to be in my position. I get left alone for the most part…she did too, until Vince wanted to get back at me.
“Master Kade wants to see you,” she mutters, pushing open the door.
I peer out the dusty window. It’s dusk, the sky is a beautiful inky shade, and the stars glisten like diamonds. What does he want with me at this time? Dread settles in my stomach and pushes out all thoughts of jealousy.
I push off the bed and thread my fingers so Thirteen doesn’t see my trembling hands. I’ll never get used to this…being summoned at any time of the day for god knows what. My blue dress brushes against my knees, causing goosebumps to erupt. On my chest, I can still see the stains from Kade’s berries. Thirteen eyes my dress and then glances down at her worn, white tunic. My wardrobe is filled with varying colours. Master Kade wants me to always look fresh and untouchable, like a Fortunate without the title or the privileges. I hate wearing the dress. I see the way the other Unfortunates look at me. They avoid me. They even go out of their way to create work for themselves to get out of a conversation with me. I’m used to it, I suppose. The only real friend I have here is Portia, but she runs the kitchen and I hardly see her.
My bare feet press against the cool stone floor as I follow Thirteen towards the stairs. She’s not limping as much as she was yesterday and it fills me with relief. Hopefully, Vince is done with her. When we reach the top of the stairs, Thirteen hesitates, glancing cautiously at Vince’s door at the end of the hallway. She whips around on her heel and speeds down the steps, going as fast as she can to avoid Vince. I freeze when I see Vince smirk and lean against the railing at the bottom. I want to alert her, but she’s moving too quickly to see him, keeping her eyes on her tiny cloth shoes as she patters down the stair case. When she reaches the bottom, he steps in front of her and she slams right into his tall, hard body. My heart races for her. It threatens to smash through my ribcage as she bounces back, tripping over the bottom step and landing awkwardly on her ass. Vince crouches low, letting his predatory stare flick to mine briefly. He speaks in a low tone and I can’t hear it from where I’m standing. A few second later, Vince proceeds up the stairs and Thirteen pulls herself to her feet. My blood runs cold as she hugs herself and proceeds back up the stairs. No…she keeps her stare on her feet again, not glancing up for anybody. I should disappear into Kade’s room, I know I should. I should mind my own business, but I don’t. I stand still and watch the terrifying events unfold in front of me.
“Evening,” Vince says as he passes me. His dark eyes flare and his lips curl into a cruel smile that turns my stomach.
“Good evening, Master Vince,” I reply, trying my hardest not to glare at him.
I relax minutely as he ventures closer to his room. As Thirteen walks by, trembling hard, I snatch her wrist. “Thirteen, you don’t have to do this.”
She snatches her hand back and bares her teeth. “What do you expect me to do?” she snaps in a harsh whisper. “Fight him? Run?” Tears fall over the rim of her big, blue eyes. “Leave me alone.”
I watch them, painfully raking my teeth over my bottom lip until they shut themselves in Vince’s room. Feeling dejected, I drag myself to Master Kade’s door and knock. I wait roughly eight seconds and finally open it. Kade is sitting at his desk, typing away on his large glass screen.
“Come in and shut the door,” he orders, without looking up.
I do as I’m told.
“Lock it.”
I move my hands towards the lock and then I hesitate. “Lock it?”
His black irises flick onto me from underneath his brow. The warning in them is clear. I don’t want to fight him, not today. I lock the door. As it clicks, he pushes off his chair and begins rolling up the sleeves of his light blue button up shirt. His thick, strong forearms are revealed the higher he folds the fabric and the skin on his arms is a nice tan. Overtly, he looks at my chest as he steps closer. His steps are calculated, I can feel it. He has something planned…something I’m not sure I’m going to be comfortable with.
“Couldn’t get it off?” he asks. I know he’s talking about his name on my chest.
Heat creeps into my cheeks and Kade’s full lips twitch at the sight of them. “No, sir.”
“There’s a bowl in the bathroom. Fill it with warm water and soap, and bring it back to me.”
With a nod of my head, I do what I’m told. When I return, Kade is sitting on one of the large, mahogany couches, twirling a piece of fabric around his finger.
“Sit,” he says, tapping a long, thick index finger on his knee.
I swallow hard, but I don’t protest him. Sitting on him beats sitting on coal locked in a fireplace. Holding the bowl tightly in my hands, I lower myself onto Kade’s hard lap. I shuffle, without spilling the water, until his legs are firmly between mine and my knees dig into the back of the couch. He holds my weight on his legs without strain. I slowly expel a breath of air in an attempt to calm my racing heart as Kade takes the bowl from me and sits it on the neighbouring cushion. I watch, cautiously, as he dips the cloth into the clear water.
“Dress.”
I drag an inhale through my nose, a failing attempt to seem confident, and slip the thick twists of blue fabric off my shoulders. It pools at my waist and exposes my chest to Kade. He doesn’t do a double take, he doesn’t even look at them. Instead, he acts as if they don’t exist and begins rubbing the warm cloth against my chest, unaffected by my bare flesh. Drops of water run down my skin as he pushes ever so slightly. I look past his head, focused on the painting of a forest. The greens swirl so beautifully with the brown and I’m lost in the painting, until the cloth leaves my chest and the water cools, hardening my nipples. He dips the cloth in the water and brings it back to my chest. I watch this time, as he circles the faint berry marks on my skin.
“Why are you rubbing it off?” I ask. “I thought you liked it.”
His lips twitch—a subtle movement I almost miss. As soon as it happens, it disappears, hidden under a frown.
“Your skin needs to be flawless,” he says. “Because there’s something I need you to do for me.”
My entire body tightens, and if he noticed, he chooses to ignore it. I won’t panic, not yet. It could be something as simple as wearing another revealing dress. I stay silent and watch his face as he scrubs my skin harder, starting on the beginning of his last name now. In his wake, he leaves violent looking red marks that still spell out his name.
“Are you ill?” he asks, clearing off the ‘s’ and ‘a’ letters.
“No, why?”
“I tell you I need you to do something for me and you remain silent. Not your usual behaviour.”
I shrug. “Do I really have a choice?”
“Everyone has a choice. It’s just in your case, the wrong one will get you killed.”
I know, deep down, that I’m too stubborn to let a Fortunate kill me. I’d fight them down to my last breath. Despite my silent thoughts, there’s a depressing, deflated feeling floating around my stomach…the feeling of loss.
“It makes you happy? Sharing me with others?” It’s a question I never planned on asking, but around others, he seems territorial of me and I can’t help but wonder if he’s even capable of sharing me.
“I don’t like sharing my things, but this is business.”
Business. The relationship between my Fortunate and me is strictly business…that has to be a first, surely. At the end of the day, I can go into this willingly. I can squeeze my eyes shut and open my legs and wait for it to be over, or I can fight it. If I fight, I’ll suffer punishments worse than I ever imagined. If I’m useless to Kade, he’ll get rid of me…he’ll put me in the ‘black house’ (whatever that is) or worse, he could give me to Vince. Despite it all, I want to please Kade. I want him to be proud of me and I want to know what it feels like.
“If you do this for me, I’ll promise you something in return.”
I frown. “You want to strike a deal with me?”
I find it strange he would offer me something in return when I don’t have choice but to do it anyway.
“I’m not totally selfish. What I’m asking will be difficult, especially for someone like you.” He pauses, his beautiful brows furrowing. “If you do this for me, I’ll give you a way out of this life as an Unfortunate.”
Bullshit. “There is no way out.”
He nods, finishing off on the ‘o’ of his last name. “There isn’t, not literally. I mean, I’ll keep you. I’ll make sure you don’t get passed down to Vince or to anyone else. Once I take over my father, you can live with me in the city. Of course, you’d have to do things I ask when we’re in public, but when we’re home, you’d be free to do whatever you want.”
Why? Why would he do this for me? My chest tightens as hope tries to force its way in. If there’s a soul killer more potent than a Fortunate in this world, it’s hope. He is my Fortunate, but I can’t trust him. I can feel that he’s different…I can feel it in my stomach that he’s not like the rest of them, but I’m smart enough not to trust him wholeheartedly. He quirks an eyebrow and the movement slams into my chest, shortening my breath.
“I offer you the deal of a lifetime and you look terrified.”
“How do I know I can trust you?” I keep my eyes on his as he pinches the tip of my hair between his fingers and toys with it.
“You don’t and you can’t.”
I look deep into his oily irises, searching for something, anything, that’ll tell me if he’s telling the truth. I don’t see the truth, but I do see something else, something…wicked. In his beautiful, pitch back irises, I see the slightest sliver of honey flare.
“But I get the feeling you’re low on options.”
I am low on options, but I’m not fussed about that. What’s concerning me more, in this moment, is the pulsing between my legs that’s consuming me inch by inch. “I’ll do it…”
“No complaints?”
Strangely, I feel a piece of my soul die. “None.”
The warm, wet cloth no longer touches my flesh. In its place, I feel the rough pad of his finger glide over the lower side of my breast and just like that, he’s locked me in place. My stare falls to his mouth. His full, supple lips are so gorgeous they almost beckon me closer. In this moment, he could put his mouth on me and I’d do nothing to fight it. I hate it. I hate that at the end of the hall, Thirteen is being forced into things she doesn’t want to do and yet here I am, silently willing my Fortunate to press his lips to my burning skin. This is different than the last time he wanted to kiss me. I was afraid of him then. This time, I’m more afraid of me. I’m terrified of the feelings churning in the pit of my stomach and throbbing between my thighs. Sitting on top of him doesn’t help, either. In fact it magnifies my feelings tenfold and my fingers twitch against my thigh as I fight the urge to push them into his hair.
“Seduction is key,” he states, almost under his breath. “You need to seduce your targets, get them to do whatever you want, and then close the deal by giving them what they want.”
“And if they don’t want it?”
“That’s the power of seduction. It isn’t a choice of the brain or the heart. It’s a choice of the body.” He flicks a thumb over my nipple and I shiver. “You have to manipulate the body to do what you want.”
In a painfully slow movement, Kade swallows the distance between my breast and his face. The second his hot, wet mouth closes around my nipple, I shamelessly suck in a breath. I lean back, trying to get away from the amazing sensation. It feels so wrong for it to feel so damn good. Kade grips my back, his fingers digging into the flesh as he forces more of me into his mouth. His tongue flicks over my sensitive bud, causing arousal to frisson through me as his teeth scrape the delicate skin. Involuntarily, my back begins to arch, wanting more of his skin to touch mine. My body is alight with a fire I’ve never felt before and as a low moan falls from my lips…he stops. With a soft kiss, he pulls away. Not a second later, our eyes lock, causing my breath to hitch. He looks like sin…like the smirk on his mouth was hand painted by the devil himself. It does crazy things to me…causes my cheeks to burn bright and my blood follows suit.
“You all right, Nine?” he drawls, making my blush deepen.
“I’m fine,” I utter, still caught in his pull.
His hand snakes up my back and grips the back of my neck, holding me in place. Underneath me, I feel him hard against the apex of my thighs and without warning, he crushes his lips to mine. I gasp, opening my mouth wide enough for him to push his tongue inside. I get the feeling this isn’t about learning anymore. This is what he wants. He tastes citrusy, like strawberry and orange. I squeak as he flicks his hips and pushes me onto my back and into the cushion, pinning me under his body. I hear his shoe connect with the bowl and warm water wets my feet. He doesn’t care that he wet his pretty couch, and I don’t care, either. As the water cools, it’s a welcome sensation on my otherwise burning skin. His tongue tastes me, savours me, and I become dizzy with the intensity, but my head begins to clear the moment he pulls his mouth from mine.
“Your turn,” he says, grinning down at me.
I blink, trying my hardest to come back down to planet Earth. “What?”
Kade licks his moist lip in a way that makes my head spin one last time. “I said it’s your turn.”
I swallow, slightly embarrassed by how hard I’m panting. “For what?”
“To make me want you.”
I feel my eyes widen as all seeds of arousal slip from my body, replaced by complete fear. “You want me to do to you what you did to me?”
“More or less.” He pushes off of me, straightens his tie, and stands beside the couch.
Instantly, without his body heat crashing into mine, I feel out of place. I sit up and sheepishly pull the twists of fabric back up my arms, shielding my breasts from view.
“All right.” My hands tremble and I bunch the fabric of my dress in my fists to stop them from alerting Kade. I don’t want him to see how scared I am…I want to please him on the first go. I rise to my feet. “What do I do?”
He takes a couple of steps back and suddenly the air around me seems cold, empty. “Seduce me.”
He says it simply, but his tone still manages to seep into my pores and ignites my cheeks. “But I don’t know how.”
“I’ll teach you, eventually. For now, show me what you’ve got.”
I drag in an inhale and step closer. Slowly, I reach for his tie, but he slaps my hand away. Heat prickles across my skin and I snatch my hand away, glaring at his amused expression. “Ouch!”
“Don’t be a baby,” he teases, smiling slightly.
I almost falter in my movements. I don’t believe it. Is Master Kade being playful with me? I reach out for him again, for his hand this time and he smacks me away again. Each time he does it, his wolfish smile grows wider. Pulling away, I caress the back of my hand.
“You’re going to slap me every time I get something wrong?”
He shrugs one shoulder as he fingers the end of his tie. “If you’re lucky, I’ll pinch your nipples, too.” I take a small step back and he smiles victoriously. “I’ll give you a tip. Removing clothes is stage two.”
There are stages? “Stage two?”
He nods. “There are four stages of sex; seduction, removing clothes, foreplay, and sex.”
I frown. How is this so hard? How can he have me on my back in seconds with no protest on my part but I barely affect him?
“What do I do?”
“You don’t touch, not at first. Seduction is in the way you talk and walk. You have to make me want you before your skin comes into contact with mine.” He steps away and I breathe easier. “The initial contact should light a fire under me, propel my actions.”
“You touched me.”
“I wasn’t trying to seduce you.”
I fold my arm tightly across my chest. “Then what were you doing?”
Kade’s eyes narrow and he steps closer. He snatches my wrists in his hands and I wince as he pries my arms apart and pushes them behind my back…where they should be. I don’t know what it is about him that makes me forget everything I was taught. Maybe it’s the way his jet black hair sits on his head or the width of his broad shoulders. Maybe it’s his full, kissable lips, or his height, or the way his crisp shirt clings to his chest that makes me want to abandon everything I’ve learnt and just go for it—go for him. I clasp my hands together, but I don’t look away from him.
“I was having fun,” he states, adjusting the fabric rolled to his elbow. “Now try again.”
I step closer and reach out for the one millionth time. He pulls his hand up and brings it down to slap me. Before he does, I snatch his wrist. The forced contact of his skin has me inhaling sharply. The touch alone is enough to spur me on—and it does. I throw his arm away and launch myself at him. My body crashes into his and before he can tell me to stop, I press my lips to his mouth. My blood hums—buzzes—with power, as if I’ve smeared my body in honey and laid down on an ant nest. It’s a power I can feel infecting me, addicting me. Kade grips my hips and parts his lips, allowing me to slip my tongue inside. I taste him as thoroughly as I can before he decides to stop this. This, what I’m doing, is forbidden—punishable by death, usually. To touch a Fortunate so erotically on my own whim, for my own pleasure, is suicide. A week ago, I’d be petrified, but I get the feeling Kade won’t do a thing about this. He likes it. I can feel it in the way his skin hums against mine. He likes this—me—he likes me being in charge. I marvel over the controlling, commanding Kaden Sario being awfully passive, letting me touch him—taste him—however I want.
“Careful, Unfortunate,” he murmurs against my lips. “Actions like that will get you killed.”
“But you like it,” I counter, my breath clashing with his. “You like this, don’t you?”
The words tumble from my mouth before I have time to clear it with my brain and I’d kick myself if I wasn’t so tightly wound. I don’t know what came over me. I wanted to grab him, to crush my body against his and feel his hard muscles against me…so I did and it was the most empowering thing I’ve ever done in my life. Adrenaline is pumping through my veins, spreading like wildfire and I’m unable to stop it. He swallows hard, never dropping his stare from mine. I can see it in his eyes, in the way he looks at me. He’s excited and conflicted all at once.
“What I like doesn’t matter.”
“It could,” I whisper, dragging my bottom lip across his. “I only want to please you…you can have me all to yourself.”
His fingers tighten around my hips and dig into the flesh. My breath hitches as his tongue slips out and glides across mine. I gasp as he squeezes my hips and twists me around, pressing my back into him.
“Maybe in another life I’ll keep you and fuck you until your body breaks apart,” he promises in my ear, his gravelly voice shooting straight down to the tips of my toes. “But not in this one, darling.”
Despite his words, I smile. Never has he called something other than what I am—Nine or Unfortunate. Darling is an affectionate word and whether Master Kade wants to admit it or not, I’ve just buried myself under his skin. My next destination? His heart. I don’t want his love, no. I want his loyalty, I want his protection, and if I can keep getting him to smile and banter with me, that’s exactly what he’ll give me.
I turn, pulling myself from his grip. “It was worth a shot,” I say, ignoring the way my legs wobble. “Have it your way.”
Subtly, I inhale and let it go, clasping my hands behind my back. “What do we do now?”
“Oh, we’re not finished here.” He rakes his teeth over his bottom lip, deep in thought. “Meet me at the lake in twenty minutes.”
“The lake?” There’s a lake that runs in from the ocean and behind the row of Fortunate manors. I’ve contemplated going down there to have a look. “What for?”
He turns and stalks back to his desk. “I’m not about to discuss my plans with my brother lingering in the hall. I know a spot at the lake.”
Lingering in the hall? “How do you know he’s in the hall?”
“You can’t feel your happiness being sucked from you?” He smiles again—his perfect lips curving so flawlessly I hold my breath. “Trust me. He’s out there.”
Great. Now I don’t want to leave. I turn to the door and hesitate a moment. Vince wouldn’t hurt me in the hall, not while Master Kade is right here. What about Thirteen? What if I run into Thirteen? I don’t think I can stomach it.
A heavy guilt settles on my heart, slowing down its pulse. I can’t help but feel as though I’ve betrayed her. Willingly kissing my Fortunate? What’s wrong with me? Have I really been so strongly brainwashed that I’m sexually attracted to the very people who force me to live like this? I reach for the handle and open the door.
“It’s not your fault, by the way,” Kade says, pulling me from my thoughts.
I peer over my shoulder and watch as he fiddles with papers on his desk, avoiding eye contact. “Thirteen.” His black irises find mine. “It’s not your fault.”
Kade goes back to what he was doing and all I can do is watch him. Why would he say that? Why would he offer me any kind of comfort? Has this evening changed him? Despite his words, I can’t smile…Because I don’t believe it. If it weren’t for me, Thirteen would still be in the kitchen, not in Vince’s bed.
“I’ll see you at the lake in twenty minutes,” I mutter and step out of the room, closing the door behind me.
“The lake, huh?”
I squeak as Vince’s voice startles me. With his bent knee, he pushes off of the wall. My spine stiffens, as if a metal pole replaces the bone and my jaw sets, clenching minutely. “Yes.”
His face is still battered, but at least the cuts have scabbed and the bruises have greened. I twist the handle and push the door open, exposing us to Kade. Kade makes me feel safe. Don’t ask me why, but I know he’ll look after me…he’ll keep me safe. There’s no way in hell I want to be alone with Vince, under any circumstance. A wry smile hints at Vince’s lips, but he doesn’t take his eyes off my face, nor I his. Despite my uneasiness, my skin prickles. I know Kade’s relentless stare is on us. I can feel it.
“Isn’t there another Unfortunate with your name on it?” he asks Vince and finally, he lifts his stare from mine.
“She’s feeling a little…under the weather, currently. I thought I’d see if yours is being put to good use.”
“Don’t worry about me,” I snap at Vince.
His eyes darken and his brows narrow, but I don’t regret letting the rough words shoot off my tongue
“Nine, the lake,” Kade orders. “Twenty minutes. Go.”
I attempt to step around Vince, but I get nowhere. He presses a heavy hand to my chest, preventing me from stepping further. “Hold on, now. You think I’m going to let your little Unfortunate get away with talking to me like that?”
Kade laughs once. “Do you think I’m going to let you do anything about it? Leave her alone. She’s still in need of training.”
Vince doesn’t remove his hand, despite Kade’s words. “It’s not your job to train her. If she’s defective, send her back. I’m sure they can find a pretty bullet with her name on it.”
My whole body tenses, hardening like stone. I lower my head, knowing better than to fall into a panic and fight Vince. With Kade, I get away with it, but with Vince there’s no way he’ll let me.
“Leave,” Kade demands, slapping a stack of paper onto his desk. “Or I’ll use the bullet I have with your name on it.”
Silence falls and it’s the kind of silence that hurts your ears…the one where the only sound you hear is the erratic beat of your heart pounding with a deafening force in your ears. Finally, Vince’s hand falls from my skin and I fight the urge to slump in relief. Without another word, I rush past him, determined to make it to the lake. Perhaps I can sit along the banks for a little while—alone. I need to gather my thoughts. I need to reassess this situation…and come up with a plan to keep Vince at arm’s length.
∞
The lake flows through the land effortlessly. There are no sounds…no birds or insects, and I don’t know if that makes this spot peaceful or depressing. Facing away from the manors it’s easy to pretend I’m the only one left in the world. How nice would that be? I’d give anything to be alone, to depend on no one and to serve no one. Although I don’t have a watch, I know I’ve been waiting for well over an hour. The late evening sun is gone and the full moon has shifted drastically in its position. A cool breeze blows over my exposed legs, blowing a leaf onto my foot. The dry texture makes my skin itch, but I ignore it and pick up the pretty caramel coloured leaf.
“That’s an oak leaf.” I jump, glancing over my shoulder. Even in the dim light, I see Kade smirk down at me and imagine his black irises flaring. “In case you wanted to know.”
I drop the leaf and rise to my feet. I shouldn’t sit in his presence, not without being asked to.
“You can sit. No one else is here to see.”
Cautiously, I lower myself back down and cross my legs. I hear leaves crunch under the weight of his body and sole of his shoe, and butterflies awaken in my tummy, their wings brushing ever so softly against the sensitive lining of my stomach. He stands beside me, refusing to sit.
“For the sake of this conversation, let’s pretend for a second that we’re the same.”
I peer up at him. “Technically, Kade, we are exactly the same.”
“Good luck convincing someone else of that.” He sighs, running the palms of his hands over his legs and lowers himself to the ground. In this light, as he looks over the lake, he seems so young and vulnerable. I see the peace wash over his features. I see the peace smooth his skin and brighten his eyes, turning them a dark brown. It’s in this moment that I realise he is different than the rest. He’s just stuck…like me.
“You believe we’re the same?” I ask, unable to hide my own astonishment.
“Even if I did, why would I tell you? Of all people?”
I shrug. “Maybe you feel like you can trust me…like I trust you.”
He stills completely, letting his eyes flick over my face. He’s searching for something, a lie maybe. He can search my face all night if he wants to, but I’m telling the truth. I trust Kade. He’d have hurt me by now if he really wanted to, and to offer me freedom when this is all over is a sign of compassion—whether he sees it or not. He’s not supposed to care what happens to me when he’s finished…and yet he does. He cares if I’m passed down to Vince or shot in the head.
“You trust me?”
I nod and he shakes his head.
“Stupid girl.”
“You haven’t given me a reason not to.”
“I’m using you. I’m going to take everything that makes you you…and give it to other people.”
I nod again. “But you told me that when you didn’t have to. You could’ve thrown me in the deep end and had me figure it out for myself.” I pause and drag in a subtle inhale. Am I trying to rationalise something that is completely insane? Am I trying to find redeemable qualities in him in order to make this easier on me? Fuck. I’m so confused I have no idea where my imagination ends and my reality starts. “I don’t know what you are yet…but I think I’m slowly working it out.”
“There’s nothing to figure out, Nine. I’m no different than the others, I was going to force you to suck my—”
He stops and purses his lips together with a small shake of his head.
“I wanted to,” I add, shifting closer to him. Heat stings my cheeks as I recall the night I brushed my lip against his warm flesh. I pray he can’t see it. This is the only chance I’m going to get to show him that I’m not an enemy—that we can work together. If he is truly going to let me be free when this is over, then it’s a cause I want to work towards. If he keeps his end of the deal, then I owe him everything. I survey Kade, taking in all of his darkened features. He doesn’t like himself…recalling his actions kills him. I can see his turmoil displayed so plainly on his face.
“I wrote my name across your flesh.”
“And you rubbed it off.”
His brows furrow, and frustrated lines carve their way through his face. Regardless of them, he’s still the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen. “I was going to lock you in a fireplace.”
“But you didn’t.” I turn my body, ignoring the way twigs and dry leaves stabbed into the soft flesh on my calf. “If I was assigned to another Fortunate, where would I be?”
An expression flashes briefly across Kade’s face—an expression he doesn’t want me to see. A cringe? Pain? Whatever it was, it spoke volumes.
“You’d be hurt,” he mutters, avoiding my eyes. “Someone else would’ve hurt you by now.”
I nod, feeling my compassion for this man doubling—no—tripling in my chest. “Am I hurt? Do bruises and cuts paint my body?”
He shakes his head.
“Am I still a virgin?”
He arches a questioning brow and I roll my eyes at him. The nerve of him.
“The answer is yes, yes I am. I’m trying to make a point here.”
“And what’s your point?”
My fingers twitch against my thigh. I want to touch him, to caress him into trusting me. He’s safe with me, just like I’m safe with him. “I’m saying you’re different. I know you are.”
I’m barely able to flinch backwards before his hands shoots out and grips my jaw. His thick, long fingers squeeze me until I wince, but I don’t let my eyes drop from his. “You’re wrong.”
I shake my head as much as I can in his iron grip. “No. I’m not.”
He’s breathing deeply through his nose, in a desperate attempt to calm himself. A week ago, I’d be terrified, but right now (and as insane as it sounds) I feel like I know Kade. At least, I know he’s not capable of causing me pain…because I’m innocent. I’ve never done anything to hurt him—to hurt anyone—and if he hurts me, I’m almost certain he’d destroy himself from the inside out. It’s called humanity. Some would claim he has a soul, but that’s not enough. Anyone can have a soul, but that doesn’t mean it functions properly. Having a soul doesn’t mean someone isn’t evil. I believe only humanity is pure. You can’t falsify humanity.
I expect him to give me a warning and let me go…what I don’t expect are his lips. I gasp as he eagerly presses them against mine. His hand falls from my face, but catches in my hair and my heart races as he grips the back of my head, urging my lips harder against his. I open my mouth to him and his tongue slips inside. He tastes like strawberry and mint—a flavour that’s surprisingly arousing as it tickles the surface of my tongue. As my mind begins to numb and all my rational thoughts start to blow away with the breeze, I’m harshly tugged back into reality by Kade’s fist as it bunches up my hair.
“You’re wrong,” he growls against my lips. “You don’t know shit about me.”
I hiss as his fist tightens. Our breath clashes in heavy pants; our lips are still moist from the kiss as they barely graze. “If I agree with you out of force will you let go of my hair?”
The very corner of his lips twitch. It’s a twitch I want to slap right off of his face. “Yes.”
“Fine,” I state through gritted teeth. “I’m wrong. You’re an asshole just like the rest of them.”
He smiles, happy with my statement, but he doesn’t let me go. I keep my eyes on his until they disappear into my neck as he leans in. I hold my breath while my skin tingles like a million and one ants are rushing over the surface…not a second later, his warm lips touch my flesh. And damn him, it feels really good. I feel his tongue flick out and taste me, ever so gently, and I shiver, feeling him smile against my skin.
“I know my mouth drives you crazy,” he says, “But don’t let it make you forget who I am and where you are, Unfortunate.”
The word sends anger spearing into my chest and I ball my fists. “Oh goodie, we’re back to that now.”
He laughs, a rare treat for me, and brings his face inches from mine. “You know, you’re very sarcastic for someone who was born into a life like yours. You’d make a good Fortunate.”
I fake my own smile, a smile to rival his. “No thanks, I’ve suffered enough.”
All humour drains from his face. His stare holds me in place and it’s dark and threatening, but it’s not enough to chase the smile from my lips. I like bantering with him and I like pushing him. It pumps blood through my veins, feeding me the adrenaline I feel only when I’m in control. I’ve never thought about it before, but now I know. I want control and I want control of my life, my body, and Kade. I want to control him for no other reason than my own pleasure. He releases his hold on my hair and I slump away from him.
“Albert Knowle. He’s the guy I want you to be with.”
I cringe. Suddenly, the deal doesn’t sound so great. Kade pulls a sheet of paper from the pocket inside his jacket and opens it. I let my eyes flick over the paper, but it’s too dark for the writing to be legible.
“One of my mines is collapsing—and not in the usual way. I’ve sent a team down to check it out, but I need you to secure a contract just in case they don’t find anything and the mine is faulty.”
“You don’t need me for that. Offer him money.”
“For a mine large enough to replace the one I’m losing? No. I don’t have enough. I need him to sign this at a drastically lowered price. That’s where you come in. Seduce him, get him to sign it and then—”
“Have sex with him,” I finish, my voice coming off a hell of a lot more offended than I intend. Kade smirks—actually fucking smirks and it sends a pang of hurt through my chest.
“No, that’s the good part. Albert would never betray his wife like that.”
An invisible balloon in my chest inflates and I exhale. “Oh, good.”
“I want you to blow him. That’s all.”
The balloon deflates. Did I hear him correctly? “Excuse me? You said he would never betray his wife.”
Kade folds the contract and stuffs it back into his jacket. “He wouldn’t, not with sex, anyway.”
Only sex is betraying? That doesn’t make any sense, then again, Fortunates rarely did. If I loved someone enough to spend the rest of my life with them I’d never entertain the idea of bedding someone else, and the thought of coming between a man and his lady makes me extremely uncomfortable.
“At the end of the day, this is business, Nine, and whether or not Albert and his wife share a strong bond is none of your concern.”
“How do you know he’ll do it? How do you know he’s not faithful to his wife?”
Kade shrugs and pinches at a lock of my hair. I watch as he twirls it around his finger and brings it to his lips. As it unravels, he drags it gingerly between his full lips. “I see him in the Black House a lot and the girls there like to talk.”
The Black House. I’ve heard it mentioned in conversations many times, but have yet to understand what it is. I quirk an eyebrow at Kade and he sighs.
“It’s a fancy name for whore house.”
I flinch. Whore. The word sounds dirty and hurtful. How can you call someone a whore when you forced them into the situation? They’re victims, not whores. In my head, I’m shouting the words at him, but they lack the strength to roll off my tongue.
“You go to the Black House?”
He shrugs again. “Occasionally, when I’m tired of Elizabeth’s voice.”
“And is she your girlfriend?”
He smiles. “Does your curiosity ever sleep?”
“I just want to know what I’m dealing with. She was very mad at breakfast.”
“Elizabeth means well, she just forgets her place.” Kade looks out over the lake. “And no, she’s not my girlfriend.”
Silence falls. It’s not a threatening silence. It’s peaceful…almost tranquil. I let my stare flick over the luminous shapes the moon cast over the surface of the still water. If I was a Fortunate, I’d spend the majority of my days here. I’d sleep here, under the shade of the tall trees and away from the corrupted souls.
“In the camp,” Kade begins, after an eternity of silence. “Was there ever…a boy?”
His tone is almost frustrated and I smirk at his not so subtle way of asking if I’ve ever had a boyfriend.
“No. Everyone was too afraid to talk to each other and the moderators stepped in the second anyone got too close.” I tuck a stray lock of hair behind my ear. “In the camp you’re surrounded by so many people, but you’re always alone.”
A harsh, familiar emptiness settles inside me. It comes and goes in waves. When I’m with Kade, I barely feel it, but when I’m alone in my room, isolation seeps back in. I hate that I want to make him happy, but I can’t help it. It’s the way I’ve been conditioned…or maybe I’m just desperate for any kind of companionship and I’ll do anything Kade wants just to get it.
“Get up,” he orders, pushing himself to his feet. “Let’s head back.”
I rise to my feet and immediately pins and needles shoot down my leg, another painfully familiar sensation. In the camp, our beds were so hard pins and needles were almost a guarantee when you wake up in the morning.
As we leave, I scoop up an oak leaf and gently place it against my breast, underneath the fabric of my dress. I want to keep it…I want a reminder of tonight. Although it was nothing ground-breaking, I feel like I made progress. I feel like Kade and I understand each other a little better now, even if he never acknowledges it. Every time I look at the leaf, I want to feel my stomach flip and my blood burn. I want to feel the same tranquillity I felt sitting by the lake tonight.
As we approach a rogue vine, Kade reaches for it and holds it to the side for me to pass by unhindered. A friendly gesture? I never thought I’d see the day. Before I step past, I glance up at him and he smiles faintly down at me. It causes every organ in my body to malfunction for a brief second. The exchange is nothing revolutionary, and yet, I can’t help but feeling it’s the start of a new chapter in our relationship, one that leads directly to my freedom.
∞ Kade ∞
He walked behind her, cringing every time the bottom of her bare feet pressed against twigs and cracked under her weight. It looked painful, but she never made a noise as she soldiered on. He guessed her body was weathered to the harshness of the Earth just like her soul tolerated the people that inhabited it. Kade heard stories about the Unfortunate camp, but could never gather the courage to see it for himself. He was a coward compared to Nine. She had to live in the camp. For eighteen years she was stripped of all hope, told that she didn’t matter and felt alone, waiting for the day she’d be sold to a Fortunate and destroyed. For her to come out of a place so dark and still find the nerve to be curious and sarcastic is courage beyond anything Kade had ever witnessed. He loved it. It made him feel like he was given Nine for a reason, as if she was made for him. Everything Nine did was tailor made to suit Kade’s preferences. From her bright, violet eyes to her plump lower lip, from her long auburn hair to her generous, perky breasts. Add her killer smile, kind heart, and unpredictable nature, and Kade was sold. He wanted her. If this evening taught him anything, it was that Nine was perfect…but she could never be his. Even if Kade decided to keep her after this was all over, he couldn’t. Someone like her would only be worth it to him if his hands were the only ones to touch her porcelain skin.
“Ah, Master Kade.” A female voice pulled Kade from thoughts that go against everything he was setting out to accomplish and he glanced around the open field at the back of his house. It seemed his father decided on yet another spectacle. Whenever his father came in from the city, people flooded the Sario residence to eat almost every meal. He flicked his stare in the direction of the woman who spoke his name. Kathryn Milano, head of the Milano house and wife to John Milano. Like Nine, she also had long, auburn hair and bright eyes—they weren’t violet, but they were bright nonetheless. If she wasn’t forty-something years old, he’d have thought them sisters.
“Kathryn,” he greeted her, with a slight bow of his head.
Immediately, her sights jumped to Nine. “She’s yours?” she asked, her smile widening. Now that Kade recalled it, Kathryn and her husband weren’t at the branding ceremony.
“Yes, she is.”
Nine kept her own gaze on the grass, clasping her hands behind her back. Kade knew she hated it when other Fortunates spoke about her or treated her as if she was some kind of show dog. Unfortunately, she’d never be able to get away from that.
“Can I talk to her?”
Kade stuffed his hands into the pockets of his jacket. A strange request, but not an invasive one. “I don’t see why not.”
Nine lifted her head, her gaze zeroing in on Kathryn’s flowing, golden gown. Kade noticed Nine was always looking at dresses, admiring them.
“Hi, Nine,” Kathryn said, her beaming smile widening further.
Nine smiled politely. “Good evening.”
No conversation followed the brief exchange and Kade frowned, watching the way Kathryn admired Nine. Her eyes glistened and not once did her cherry-red lips cover her teeth.
“She looks healthy, much healthier than the others.”
He nodded. “She’s a prized possession, to say the least.”
Kathryn’s smile faltered for the briefest moment and Kade managed to hide his frown underneath a neutral expression. What’s her deal?
“Yes, well, I hope so.” She cleared her throat. “Anyway, I best be getting back to dinner. It was nice talking to you.”
Kathryn turned and just over her shoulder, Kade spotted Albert, sitting alone at a table with a glass of wine.
“Wait,” Kade said, deciding to seize the opportunity to tell Albert about Nine. “Do you mind if Nine walks with you? I have something I need to take care of and I’d hate for her to walk alone with my brother sniffing around.”
Kathryn grinned over her shoulder, elated by the offer. “I don’t mind at all.”
Nine glanced at Kade and he flicked his head in Kathryn’s direction. “Go. I’ll have Portia bring you dinner shortly.”
With a not so certain nod, Nine parted ways with a polite ‘Yes, Master Kade’ and left with Kathryn. He exhaled and brushed his hands over his grey suit, hoping he didn’t have any dirty patches. Had he known he was going to run into Albert tonight, he wouldn’t have sat with Nine on the grass. Even in his head, it sounded wrong…as if he was betraying his own people. Oh well, there was no time to think about that now. Kade pushed forward, preparing his speech in his head. He didn’t have much material to work with. He figured he was going to lead with a casual conversation, then dip into some mine talk in hopes that Albert would bring up the situation with Sario mine number two all on his own. From there, all he has to do is drop Nine’s name. If it didn’t work, Kade was going to have to feed Albert alcohol and get it done tonight. There was no other way.
∞ Nine ∞
The woman I walk with, Kathryn, she’s yet to talk, but every now and then, she’ll stare at the side of my face, smiling. I’ve never been creeped out before—not in this way—and the feeling is unsettling. Every tenth step I take, I inch away from her.
“How are you liking Freeport so far, Nine?” she asks, finally breaking the silence.
“I like it very much,” I reply. It isn’t a total lie. I prefer being out here than behind the walls of the camp. It’s just a shame such earthly beauty is ruined by overcompensating manors and the tall skyscrapers in the distance.
“And your Fortunate, Master Kade, is he good to you?”
I eye her sideways. Her invasive question doesn’t sit well with me. Why would she care if he treats me well or not?
“I’d rather not say,” I tell her. “If that’s okay with you?”
I don’t think Master Kade will appreciate me telling people he treats me very well for a Fortunate. I don’t think he’d appreciate me sharing unwarranted horror stories, either.
“Fair enough. I shouldn’t pry into another Fortunate’s life.”
With a polite smile, she drops the conversation. In a few long strides, we reach her table and, as luck would have it, Elizabeth is sitting pretty at the head of it. Where I stand, I’m three tables away from the side door that leads into the kitchen and I don’t hesitate in my steps towards it.
“You’re going to walk away without being dismissed?” Elizabeth snarls, stopping me in my tracks.
I turn around and open my mouth to explain that I already have orders from my Fortunate to go to my room, but Kathryn cuts me off.
“She’s under current order by Kade Sario to go straight to the house.”
Elizabeth, wearing a pretty violet gown with glistening silver straps, narrows her irritatingly perfect eyebrows.
“He’s not coming to dinner?” She taps her red fingernails on the table in the vacant space next to her. I assume it’s for Kade.
“He’s a little caught up,” I tell her. “I’ll let him know you’re upset when he comes inside.” I can’t help it. I say it with a curve in my lips. My gaze flicks to Kathryn, who lowers herself into her chair and quickly brings her wine glass to her mouth to hide a rapidly growing smile. I feel a nervous giggle bubbling in my chest. I purse my lips together to stop it. When I look back to Elizabeth, the urge to laugh fades along with the curve on my lips. She has her own smile, one that sends regret hurtling through my chest.
“I’m not allowed to toy with you, but Kade never said anything about making someone else toy with you.” She leans forward, resting her elbows on the table. “River!” she calls and I frown. Oookay…
An arm brushes against mine and I startle, moving to the side.
“Yes, Miss Elizabeth.”
I peer sideways at the boy.
“This is my Unfortunate. River.”
I take in his golden skin, bright green eyes and unkempt, jet black hair. I guess all Fortunates make sure their personal slave is well taken care of. Not one bruise, scratch, or scar paints his flawless skin. I survey more of him, taking note of his fingers that twitch nervously around a small tray of drinks. He’s tall, much taller than me, and lean, too. Decent ropes of muscle can be seen as they make up his thick arms. He’s very masculine, but what kind of name is River? Why would she choose that for someone like him? He’d suit something a little more…tough. Like Blake or Tony. Then, her words float back to me; ‘this is my Unfortunate’ This is her Unfortunate? Doesn’t he make Kade jealous, like I make her jealous?
“Now that she’s met your Unfortunate, let the girl go to bed,” Kathryn interrupts. “Master Kade will be furious if she’s not where he told her to be.”
“All in due time, Kathryn. First, we’re going to have a little fun.”
Fun? Fear awakens in painful spikes all through my body.
“You know what River likes to do? He likes to kiss.”
I clench my jaw imperceptibly and beside me, I hear River swallow.
“Why don’t you show her?”
“This is ridiculous,” Kathryn protests and I’m right on her heels.
“You can’t make me kiss him.” I peer over Elizabeth’s shoulder and see Kade talking to a larger man at a single table. They’re engaged in a serious conversation—too serious to notice the events that are unfolding not far from them. I desperately will for his eyes to find me, to see me. Only he can stop this from happening. If I act out right now, these Fortunates can create any story to get me killed and it won’t take long for a moderator to be convinced. I wouldn’t put it past Elizabeth. She’s probably looking for a reason to end me. She’s consumed with jealousy and as far as she’s concerned, Kade is hers and I’m threatening that—not that she makes much sense. If Kade and Elizabeth decide to get married, personal slaves are the first to go. Only uncommitted Fortunates are allowed a personal Unfortunate, and besides, Kade doesn’t want to get married. He wouldn’t have offered me freedom inside his home otherwise. I’d tell her that if I wasn’t petrified of the repercussion from Kade.
“I’m not making you do anything, Unfortunate. I’m asking my slave to kiss you. You can just stand there, if you want.”
“Elizabeth—”
“Kathryn, shut it.”
In a huff, Kathryn pushes her chair back, rises to her feet and storms off. There goes my only defence. Beside me, River places his tray of glasses on the table and angles his body to me. I take a minute step backwards, willing him not to do this with my eyes.
“Stop moving or I’ll force him to put more than just his tongue in your mouth.”
He advances on me quickly then and forcefully takes my face in his hands. My heart beats in an unsteady rhythm, threatening to hammer up my throat. I shake my head at him, as best I can, but he doesn’t care. He has an order from his Fortunate and he’ll do anything to honour it. How can he be scared of Elizabeth? How can she punish him? He’s so much bigger than she is. As my thought finishes, River crushes his mouth to mine and my eyes flutter shut on instinct. I screw my face up and grip his hands, trying desperately to get away. His tongue pries open my lips and his taste floods me—the taste of bread, stale bread. Over the heavy thrum of my heart, I hear Elizabeth and her friends cackling. The cackling goes on forever—an incessant irritation filtering through my ears and lingering at the back of my skull. Then, River’s mouth is torn from mine, and the laughing ceases. My eyes shoot open and I see Kade towering over a cowering Unfortunate. I don’t have the courage to stop him from hurting River, not when there are so many Fortunates around.
“You want to put your mouth on something that belongs to me?” he growls before punching River in the mouth. The sound of flesh slamming into flesh spikes my adrenaline. If my heart was beating fast before, now it’s off the charts, going so fast I’m sure any second now it’s going to rip a hole through time and space. When Kade lifts himself off of River, I see blood leaking out of his nose and gushing from a deep cut on his lip.
“And you!” he snaps at Elizabeth, making the whole yard fall silent. Colour drains from her face, but she holds an expression of complete confidence. “What did I tell you?”
“It wasn’t me,” she lies, flashing soothing palms to Kade. “He kissed of his own accord. He followed his own desire.”
“That’s a lie,” I tell Kade.
How dare she not take responsibility for what she did? Her Unfortunate is lying bloodied and beaten on the floor and for what? What did she achieve by forcing River to kiss me? If she wanted Kade’s rage, she got it. Elizabeth’s features darken.
“Fine. I made him kiss her, but only for dinner entertainment. That’s all.”
Kade steps closer to the table. Against his tense form, his suit looks tighter and I’d hate to be on the receiving end of an expression so fierce and frightening. “I’m going to tell you one last time, don’t touch her, don’t talk to her, don’t even look at her. Understood?”
She makes no sound.
“Do you understand?” he booms, making everyone within earshot jump.
Elizabeth slumps into herself, defeated, but I still don’t miss the dark threat in her blue eyes. “Yes.”
“Good.”
Kade’s fingers curls around my bicep. His grip is incredibly tender, his fingers barely digging into my muscle. Before he drags me away, he gives Kathryn a subtle nod of the head that she sincerely returns. That’s where she went…to get Kade? Why would she help me? I glance at her from over my shoulder as Kade pulls me away. She doesn’t smile, but the look in her eyes says more than her lips ever could. Again, I ask myself, why would she help me? And naturally, I assume she has some kind of motive. She’s a Fortunate, after all.
Kade pulls me through the house and with every step he takes, his grip tightens, growing more aggressive and violent than soft and caring.
“You’re hurting me,” I whisper harshly as I pull against him.
Ignoring my complaint he tugs me up the stairs, and when we reach the hallway, I notice immediately that we’re alone. So I dig my heels in. The balls of my feet glide over the polished wood, refusing to grip on and help me.
“Kade—”
He whips around on mention of his name. “You kissed him?” he demands, his eyes darker than dark and fear bubbles in my chest.
“No, I didn’t.”
In the next heartbeat, his hands are on my shoulders and I almost stumble over my own feet as he slams me into the wall.
“You let him put his fucking lips on you?”
I feel my face heat up as tears blur my vision. “I didn’t have a choice.”
“You could have run. I would’ve defended you.”
I shake my head. “It’s not that easy. As an Unfortunate, every move I make is life or death. If I have to let people kiss me in order to stay alive, then so be it.”
His irises darken. “Is that why you’re helping me?”
I nod and the movement is enough to cause a tear to spill over the rim of my eye. “You think I want to be used? You think I want to have sex with people I feel nothing for? No, I don’t, but I’ll do it because a useless Unfortunate is a dead one. I’ll do it because I know it’ll give you what you want, and I hoped by helping you, you would help me in return.”
Kade’s face softens, but his grip doesn’t. “I promised you freedom once we’re finished and I’ll give it to you.”
“But it’s not real freedom though, is it? It’s an illusion—a guarantee to get you what you want. What if you marry? Then I’m as good as dead.”
I suck in an inhale to calm my racing heart. The fresh air barely makes it down my throat before Kade gingerly presses his lips to mine and sucks it back out again. His mouth on mine doesn’t feel claiming…it’s, dare I say, kind. As if he’s trying to fix my wounded soul. The kiss goes all too quickly and when he speaks, there’s too much distance between our lips for my liking. “Earlier tonight you said you trusted me.”
“I do,” I whisper.
“Then show me. If you trust me, I can take care of you, Nine. I can keep you safe.”
The question I’ve been asking myself since I met Kade falls from my lips. “Why? Why would you do that for me?”
“Someone once told me that I should always give back to those that help me.” He clears his throat and softly shakes his head. “Besides, once I destroy your life, it’s only fitting that I try and repay you for your sacrifice.”
Frustration pricks at me. “Why do you do that?”
“Do what?”
“Open up and be nice, then shut me out with cruel words?”
His eyes rake my face in a way that makes my blood run cold, but my inside burn hot.
“Because Unfortunates aren’t the only ones who have to toe the line…I have to watch myself or I’ll end up dead, just like—” He catches himself and swiftly puts an end to the conversation by turning his back to me. I push off the wall and curiously step forward.
“Like who?”
His broad, beautiful shoulder squares, and despite myself, I reach out and touch the hard back of his bicep. He snatches it away and snaps around to face me. “Stop being so damn curious.”
“I’m not. I-I just want you to talk to me.”
“And what good will that do? Whether or not we become friends or whether or not we fall in love—you will do this for me. You will fuck whomever I want you to fuck. You will sit, beg, crawl, and talk whenever I tell you to and you will do it without complaint. I can tell you everything there is to know about me and you can describe your pathetic life to me in detail, but it doesn’t change the fact that there’s something I desire more than pussy, companionship, and love.”
I drag in a shaky breath. “Power.”
Kade steps towards his bedroom door and pushes it open. “You got it on the first go, Sweetheart. I’m proud of you.” He gestures inside his room. “Get in. Clothes off. We’re going to shower.”
I step forward, then stop. “Wait…together?”
He smiles a smile that promises me something terrifyingly delicious and I can feel temptation tugging at my heart and flickering over my hardening nipples.
“Oh, yes,” he declares in a sinister tone.
I swallow hard, lower my head, and saunter into his room. The room is as spacious as ever…until he closes the door behind us—and then locks it. I don’t realise I’ve paused until I feel his hand slip onto my lower back and he spreads his fingers. He nudges me forward and we walk side by side—his steps almost in sync with mine.
In the bathroom, Kade turns on the shower and the room begins to fill with steam. It fills my throat as I breathe and as a result, feels heavy in my lungs. My hair sticks to my skin as beads of sweat begin to form on its surface. Kade ignores me as he pulls off his jacket, and he folds it in half before tossing it onto the sink. As he pops the buttons on his light grey shirt, one by one, I finger the straps on my dress. I don’t know why I’m suddenly so scared. I’ve showered both with and in front of people before…I guess with Kade it’s different. I’ve never felt as exposed as I do when I’m with him. No one can make my insides burn as hot as a volcano and no one else can dissect my soul like he can. I take a deep breath and push the straps from my shoulders. My dress falls from my body and pools at my feet. Kade stops as his fingers brush over the tiny, silver button on his pants and my heart stops cold as he looks at me from under his brow. Despite the warmth already in the room, I feel my cheeks heat up, burning so hot I’m sure my eyes will water. I keep my stare on his and I take secret pleasure in the way his lips part as he lets out a heavy breath. A lock of my auburn hair sticks to my left nipple—Kade notices too and his hungry gaze zeroes in. Forgoing the button on his pants, he steps closer until he’s close enough to feel my breath blow against his skin. He reaches out and pushes the damp lock of hair from my nipple.
“It’s a shame I can’t use you for myself…” he utters to himself. “The things I would do.”
“Who says I’d even let you?” I challenge and he lifts his eyebrows in a confident way—a way that makes goosebumps form on the back of my neck, and each thump of my heart sends them scattering over my entire body.
“Good, don’t let me. I like a little fight.”
My muscles contract and retract as he runs an index finger up the centre of my stomach and between my breasts. My breath hitches and a subtle curve pulls at his lips. His thick fingers drag up the side of my throat and stop when they reach the very tip of my chin. I swallow as he lowers his head and angles my face to meet his.
“We have to shower,” I utter, not proud that my voice sounds so shaky. “And you’re still in your pants.”
“Is this your subtle way of getting me out of them?”
During a lapse in my better judgement, I reach out and press my hand to his hip. The sudden touch of his flesh sends an electrical current shooting up my arm—as if I’ve touched an exposed wire—and I gasp. Under my hand, Kade’s body tenses and his brows pull in.
“Let’s say for the sake of this argument that I do get you out of them…then what happens?”
His irises flick between mine, searching for something. “Then, we shower.”
“If all we’re going to do is shower, why are you trying your hardest to make me want more?”
His stare briefly flicks to my lips. “Knowing you want to be with me as much as I want to be with you does wonders for my confidence levels.”
My pulse stutters. He really, truly does want to be with me? As I ponder the revelation, he releases me and I almost slump against the sink. Kade pops the button on his pants and lowers the zipper. Then, he kicks his shoes off and drops his pants before stepping out of them. Once again, my heart stops cold at the sight of him completely naked, not caring that his big, beautiful cock is on display. My entire body turns to liquid as I recall the last time I saw him like this…I was watching him touch himself and he knew all along. Regardless of his unpredictable nature and the fact he’s a Fortunate, he really is striking, and broad and built. I never really noticed before, but he has abs—a lot of them. His ribs are concealed under pounds of sexy, rippling flesh and don’t get me started on his legs…so powerful and strong, roped with thick muscles and strong tendons. On his upper thigh, I see a scar…a big scar. Like a bullet has grazed the skin, taking a chunk of his flesh with it.
I’m snapped out of my daze as the shower door closes, and quickly, I step toward it and pull it open. I step inside and notice, thankfully, that the shower is huge with plenty of room for us to wash without getting in each other’s way.
“Quite the battle scar you’ve got there,” I mutter in passing, referring to the scar on his leg. I’m not going to lie, I’m curious to find out what happened.
He ignores me, of course, and it takes all of my strength not to push it. Doing my best to not pay attention to him as he runs a sponge over his chest, I squeeze body soap into my hand, and immediately I recognise the scent. Cherry, like the one we used in the Unfortunate camp, only this one is much sweeter, much richer.
“Did you choose this scent?” I ask as I stare into the red liquid. The last time I used his shower I distinctly remember his soap being a pearly white. I look at him.
“Yes,” he says without glancing at me. His tone is bored and it kind of irks me.
“Why?”
He lifts his stare and my spine falters. “Curiosity killed the cat. Learn it.”
I lower my eyes and turn away from him as I rub the soap over my breasts. Its cherry scent engulfs me, and that’s when I feel him hard against my ass. I freeze and manage not to gasp or jolt forward and into the glass…just.
“It smells like you. That’s why I chose it.”
Just like that, my heart picks up in tempo. Why is he saying this to me?
“Stop it,” I demand and whip around. “You’re confusing me and I don’t like it.”
His suddenly hard cock twitches against my tummy, but (somehow) I manage to ignore it. “You asked the question, Sweetheart.”
“You didn’t have to answer.”
He gently presses his index finger against my chin, then slowly drags it up to trace the outline of my lips. “I did have to answer.”
“Why?”
He rakes his teeth over his bottom lip and it stirs something deep in my belly. “Because if I didn’t, you’d stop talking…”
“And you like it when I talk?”
“I don’t like silence. Your voice is a very slight step up from silence.”
I scoff. “Here I was thinking you were going to say something sweet.”
Kade steps away and I miss the contact the second it’s gone. “I don’t think I’ve ever said anything sweet in my entire life.”
“You just did,” I inform him as I turn back around. “You chose this body wash because it smells like me.”
Kade slips under the shower, letting the jets blast through his hair. “It’s all about intention, Nine, and I didn’t intend for that to be sweet. Informative, maybe, but not sweet.”
“Well, I thought it was sweet.”
He steps out of the stream and I turn around to face him. “If I was being sweet, trust me, you’d know.”
“How so?”
He looks at me, dead in the eyes and as serious as all hell. “I’ve got material that’ll make your knees turn to jelly, the floor liquefy under your bare feet, and your virginity beg for my cock all on its own.”
I tuck a lock of hair behind my ear and try hard not to blush at the word ‘cock.’
“Wow,” I deadpan. “You’re so charming.”
Little did he know, his oh so cocky words have my kneecaps wavering.
“Wash,” he orders and I grab more body wash and scrub myself from head to toe. As he dries himself and saunters around his bedroom, I rake shampoo through the tangles in my hair and finish off. As I shut off the water, Kade returns in a pair of low slung sweat pants and drops a pair of my own on the bench.
“What, no shirt?” I ask, as I step out of the shower and reach for a towel. I wrap it around my body as quickly as I can to ward off his lingering stare.
“I’d prefer it if you didn’t wear a shirt.”
“And you think that’s a good idea?”
He folds his arms over his bare chest. The rises and dips of his muscles become prominent and I try hard not to stare at the ridges in his forearms. I’ve never seen a man that looks like him before…not one that makes me wish I was allowed to lick of my own accord.
“Absolutely not, but I’m not about to let you out of my sight.” He taps the sweat pants he left for me. “Dry yourself. Put the pants on and then come to bed.”
He walks off and I proceed to dry my body. When I’m done, I put on the pants and double knot the strings so the pants don’t fall down. In the bedroom, the only light comes from a small, orb-like lamp on Kade’s bedside table and as I approach, I try not to stare at Kade, who sits against the headboard, watching me. When I reach out for the bed, he switches off the light. In the darkness, I can breathe better and I allow my body to relax as I slip under the sheets. I keep my back to Kade and remain perfectly still while he finds a comfortable spot. I just didn’t expect that spot to be right against my back. Strange tingles sear over my scalp and down my spine as he slips his large arms around me and holds me close to his body. I feel my eyes widen and my body tense. This feels good, so good that it makes it bad. He’s a Fortunate, the reason for my sad existence. I try to pull away, but Kade tightens his grip and I lose my breath. The pressure threatens to crush my ribs.
“I want to hold you.”
When I relax, he loosens his grip. “Why?” I ask. “I thought you don’t do sweet?”
“It’s not sweet. Don’t talk.” He yawns into my hair. “Just sleep.”
As much as I’d like to sleep, I can’t. I’m hungry—painfully hungry, and having Kade pressed so firmly against me, holding me so tight isn’t exactly conducive to sleep. The more my body relaxes into his arms the sicker I feel. I shouldn’t feel what I’m feeling. I shouldn’t feel safe with him. Safe. Protection. Defence. All are temporary words in this world…all can be taken away at a moment’s notice. Regardless of that, as I lay here in his arms, I’ve never felt safer. I’ve never felt so free in my life.
After a small eternity, Kade lets out a peaceful sigh and his arm grows heavy. As he sleeps, I press myself back into him and pretend for the briefest moment that we don’t live in this world…that we live in the before time. I wonder what it would be like, what Kade would be like if society hadn’t groomed him to be this way. Would we have ever spoken? Would I still be attracted to him if he didn’t hold power over me? More importantly, would he be kinder? Sadly, it doesn’t matter. The thoughts are exactly that…just pointless words floating around my head. In this world, whether I like it or not, Kade is a Fortunate, he is my master. Underneath that title, he’s also my protector. He’ll keep his word and let me live freely with him when he has everything he wants, I know he will…I hope he will. As my eyes grow heavy and sleep is falling over the cusp of my eyelids, Kade throws a leg over me and lazily presses his lips to the brand on my shoulder. I find myself smiling, because in this moment, even in his sleep, he knows I’m his and his only.