Page 212
Story: Princes of Chaos
One coin, two sides.
“Is that so?” he asks, eyes tightening at the corners. “You still think you know me.”
“You still hate all the pretense,” I say, noticing the way his gaze keeps slumping toward my cleavage. “All the pomp and circumstance–it bores you to tears. But you’re still willing to make sacrifices just to please your father.”
“That’s the thing about parents,” he says, spinning me around. Across the room, I see Pace watching us carefully, tracking my every move. Or so he thinks. “They know you even less than the people they’re forcing you to form attachments to.”
“Really.” My voice is dry and cold. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
He tilts his head until his mouth is close to my ear. “It means that your mother was CC’ed on the email we sent the Dukes, so she’s going to see exactly what you are to us. Worse than a whore. A traitor to everyone, good for nothing but being stuffed full and thrown away.”
We’re not dancing anymore, my feet stuck like glue to the floor as my heart lodges in my throat.
Lex tucks my hair behind my ear, trailing his fingers down my cheek to the column of my neck. “My only regret is that she’ll never get to hear how you always beg for it, willing to do anything to feel a cock deep inside.”
I jolt back like I’ve been shocked. “You’re bluffing,” I say, even though the words are more of a hope than a certainty.
And from the dark, twisted smirk he gives me, he knows it. “I have this whole theory, you see. Nature or nurture. Are we who we become because of our DNA? Or does how we’re raised determine our character and temperament? To what degree?” His eyes search mine, and for a moment, I’m bombarded with flashes of us, eyes meeting, sharing breaths, our lips against one another’s. He pitches forward to whisper, “I hope she cried when she realized how much of a whore you’ve become.”
In the end, I’m grateful for it.
Because Lex Ashby is someone I could have loved.
Until right this second.
I tear myself away, giving a loud clap to the room. “Can I have your attention, please?” I call out, my voice more even than it has any right to be.
“What are you doing?” he asks, clinging to my fingers.
I turn to flash him my iciest grin. “Oh, I have something special for my favorite Prince tonight.”
His eyes narrow into hateful slits. “Do you, now?”
“It’s a Valentine’s Day gift.” I tug him with me, leading him to the front of the room. “A gift for all of you, in fact.”
I know I should be nervous–I can see King Ashby in the corner, cavorting with their hockey coach–but I’m not. In fact, as the King’s gaze shifts to me, I’ve never felt more serene, even offering Tommy Wright’s girlfriend a grin as I step up before the crowd.
Without having to do more than clear my throat, the dancing stops. The orchestra’s sweet melody fades into silence. In the back, Pace is shifting, eyes darting around, as if searching for a threat. Wicker, currently bringing an hors d'oeuvres to Colby Harker’s widow, halts in his steps, turning to peer at me through the crowd.
I lace my fingers, hands folded in front of me. “As your Princess, I’d like to thank you all for coming.” There’s a brief, quiet, dainty applause, and I gesture to Lex, who’s still at the front of the audience, brows pulled down into a deep scowl. “I’d like to dedicate tonight to my Princes. There have never been three men more deserving of what you’re about to see. For weeks, they’ve given me a home here. I mean,” laughing, my hand flutters at my chest, “no door is closed to me in the Purple Palace. Never has a girl felt so welcome–so cherished–in the home of her intendeds.”
In the audience, some of the girls ‘aww’, but within them, I also see the cruel, heartless men who derived such pleasure from degrading me. Men who are made to follow. Men who want strong, capable leaders.
“So what can I tell you about this generation of Princes?” I smile primly at the crowd. “For one, you should all know that Pace snores.” There’s a pause before they all give a surprised little laugh, and I nod along, all long-sufferingly. “And Wicker… well.” Shrugging, I joke, “What can be said about Wicker Ashby that isn't already written on a bathroom stall, am I right?” The next round of laughter is colored by discomfort, eyes seeking Wicker out in the crowd. He’s dropped the plate of food, glowering up at me. I hold out a palm, gesturing to his brother, his amber eyes like lasers. “And then there’s Lex. You know, Lex was the first Prince I really felt comfortable with. It was probably just his forward nature. Plus, those hands?” I whistle. “Cold as ice, but super skilled.”
Even as Lex shifts awkwardly, a few of the girls share glances, which tells me all I need to know about his history in the frat.
Sighing, I go on, “But tonight is about love. And what is love, really?” I ask, pacing toward the orchestra. “Well, we’re in East End, where love means looking at the person next to you and thinking… ‘Hey, I wouldn't mind procreating with this idiot.’” As the round of nervous titters that follow spreads around the room, I look anywhere but at the King in the corner. “But I want you to know that I’m not procreating with idiots. No. In fact, my Princes are exceedingly bright. And so tough, too. For example…” Sweeping a hand, I gesture to the screen behind me, currently filled with floating hearts, and text that happily declares, “To create is to reign!” “I’ve assembled this little tribute for you all. It’s a true testament to what your Princes are.” Smirking, I pull the little remote from my clutch, pressing a button.
The screen blinks, and suddenly, Ashby’s office is on the screen.
“This isn’t about deposits, Whitaker. This is about Lagan giving me his word, and then failing to fulfill it. He’s allowed a weakness to stand in the way of his purpose.” Then, Ashby commands, “Fireplace.”
Casually, I watch Lex as he realizes what’s coming, his mouth parting in shock. From someone so composed and aloof as him, it’s truly a sight to see his face pale. ”What–” he says haltingly. “How…?”
He barely even notices me moving next to him, straining up to whisper in his ear. “If you’re wondering how it feels to have my friends and family see me so degraded–so fucking humiliated and broken?” I smile as his eyes turn to dark vacancy, the first strike of the whip resounding around the room. “It’s alittlelike this.”
On the screen, Ashby is hissing, “Four lashings for each of your deposits. And an additional four to get you to the same level as your brother.Be thankful I’m not holding you to Whitaker’s standards.”
Table of Contents
- Page 1
- Page 2
- Page 3
- Page 4
- Page 5
- Page 6
- Page 7
- Page 8
- Page 9
- Page 10
- Page 11
- Page 12
- Page 13
- Page 14
- Page 15
- Page 16
- Page 17
- Page 18
- Page 19
- Page 20
- Page 21
- Page 22
- Page 23
- Page 24
- Page 25
- Page 26
- Page 27
- Page 28
- Page 29
- Page 30
- Page 31
- Page 32
- Page 33
- Page 34
- Page 35
- Page 36
- Page 37
- Page 38
- Page 39
- Page 40
- Page 41
- Page 42
- Page 43
- Page 44
- Page 45
- Page 46
- Page 47
- Page 48
- Page 49
- Page 50
- Page 51
- Page 52
- Page 53
- Page 54
- Page 55
- Page 56
- Page 57
- Page 58
- Page 59
- Page 60
- Page 61
- Page 62
- Page 63
- Page 64
- Page 65
- Page 66
- Page 67
- Page 68
- Page 69
- Page 70
- Page 71
- Page 72
- Page 73
- Page 74
- Page 75
- Page 76
- Page 77
- Page 78
- Page 79
- Page 80
- Page 81
- Page 82
- Page 83
- Page 84
- Page 85
- Page 86
- Page 87
- Page 88
- Page 89
- Page 90
- Page 91
- Page 92
- Page 93
- Page 94
- Page 95
- Page 96
- Page 97
- Page 98
- Page 99
- Page 100
- Page 101
- Page 102
- Page 103
- Page 104
- Page 105
- Page 106
- Page 107
- Page 108
- Page 109
- Page 110
- Page 111
- Page 112
- Page 113
- Page 114
- Page 115
- Page 116
- Page 117
- Page 118
- Page 119
- Page 120
- Page 121
- Page 122
- Page 123
- Page 124
- Page 125
- Page 126
- Page 127
- Page 128
- Page 129
- Page 130
- Page 131
- Page 132
- Page 133
- Page 134
- Page 135
- Page 136
- Page 137
- Page 138
- Page 139
- Page 140
- Page 141
- Page 142
- Page 143
- Page 144
- Page 145
- Page 146
- Page 147
- Page 148
- Page 149
- Page 150
- Page 151
- Page 152
- Page 153
- Page 154
- Page 155
- Page 156
- Page 157
- Page 158
- Page 159
- Page 160
- Page 161
- Page 162
- Page 163
- Page 164
- Page 165
- Page 166
- Page 167
- Page 168
- Page 169
- Page 170
- Page 171
- Page 172
- Page 173
- Page 174
- Page 175
- Page 176
- Page 177
- Page 178
- Page 179
- Page 180
- Page 181
- Page 182
- Page 183
- Page 184
- Page 185
- Page 186
- Page 187
- Page 188
- Page 189
- Page 190
- Page 191
- Page 192
- Page 193
- Page 194
- Page 195
- Page 196
- Page 197
- Page 198
- Page 199
- Page 200
- Page 201
- Page 202
- Page 203
- Page 204
- Page 205
- Page 206
- Page 207
- Page 208
- Page 209
- Page 210
- Page 211
- Page 212
- Page 213