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“Your Majesties, may I ask why we’re here?” Ayden asks, his eyes bouncing between the monarchs that are currently acting like overgrown toddlers.

“You’re currently here so I can make a point,” Charming mutters. His hands shake a little as he points at Ayden. “Drizella, come here.”

I remind myself of where my weapons are as I stand.

“We should really eat first before you ruin our appetite, don’t you think, darling?” Cinder stresses.

I send a little prayer up in thanks, even though I’m sure it’s for purely selfish reasons. I don’t plan on eating anything, and Cinder is used to this. She also has to expect the same of Ayden and Grayson. You never know when the next verbal or physical explosion will be.

“Of course, dear. I still want to be indulged by my sister-in-law,” Charming grumbles. My eyes flick to Cinder as her fingers flick for an attendant, and the corners of her eyes tighten before she inclines her head toward me.

Swallowing, I stand, wondering what the hell he wants. Gray and Ayden’s eyes track my movements, only appearing relaxed. I know Kenzo is around, and I hope he doesn’t see whatever is about to happen. I would hate for his opinion of me to change. Though, he may not be strong enough to be with me if that’s the case.

Sooner than I’m ready, I’m standing next to Charming. He’s tall, and pushes away from the table to pull me into the space he leaves behind. His large hands lift me onto the table, and I struggle to keep my heartbeat from escaping my chest. Creepy, but not dangerous… yet. That’s my mantra at the moment.

“Your Majesty, may I ask the reason for your request that we come to dinner tonight?” Ayden asks pleasantly. His crazy is well locked down at the moment, and instead his hair lays messily. Hazel eyes gaze intelligently at Charming, and his clothes are well appointed. Gray slacks, long-sleeved teal sweater, and three different knives hidden on his body.

I’m totally safe… so why are my palms sweating?

“…Drizella looks so much like Cinder, outside of her hair, doesn’t she?” Charming asks. I missed the beginning of his sentence and blink owlishly, trying to piece together the missing words.

“I've always pondered how it's possible for Drizella to have such a similar appearance. I even asked my father if it was possible for us to be real sisters before he passed, but he met your mother after you were born, making it impossible,” Cinder muses.

My stomach turns at the thought of this.

“You asked your father about this?” I ask before I can hold back the question.

“Oh yes, Drizella,” she chuckles. “You made it possible for me to ask a great many things before he passed. His nightly tea made him weak and fragile. There are days I wonder if I should kill or thank you for killing him.”

“My mother made the tea, I didn’t realize it was laced in poison until years later.” I sigh. I’m ashamed I allowed my mother to use me as her vessel to kill my step-father. She would make it and tell me he had a headache, and then it quickly became our nightly ritual.

“You did me a favor,” Cinder rasps. “My father wasn’t a good man.”

My mind whirls at this, and I feel a warm hand on my ankle. Startling, I return my attention to Charming.

“Your Majesty, are you well?” I ask, my gaze on his hands as he begins to push my dress up my legs.

“I need an heir, dear sister,” he murmurs, his hands massaging my skin. I wish I had worn tights, because I’m quickly covered in goosebumps. “You guys won’t mind if I fuck your girl so I can ensure the succession of my line, do you?”

“Does this fall under ‘duties to the crown?’” Grayson asks drolly. I can’t look at him, I’m frozen in indecision at the moment on when to make my move. Charming could change his mind, but either way he will be dying tonight.

“Righto,” Charming chuckles, choosing to grab the front of my dress and tear it as if it were tissue. Glaring at him, I push his chest back with my heel.

“No,” I clearly say, shaking my head. “I’m not having a baby for you, and I’m on birth control. Your line will die, Charming. I don’t care if my sister is barren or not.”

“Drizella!” Cinder says, her pupils blown with excitement as she claps her hands. “We both know you’re a scared little twit who will allow your king to do whatever he wants. He won’t succeed, my divorce will go through, but the king will soon know the pleasure of your sweet pussy strangling his cock.”

I’m so in shock at her cursing, I’m not ready when Charming grabs my foot and pulls it high, as he shoves me onto my back. Roaring, he stands, shoving my dress up completely. The knife remains hidden in the folds of my dress, but I stare up at him in shock. I can’t kill him yet, I can’t telegraph my movements, he must think I’m useless and scared.

I won’t risk our mission because I moved too soon.

“I’m tired of everyone telling me no.” He pouts, climbing onto the table and shoving down his pants. The tip of his cock is swollen, and a piercing glints proudly through it. “I want you to bounce on my cock, why is that so hard, Drizella?”

“I’m not yours to take,” I growl as he leans over me, his hands attempting to pull my panties aside. “Do you flounder like this for all of your sexual conquests, or am I the special one?”

Cinder releases a surprised snicker, her hand covering her mouth quickly. “He is always like this, sister dear. You’re so stubborn, never doing what is asked. Just lay there and take one for the crown. You’ve never had an issue with it before.”

The casual way she discusses the rape I’ve endeavored in this castle of horrors makes my body flush with shame. Charming decides I’m finally getting with the program and I’m responding with excitement, because he holds me down on the table by my throat, shoving my bra cups down. Allowing him to be enamored by my tits, I unsheath my knife.