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Gabriel Wolfe raised his son to believe he’s entitled to everything, including my position. He doesn’t tolerate failure, like my own father. After Kane lost the position of prior to me, he’ll be desperate to prove himself useful again.

My anxiety is probably all for nothing, though. It’s too soon for him to interfere. Ava won’t be anointed for another month.

And yet still… There’s that lingering feeling. A gut instinct that something is off.

I can’t think about it now. It’s time to collect my prize.

I head straight for the consorts’ quarters where I was told she would be. When I step into the room, the conversations hush mid sentence, and all eyes flick to me.

The girls are gathered in tight clusters whispering to each other. Something isn’t right.

“What’s going on?” My voice is clipped. “Where’s Ava?”

Juliet steps forward, her gaze darting between me and the others. “She’s in her room. Lucy’s icing her face.”

Something hot and sharp flares in my chest. “Icing her face…”

“She got slapped,” Dahlia chimes in. Her dark eyes are blazing.

Slapped. Someone hit her.

Rage ignites like a match struck inside me. My jaw tightens as my fists curl at my sides. Who the fuck dared to lay a hand on her?

I finally gave Hunter the okay to let her see Rhett today.

Oh, holy fuck. IfRhettslapped her…

Images flash through my mind. My hands around his throat, his face turning purple as I squeeze the life out of him. A broken jaw. Bloodied knuckles.

And if Hunter was negligent—if he stood by and let this happen—he’s not walking out unscathed either. I’ll— No, I can’t even think about it.

“Someone take me to her room,” I say, hating that I don’t know where it is.

I hadn’t let myself see the closet I’d sent her to, because I’d known I’d be tempted to offer her the carrot too soon if I did.

Dahlia takes charge, walking in front of me and leading me out of the room. My thoughts are a blur as we walk through the hallways. When I reach the door to her room, Dahlia pushes it open, and the sight before me sets my blood boiling.

Ava sits on the edge of her small, dingy bed. Lucy is kneeling in front of her, gently dabbing a wet cloth on her face.

“What the hell is this?”

Ava’s wide eyes snap to mine, and Lucy shoots a look at Dahlia.

I cross the room in two measured steps. When Lucy moves out of the way, I kneel in front of Ava. She flinches slightly when I touch her face. My thumb brushes over the red welts marring her skin. “Ava, who did this?”

Those big gray eyes fill with fire. “I’m not telling you.”

My jaw clenches, but I try to keep my voice gentle. “You have to. People who live within these walls follow my rules.” I inhale a deep breath. “Was it Rhett?”

Her expression grows incredulous. “Of course not.”

She’s not lying. My little doll would do anything to protect Rhett, but she’s almost comically bad at subterfuge.

“Then who?” I ask.

She shakes her head sharply. “I’m not telling you. Don’t ask me again.”

I force a small smile, though it’s difficult. She has a handprint on her face.