Page 105 of Blood and Thorns

I’d wasted years of guilt, making sure he survived his stupid decisions. Years of sacrifice, all for him to want me to kill one of the most powerful men in the city. I would laugh if my stomach wasn’t cramping.

“So, this is Beast’s little pet.”

My eyes snapped open, and in the reflection a man wearing a blue suit snickered behind me.

“I’ve heard he’s pretty possessive over you.”

His hand reached out, and I immediately reacted. My elbow swung, hitting the man in the face before he slappedme hard. I tasted blood, the momentum throwing my body to the side. My head cracked against the tiles, pain shooting across the front of my skull.

But I didn’t have long, my movements sluggish as I managed to duck under his arm.

The man snarled, grabbing me as I tried to reach for the door. But he was stronger, easily throwing me back against one of the mirrors that shattered around me.

“Fucking bitch,” he spat, the shards cutting into my back.

I scrambled against his hold, my nails scratching against his arm. Something snapped in the sink below me, freezing cold water spraying across us both. The man pulled me back, only to slam me once more against the fractured glass.

“I’m really going to enjoy this,” he said, his voice barely a whisper against the thumping inside my head. Releasing his grip, I collapsed to the floor, my body feeling heavy. My limbs holding a weight I couldn’t lift.

I was dragged across the tiles, the man’s hand clawing at my dress until it ripped.

“Pretty thing, aren’t you?” he crooned. My breasts came free, exposing me further before moving down.

I didn’t feel the fabric of my knickers snap, only noticing the black lace being tossed amongst the mirrored shards and leaking water. I managed to reach for the largest shard, fingers barely able to hold it as I tried to stab him.

But my arm was too slow, my muscles not responding. It only sliced across his shoulder, barely cutting, and with a snarl he slapped me again.

Water splashed against my face, and the thought of drowning passed through my mind when I struggled for a breath. I clawed at the floor, trying to pull away, but fingers held me tightly before there was something hard pressed between my legs.

The man’s grin was malicious as he reached for his belt, pulling it through the loops quickly before he moved on to his zipper.

No.

I tried to throw myself to the side, do anything to dislodge him from between my legs. But my body wasn’t responding. The belt was looped behind my neck, using it to lift me against him.

Please. Stop.

“Don’t worry,” he muttered, his left hand bruising as he held me in place. “You’re going to like it.”

I wanted to close my eyes, to be anywhere else. But I couldn’t even do that. The pressure increased, and not even a whimper could escape my–

There was a crash, the man jerking up before he was gone.

“Fuck!” Caden knelt beside me, but I couldn’t move. “You’re going to be okay.” He removed his jacket, draping it over my front before Sebastian appeared above me like the God of Death.

His eyes narrowed when they landed on me, his anger so vivid I imagined it lashing against my exposed skin. I would probably physically flinch at the storm darkening his eyes if I could actually move my body.

“I think she’s been drugged,” Caden said, stepping back so Sebastian could take the space beside me. I tried to turn my head, a whimper barely passing my lips.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered, pinching my jaw and opening my mouth. He thrust two fingers into the back of my throat, and just before I vomited he turned me on my side, his hand warm against my spine.“Tout ira bien, je te le promets.”

He repeated this twice more, and then finally he lifted me into his arms.

My head rolled, and I was able to see the man knocked out in the corner, blood dripping from his temple with Miles and Caden glowering beside him.

“D…dad?” I managed to ask, my body shivering against my will.

Caden pursed his lips, eyes moving to Sebastian, who simply pulled me tighter against him.