Page 77 of Blood and Thorns

“On?”

“Whether Sebastian answers my questions.” Aeris met my eyes once more, confident in her position of power.

I’d chosen not to wear my mask because I didn’t want to draw any more attention to this than needed. Clearly that was a mistake from Aeris’s reaction. She believed she had the upper hand.

“Tell me about your new pet,” she purred.

My answer was immediate. “No.”

“So protective,” she laughed, leaning across the table. “Has the great, powerful Beast fallen for the pretty damsel in distress?” She raised a coy eyebrow.

I reached over and fisted her hair. The people behindher stilled, not used to such blatant show of violence outside sexual acts.

“I thought you’d want to play?” she continued, smiling even as I held her head at a painful angle. “Or would you prefer I play with your toy and have you watch instead?”

“Touch her and I’ll break your fucking neck,” I growled, the instant rage like lava through my veins.

Aeris pouted. “Threats don’t work well with me, Sebastian. Remember that.”

“Don’t touch what’s mine, then I won’t need to keep my word.” I tightened my fist, making her wince before releasing her as suddenly as I’d grabbed her.

She threw her head back and laughed, and I had to clench my fists to stop myself from clamping my fingers around her throat just to throttle the sound.

“Ah, there he is,” she chuckled. “The monster beneath the mask. I so wish you’d join me in my playroom. I’ve heard from my girls how… thrilling it is to be beneath your power.”

“Last warning,” Caden growled.

Aeris sniffed, her confidence waning once she realised she couldn’t use her cunt to try and take control. That was one of the reasons I’d never taken her up on her offer. Her whispers were dangerous, poisonous even as she pretended to be the perfect sub.

In reality, she was sucking out your soul through your cock.

She snapped her fingers, and a waitress brought over a tray, a silver dome placed on top. Aeris thanked the woman before lifting the cloche, revealing the paperwork beneath. “These were hard rumours to decipher, Sebastian.”

“It’s why I came to you.”

She pushed the papers towards me, but I didn’t bother looking down.

When I was younger, I didn’t understand why it took me so long to read compared to everyone else. The words would always blur, shift or dance across the page as if they were alive. It took one of the nannies to recognise the severe dyslexia, explaining that I simply had a different brain.

So I grew up understanding my limitations and figured out ways to thrive without being able to read with ease.

“I’ve tracked this notorious Enchantress, as promised,” Aeris continued. “Luckily, I have spies across the continent.” Her long red nails separated the pages before she tapped a photograph. I finally looked down, only to still.

Because the woman on the page was supposed to be dead.

Chapter 34

Sebastian

“I’m sorry, Sebastian,” Margot said, kneeling in my growing pool of blood while my brothers whimpered in pain and dad roared. “This is all your father’s fault. He left me no choice.”

My back burned, as did my shoulders as I tried to wrench my wrists free. Wrapping her fingers in my hair, Margot lifted me up so I was on my knees.

“Stop this!” Dad thundered, being held back by the same two men who had just raped and then murdered his wife. “Margot, please.”

“Maybe you’ll grow into the man I need.” Margot caressed my face, her nails lingering on my bottom lip before she leaned forward for a kiss.

I tried to jerk back, but she held me to her, her tongue teasing against mine until I bit down. Margot screeched, and as she pulled away, I spat the blood in her face.