Page 15 of Blood and Thorns (Twisted Ever After #1)

Arabella

Twenty-four hours and I still wasn’t dead. Yet.

I should celebrate by going back to sleep, because there was nothing else for me to do. I hadn’t risked checking the door again, and no one had come in with unwanted cups of tea.

Knock. Knock.

Never mind.

Pressing my back against the wall, I used it to stand. Sebastian had said he wasn’t interested in reluctance, and I was definitely in team reluctance. But that didn’t mean my heart didn’t race as another knock resonated around the silent room.

It was smart not to trust his word.

“Oh, there you are, dear.” The same older lady as last night walked in, carrying a silver tray with her statement cup of tea. I eyed it cautiously.

He wouldn’t drug me. Would he?

“You must be starving. Dinner will be in ten minutes, and he expects you to attend.” She placed the teacup and saucer on the side table, clicking her tongue when she realised I’d left the drawers partially open. “Your new toiletries will be delivered shortly. Now, let me get a good look at you.”

She was smaller than me, and plump. But she radiated a warmth that could only be genuine.

Smiling kindly, she said, “Don’t worry, everything’s going to be okay.”

Okay for you to say, I thought. She hadn’t offered herself up to a man affectionately called Beast.

“My father…”

“Oh, don’t even think about him. It’ll be easier that way.” Her smile faltered, and a sadness swept over her expression before disappearing beneath a bubble of excitement. “Remember, dinner’s in ten. I’ll send my son to come get you.”

As quickly as she swept in, she left.

I eyed the tea once more, the scent sweet and honestly, my mouth watered a little, but I couldn’t bring myself to drink it. Setting back in my corner, I closed my eyes and rested forward until my head hit my bent knees.

“Hello?”

I jerked, looking up to find a much younger man wearing a pristine suit standing in the doorway. I hadn’t even heard the door open. Had I fallen back asleep?

“I’m here to escort you to dinner,” he said, his smile gentle but not quite reaching his dark eyes. With his light blond hair he gave me a deadly angel vibe. “I’m Charlie, but everyone calls me Chip.” A frown marked his brow at my continued silence.

Was he the butler? Did people actually have butlers?

Bloody hell, how rich was Sebastian?

“Did my mum not come and warn you?” He eyed the untouched tea, which was no longer billowing steam.

I averted my gaze and let out a breath. “I’m not coming to dinner. ”

“I don’t think that’s an option.” He studied me like you would a bug beneath a telescope. It was a little unnerving, and honestly a little rude.

“Tell him I’m not feeling well.” Okay, so clearly, I wasn’t finished with my wallowing. I just needed another day, one more to treat myself to a nice, healthy breakdown before I finally accepted my fate.

Chip dipped his head in a nod. “As you wish.”

Sebastian

“What do you mean she isn’t coming ?” my voice boomed.

Chip tensed at my words, but other than that he gave no indication that he was affected by my anger. His mother, Mrs Potter, whistled a cheery tune as if I wasn’t imagining all the ways I could slaughter her son.

His eyes were dead, which was the only reason I’d agreed to hire him when Mrs Potter had begged.

Apparently, he had some antisocial issues, and for anyone else I would’ve told them to fuck off.

But Mrs Potter had been with my uncle for several decades, and once I’d established myself, I’d offered her a job as my head housekeeper.

She’d been with me for close to eight years and came in four times a week.

Chip, on the other hand, had been with me for around three years, and didn’t bat an eye at the more vicious side of my business. For a man of twenty-two, he held himself with an assurance that was unusual for someone so young.

But then again, cocky men regularly got themselves killed. Which was the reason behind his slow but steady training.

Clearly not picking up on the acerbic atmosphere, Mrs Potter placed the meal onto the table while I continued to stare coldly at her son. He stared back, unblinking.

“Get her,” I snapped.

“She said she wasn’t feeling well,” Chip replied, his tone monotonous.

“Don’t worry, she’ll come around, dear,” Mrs Potter assured me, her cheeks red from how much she smiled. “She’s pretty, too. Try not to growl too much and scare her.”

“You’re dismissed,” I said, noting how her lips pursed slightly.

“Fine, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.” Grabbing her son, they disappeared back into the kitchen.

There were only a small number of staff allowed in my home, and they were heavily vetted before receiving an access card. Mrs Potter had earned her place, and kept the other workers to a strict schedule that didn’t overlap in my presence.

The only exception was Chip, who answered directly to me. His unique personality would be wasted as just a footman, but he wasn’t yet ready to fully immerse himself into my world. So he’d have to settle for running errands, being a competent chess player, and assisting me when needed.

I glared at the plate opposite, the food already getting cold.

This was the second time she’d ignored a direct order, and it made my pulse spike.

Will you suck my cock if I demand you get on your knees right now?

Will you bend over so I can fuck you any time and any place I wish ?

Will you let me ruin you for anyone else? All to protect your father?

Yes.

Gritting my teeth, I jolted to my feet. I didn’t bother knocking on Arabella’s door, instead shoving it open with the force of a hurricane.

My eyes narrowed on the untouched bed, an unfamiliar feeling knotting my stomach until I realised she was curled up on the floor in the corner. I paused for a second, taking a moment to calm myself. There was bruising beneath her eyes while exhaustion lined her face.

Her breathing was even, and I used the gentle motion to slow my own, ragged breaths. I didn’t know why I’d accepted her as a replacement, but I was more interested in why she agreed to it in the first place.

It was twisted, that interest.

An obsession I wanted to break into tiny pieces just to understand.

Reaching down, I expected her to wake, bracing myself for a burst of violence and then my own volatile reaction. Yet she barely murmured when I slipped my arms beneath her body, lifting her before throwing her down on the bed.

But when she bounced in the centre, she squealed in surprise.

With little patience I grabbed her ankle, pulling her to the end, only for her to kick out. She managed a hit on my side, followed by an arm swinging wildly before I yanked her up by her wrists.

“This is the one and only time I’ll allow you to refuse an order.” My tone was as hard as granite, the earlier anger still burning beneath the surface. “You eat with me, or not at all.”

Arabella swallowed, her breathing heavy as she blinked up at me with those fucking doe eyes.

They’d widened with initial panic, but now they’d darkened, the gold flecks glistening with defiance and a touch of loathing.

She was a fascinating little thing, her emotions filtering across her expression so easily.

The way I held her forced her back to arch awkwardly, her weight held entirely by the way I locked her wrists in one of my hands. I released her without warning, her body falling against the thousand-pound sheets.

She glared at me through her hair, but didn’t make another move.

Leaning down, I made sure to hover my body over hers. “Disobey me again, and I’ll carry you out here on my shoulder, kicking and screaming. Have I made myself clear?”

A flush darkened the flesh of her throat, sweeping down over the top of her breasts. “Crystal.”