Page 14

Thirteen

Sebastian

I need to jump in an ice bath. Or go for a fifteen-mile run. Or do basically anything except watch Ophelia being altered just for me. I wish to God I hadn’t grabbed Ophelia’s tit, because now all I can think about is doing it again.

Watching the ladies work on her is beyond fascinating. Anya covers her with a gown and applies shiny dye while Ella puts numbing cream on her lips, then goes to work on her nails. I smile at the glittery fake tips. She’ll hate them.

I don’t, though.

I love trashy little touches on a beautiful girl. Fake nails and eyelashes. Pouty lips. It shouldn’t turn me on as much as it does, and I’m sure it makes me a misogynistic prick, but hey, I have a sex slave now. Misogynistic doesn’t begin to cover that one.

Ophelia tries to get information out of the ladies, but they avoid all risky topics, as I instructed. She learns nothing more about the Compound, the Brotherhood, or me. Instead, she gets to hear all the gossip from the last big social night and a long-winded story about a Ward who got drunk and dared everyone to skinny-dip in the swimming pool. Come to think of it, that might have been Quinn .

The new Ophelia takes shape before my eyes. Once her nails are done, Ella injects the filler into her lips, and I have to force myself not to flinch. It looks painful, and Ophelia’s eyes shine with tears, but it’s over fast. Her lips swell, puffed up and bruised from the treatment, and my cock swells right along with them. She looks good. Better than good. Much, much better.

Eyelashes next, then Anya rinses the dye off her hair and gets to work styling. I feign disinterest, staring at my phone. Stacks of messages from Gabriel and Jacob, questioning where I am and just what exactly I’m doing. Eve and Quinn are demanding to meet Ophelia. They will soon, but not yet. She’s all mine for the rest of the day.

God, this takes a long time. No wonder women are always complaining about it. I’m picky for a guy, but even so, my hair takes twenty-five minutes max. Unable to sit any more, I pace the salon and peer at all the products until finally, finally, Ella says, “Excuse me, sir. She’s all ready.”

I turn, and I swear my soul leaves my fucking body.

Her hair isn’t the sort of tacky, bright color teenagers dye their hair. It’s shiny, curled into loose waves that hang over her shoulders like a sea goddess, and the deep shade of a mountain lake on a clear day. A perfect match to my eyes, but the color makes hers stand out. They’re wide gray pools as she scans herself in the mirror.

The long, dramatic eyelashes frame them, and the effect tightens my chest. And the lips… Christ. This might not have been the best idea I’ve ever had. The blood that was lingering in my brain plummets south, and all I want is to be alone with this beautiful girl.

My girl. My property.

Fuck .

Anya grins and speaks to Ophelia. “See? I told you it’d look stunning. It’s like you were made for that color. You and your man together, my goodness…” She shakes her head. “It’s such a shame they don’t allow babies here. Yours would be something really special.”

It shocks me out of my haze. She wasn’t supposed to drop that information and realizes as soon as it’s out of her mouth. Her hand flies to her lips, and her eyes meet mine. “Oh! I didn’t mean—”

I force my trademark smile to my lips, and she relaxes instantly. “It’s not a problem. I’m sure she’ll be relieved to hear I’ve had a vasectomy. Isn’t that right, pet?”

Ophelia’s mouth drops open, and I’m distracted again, pulled into staring at those lips. I have to be gentle with them for at least a day. Right now, it feels like a life sentence.

I force my mind back to the present. “When we join the Brotherhood, we sacrifice a wife and a family. We get a Ward in return. I’m sure you’ll make it worth my while.”

Ophelia doesn’t answer, and I don’t blame her. Today has been hammer blow after hammer blow. Shock after shock. In her position, I wouldn’t even be hearing words anymore, just buzzing. It often happens when I’m tired. Or when Jacob tries to explain the plot of one of the awful movies he likes.

She heard, though. I don’t know how she feels about having children. I’m sure her family expected her to get married young and start popping out kids to ensure the family line. All families in my dad’s world are the same. Harrison already has a wife. Hopefully she’ll be grateful when I kill the bastard.

“Good,” she finally spits, and it sounds genuine. Is she against pregnancy in general or just against getting knocked up by the man holding her captive? Something else I’ll need to find out about her .

I stand a few feet away, close enough to smell the lingering scent of dye in her hair, and make a show of examining her. “Let me see your hands.”

She huffs but holds one out for my inspection. The nails are fabulously trashy, glittery blue to match her hair. Another savage pulse of desire hits my cock, and the walls of the salon start to close in. We need to go.

“You look incredible.” I mean it, and Ophelia gives me a sharp look.

“I don’t look like me.”

“Yes, you do. That’s what makes this so much fun.”

I thank the ladies and promise to send my compliments to their patrons. Ophelia balks when I retrieve her collar but falls into line when I point to Private Barnes waiting outside with his trusty needle. Maybe I should get myself one of those. Though, knowing my luck, I’d accidentally stab myself with the thing.

I leave her hands free, and she wraps them around herself, twined into the tassels of her top as we walk to the initiates’ quarters. It’s almost lunchtime, but I’m not the slightest bit hungry. I’ll order food for Ophelia later.

A few people shoot daggers at me as we walk, but no one else confronts me. We’re almost at my front door when Gabriel calls, “Seb. Wait.”

He stomps over, eyes locked on Ophelia. I don’t have to worry about him ogling my girl—he’d walk past a thousand naked porn stars to watch Eve eat a sandwich—but I can feel the confusion rolling off him. I’m sure she’s the opposite of what he expected.

She takes a step back from him, and he holds up his hands. “Woah. It’s okay. I’m Gabriel, one of Sebastian’s friends. I’m not going to hurt you. My Ward, Eve, is really excited to meet you. ”

“Oh,” Ophelia manages, watching him warily. Thank God Jacob wasn’t the one who found us. He doesn’t have a calming effect on women. Or anyone, really.

Gabriel tears his eyes from Ophelia. “Can we talk privately for a moment?”

I hesitate, then spot a bench. I point. “Sit. If you don’t, I’ll make you, and it won’t be fun.”

Ophelia opens her mouth—she has to stop doing that—but thinks better of arguing and sits. I make quick work of handcuffing her to the arm, then join Gabriel. “Can’t this wait? You might have noticed I’m a little busy.”

“Quit the fucking badass routine. Things are going crazy.” He lowers his voice further. “Kendrick called Jacob. Her dad sent an ultimatum directly to Kendrick’s phone. How in the hell did he get the number? He’s given us 48 hours to return her. Some of the top brass are away at a conference, but they’re all traveling back now. There’s a council meeting tomorrow.”

Shit. That was faster than I thought. “Am I going?”

Gabriel rolls his eyes. “What do you think? Of course you are. Jacob too.”

“Oh.” I stare at Ophelia perched on her bench, head cocked as she tries her best to listen in. “Can you—”

Gabriel cuts me off with a sigh. “Yes, I’ll fucking babysit. Why is it always me who gets stuck looking after new Wards? She’d better not be as crazy as Quinn.”

I smile, though my whole body is tense. “It’s your sweet, non-threatening nature. You’re a natural.”

“Go fuck yourself. Make sure she’s restrained when I arrive. I’ll bring the girls to cheer her up, but if she lifts one finger in Eve’s direction—”

“I know, I know. Fire and brimstone. Scorched earth. ”

“That’s about right.” He pauses, and I think he’s going to leave, but then he adds, “Are you doing okay? Really, I mean. Without all your usual bullshit.”

A good question. “Sort of. I don’t know. She’s…” I’m drawn to look at her again. She’s twirled a lock of hair around her finger and twists it this way and that in the light, studying the color. “She’s a lot more interesting than I thought she’d be.”

“Interesting. That’s one way to put it.” The amused edge to Gabriel’s voice tells me he’s seen right through me. “Just be careful. These first few days are so important. Don’t let her get the better of you.”

“Says the man whose Ward escaped through a bathroom window on day two?”

Unexpectedly, he smiles at the memory. “Oh, yes. What came next was a lot of fun.”

I roll my eyes. “You might have told me the story once or twice. Or ten fucking times. What time is the damn meeting?”

“Nine. In the boardroom.”

Ominous. Neutral territory, rather than Kendrick’s center of power. It doesn’t bode well.

“I’ll see you then.”

“Good luck.”

He strides away, and Ophelia watches his retreating back as I unfasten her from the bench. “What was that about?”

“None of your concern.”

She knows, though. I can tell by the almost pleased expression on her face and the way she walks calmly beside me without argument. She knows it’s some drama involving her and hopes it’ll turn out to her advantage.

Damn Fred and his big mouth .

I need her unsettled again, not feeling like she’s got the upper hand. “I have to go to a meeting. I’ll leave you in Gabriel’s capable hands while I’m out.”

I shoot a glance her way as my words hit. She takes a deep breath, and her shoulders relax. Good. She’s on the hook, thinking she’s safe for a while. “The good news, though, is it’s not until tomorrow. We’ve got the rest of the day all to ourselves.”

Her head snaps to face me, and I smile. That’s the look I wanted. I make a show of checking my watch. “Twenty-one hours, in fact. What should I do with all that time?”

We’ve reached the door to my building, and I open it as her face pales. I tighten my grip on the leash in case she bolts, but she’s too smart for that. She stares at the street. A couple of people glance our way, then hurry on. She’s getting no help there, and she knows it.

I’m almost proud of her as she turns away from her escape route, squares her shoulders, and marches through the door.