Page 26 of Marked (Wicked Heirs #1)

Lucian had allowed me to leave the estate for a shopping trip to Messana, but I had enjoyed nothing about it.

The way the shop attendants had looked at me and spoken to me had been strange—as though they were terrified to say anything that would upset me for fear that I would report back to Lucian.

Obviously, I would never do such a thing, but it made me wonder if my mother had terrorized these women with her demands when she had worn the ring that sat on my vanity in its perfect velvet box.

Just as when I came to select a gown for my mother’s wedding, the staff had prepared everything for my arrival. I was presented with a parade of elegant gowns, each more luxurious than the last, to touch and try on. Filmy undergarments, expensive couture pieces— But where would I wear these items? Around the house? What did Lucian have planned for me?

I didn’t want to know.

I selected nothing, but I was pretty sure that boxes and garment bags would soon arrive at the estate, and I would have to thank Lucian for his generosity.

He hadn’t approached me about the ring—not yet.

But this recent expression of largesse would certainly come with a summons, and then I would have to answer Lucian’s questions about the engagement ring that had been delivered to my suite. The ring that was still untouched in its dark velvet box.

I didn’t hold out any hope that he would take my wishes into account.

Especially as my deepest wish was to watch him choke on his own blood.

I’d half-expected the sleek motorcycles my stepbrothers rode to stalk me from the city all the way back to Withermarsh like they always did—but I hadn’t seen any of them since I’d stained Titus’ contract with my blood.

I didn’t know what that meant.

Or how long they would make me wait before they made their demands.

I was unsure whether the promise of protection would hold any weight if my wedding to Lucian proceeded as the Romano patriarch planned.

I entered the house with some trepidation, but I wasn’t sure why my nerves were on edge—aside from the ‘normal’ reasons.

The grand entryway was cold and silent, save for the soft crackling of flames in the large fireplace that somehow failed to bring warmth into the stark space. Portraits of grim ancestors peered down from the walls as they always did, but today their painted gazes seemed almost accusatory.

I made my way upstairs to my suite and let out a small sigh of relief as I closed the door behind me.

The sigils that had been cast over it by hands far more powerful than mine had created a place which offered an illusion of sanctuary, and it was difficult not to feel some guilt as I reveled in it. But it was the only room in this vast mansion where my stepbrothers’ power—and their father’s shadowy presence—seemed somewhat subdued.

But I couldn’t breathe easily here, either.

Any of them could bypass those sigils if they really wanted to.

My throat was tight as I tossed my tailored jacket over the vanity chair.

I walked toward the vanity as I pulled the pins from my hair and tossed them onto the marble.

But as the pins clattered onto the stone, I glanced in the mirror over the vanity.

Behind me, in my reflection, I noticed something on my bed.

Stark white on the dark damask coverlet.

An envelope.

My hands froze, and a whimper caught in my throat as I turned slowly toward the bed. My hair tumbled down over my shoulder in a loose cascade, and I forced my legs into motion. Approaching the bed, I gingerly picked up the envelope as if it were a viper ready to strike. The crisp paper felt strangely heavy in my hands, and it was sealed with an ominous splash of black wax that sent a chill shuddering down my spine.

I knew who it was from.

Who else.

In my mind’s eye, I could imagine them; Titus with his jet black hair and cruel smirk, Valen with his intriguing blend of mystery and compassion, and Bastian with his deceptively angelic looks. My stepbrothers.

And if Lucian had his way—they would be my stepsons.

Slowly, I broke the dark wax seal and opened the envelope. I drew out the crisp parchment and unfolded it with shaking hands.

The script was simple, scratched deep into the parchment with a heavy hand, and little splatters of ink stained the page .

A promise is a promise. Tonight, we shall claim what belongs to us.

As I read the words, I drew in a sharp breath, the reality of that promise dawning on me.

Beside the letter lay a little velvet box. A shiver of terror coursed through me as I slowly opened it to reveal an implement made of blackened platinum. A plug of an intimate nature. I’d never seen one in person before—one of the girls at the academy had teased me about not knowing what to do with such a thing… and she’d been right. She was still right. I noticed the dark gemstones encrusted the flared base, and was struck by its similarity to Lucian’s ring.

The irony of choice.

My face flushed with humiliation as I turned away from the box; they were staking their claim before they even arrived.

Panic rose in my chest like a wave threatening to drown me.

No amount of preparation could have readied me for what was to come that night, the violation waiting for me.

The hours stretched before me like an eternity. My heart pounded as I prepared myself as best I could.

I soaked in the tub, scrubbing away layers of trepidation and uncertainty. The chilled wine in a nearby glass was there to calm my nerves, but it had barely taken the edge off my anxiety. I dried myself then dressed in a filmy bra and panty set made of soft and transparent black fabric with satin accents.

The soft robe I pulled over my shoulders barely offered any modesty, but it was enough to keep the chill away. I wore only a hint of makeup—enough to enhance my eyes and stain my lips, but nothing more .

They delivered dinner to my room, but I turned the servant away and kept the bottle of wine instead.

Midnight drew closer with heavy inevitability as I agonized over what was going to happen.

Would they all come to me at the same time?

What would they make me do?

The ‘gift’ they had sent me was still in its box, and I didn’t know what to do with it—

The clock in the hallway chimed and jolted me out of my spiraling thoughts.

The sound of footsteps echoed through the hallway outside, and the ominous noise sent a shiver down my spine.

I moved quickly to sit on the edge of the bed and clasped my hands together tightly in my lap. My breaths were shallow and quick as I awaited their arrival.

Their promise was now a threat that hung over me like a dark cloud.

Voices murmured in the hallway and I straightened my shoulders. I expected them to open the door and walk in, but as I waited for that to happen, confusion tugged at my wild thoughts.

What was happening?

All at once, a knock echoed in the room.

I jumped up from the bed as knuckles slammed against the door again.

I rushed across the room on unsteady legs and pulled the door open.

Three large shapes loomed in the dimly lit hallway.

Gods, they were so tall.

“I—”

“You have to invite us in, little bird,” Valen said.

“I— I do?”

“The sigils are— problematic,” Bastian said. My eyes widened as I saw the dark smoke of his magic twine around his wrist. “But you can give us permission to enter.”

I glanced at Titus and swallowed hard. I didn’t know what to say— what would lift the spell enough to allow them to enter?

I pushed away the frantic thought that I could keep them out if I wanted to.

I didn’t have a choice.

No.

This was my choice.

I straightened my shoulders and lifted my chin. “Come— You can come in,” I choked out and then cursed myself inwardly for the tremor in my voice.

I stepped back from the door as Bastian let out a dark chuckle.

“That’s more like it. A break in the fence—”

“Shut up,” Titus growled.

The door creaked open, pushed by an unseen hand, and the first to step in was Titus. The soft glow of lamplight amplified his sharp, brooding features, and his dark eyes gleamed as they dragged up and down my body.

Valen followed next, his tousled brown hair falling into his eyes. He looked at me with an unreadable expression as he stepped aside for Bastian to enter the room and then closed the door behind them.

I flinched just a little as the lock clicked into place.

A wicked grin curled over Bastian’s lips as he ran his eyes over me. His golden hair shone like a halo in the dimly lit room, there was nothing innocent about him.

Without speaking a word, Titus slowly removed his jacket and tossed it onto a nearby chair. His gaze never left me as he unbuttoned his shirt with deliberate slowness, revealing the hard planes of his chest beneath.

In sync with his older brother’s actions, Valen too shrugged off his jacket, then pulled his shirt over his head and dropped it to the floor. A slow smirk spread across his face as he watched my reaction.

Bastian was the only one who remained fully dressed, keeping a slight distance from the unfolding scene. I noticed his fingers twitching at his side, and the swirl of black smoke that rose from his palm.

My mind raced, trying to guess what he was planning.

“All that preparation, and you didn’t even put on our gift,” Titus said. His eyes, cold and emotionless, dropped to the velvet box on the bed. He picked it up and toyed with it in his hands.

“I— I don’t know how…” I stammered out, my cheeks burning at such a confession.

Bastian laughed. It was a cruel sound, devoid of humor. “Well, isn’t that sweet? Our innocent little step-sister doesn’t know what to do with a plug.” He sauntered over to me, and his pale eyes danced with an ominous joy. His fingertips brushed the nape of my neck and I jerked away from them.

Valen crossed the room in strides, covering the space between us in mere seconds. After pulling my chin up with his finger, his brown eyes seared into mine with an intensity that stopped my breath. “Don’t worry, Avril, we’ll teach you.”

Titus opened the box and lifted the blackened platinum plug from it. Even though I couldn’t see his face, I didn’t miss the predatory glint in his eyes as he held it up for me to see my wide eyes reflected in its metallic surface.

“You’ll like it,” Bastian added from behind me. “I promise.”

My breath hitched in my throat as Titus stepped closer and extended the plug toward me.

“Take it,” he commanded.

I hesitated for just a moment before reaching out and taking it from him. The cold metal against my skin sent chills up my arms .

Looking from one brother to the next, I asked in a voice barely above a whisper, “What now?”

Titus gave me an appraising look before he reached out and untied the belt that held my robe closed.

I stood, frozen in place, as Bastian stepped behind me and pulled the robe open to reveal my body to his brothers.

“Very nice,” Valen breathed.

“Our father bought that lingerie for you,” Titus said.

The robe fell to the floor.

“Do you like it?” I whispered.

Bastian’s breath was hot on the nape of my neck and I closed my eyes as he reached around my body to rub his hands over my breasts and dragged them down to my hips. He gripped my hips briefly and then released me.

I let out a little gasp as the clasp of my bra opened and the filmy undergarment sagged over my breasts. Titus drew the straps from my shoulders and down my arms and the bra joined the robe on the floor. Cool air brushed over my bare skin, and my nipples puckered and hardened as their eyes raked over me.

“Better now,” Valen said.

Instinctively, I drew my hands up to cover my breasts, but Bastian slapped them away.

“Ah, ah,” he taunted.

The buttplug was heavy in my hand and shame coursed through me as Bastian’s hands rested heavily on my shoulders.

“On your knees,” he hissed in my ear. The pressure he applied to my shoulders wasn’t subtle.

My knees trembled and my heart pounded in my chest. But I did as I was told and sank down to the floor in front of my stepbrothers.

Bastian’s hands remained on my shoulders, his touch firmer than before.

He was silent as their eyes roved over me, but I could feel the faint sting of his dark magic as his fingertips traced a swirl on my shoulder.

“You’re pretty on your knees,” Bastian murmured. He stooped to push back a lock of hair from my face. His chuckle was low as he drew away, leaving me vividly exposed under their watchful eyes.

The necessity of the situation didn’t erase the sheen of shameful tears that welled in the corners of my eyes, but I dared not allow them to spill over. I feared that if they did, I might not be able to stop.

“Remember what you promised,” Titus said.

“Anything we want,” Valen continued.

“Yes,” I replied. “I remember.”