Page 22 of Not Her Day to Die (Star-Crossed #2)

W hen Darius was ushered to the main house, he didn’t know what to expect. He had been left in one of the cells with no contact with the outside world for over a week.

When he was hooded and dragged out of his prison, he expected the worst.

But somehow it was even more terrible.

How did my brothers let this happen? She should be safe.

“You need to give a good show, make it believable. The audience will have requests, and your job is to fulfill them.” Sterling is folded on a leather chair behind Darius. This is where Sterling would watch the show from, through a TV screen.

Darius and Sunday had been separated into different changing areas. She would be bathed, cleaned, and clothed.

Just as he had been.

“And if I refuse?” Darius clenches his jaw, steeling his nerves.

Talking back to Sterling goes against the gradient. It is difficult, a physical challenge that Darius has to force himself to do.

“Then you will be replaced. Maxwell would be more than happy to do whatever the guests want. And it wouldn’t be too hard to explain how she jumped from one brother to another to another . We’ll just present her to the public as Maxwell’s. ”

Darius stutters, he whips around to stare into Sterling’s eyes. “What are you implying?”

“After this, she is going to become a Thorne.” Sterling steeples his hands. “You just need to prove to me that you have the balls to do what needs to be done. And then you both can have your happily fucking ever after.”

“But we’ll still be prisoners.”

“Yes, but you won’t be kept down here. You’ll be awarded a spot in the house. But that’s if you can prove to me that I can trust you. That you can do what needs to be done.” Sterling reaches out.

Darius wants more than anything to escape. To not be forced into what there is to come.

But he doesn’t have a choice. He can leave Sunday to endure all sorts of cruelties.

Or–

Darius shakes the monster’s hand.