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CHAPTER SEVEN

WYNTER

“ H ow old was he when he came here?” I ask Martha as we prepare breakfast the next day. I’d spent most of last night going over the fight and thinking about Wrath. There’s just something about him that calls to my soul, and I can’t get him out of my mind.

She pauses stirring the porridge and glares at me. “It’s almost like you’re trying to get into trouble.”

“I know young boys are brought here.”

“Warriors,” she corrects.

“They’re just boys when they first get here, and they’re trained into warriors.”

“Asking all these questions will only get you deeper into trouble, and honestly, I don’t know what will happen to you if it doesn’t work out for you in the caves.”

I picture my father and how angry he’d be if he could hear me now, or worse if he’d seen me calming Wrath. “Maybe he’ll kill me,” I say thoughtfully.

“And, for some reason, that doesn’t scare you.”

I smirk. “When you’ve been raised by a man like Anthony Sanchez, you don’t fear much.”

She watches me for a silent few seconds before sighing. “That’s exactly why he didn’t hang you before. He knew that wouldn’t upset you nearly as much as hanging your two friends.”

Thinking about Abel and Jade hurts me way more than I’ll ever admit. They’re ghost-like faces haunt my dreams, making sure I don’t rest easy at night. “How long have you been here?” I ask, changing the subject.

She begins stirring again. “My husband wanted to join the village. We sold all our belongings to come here almost twenty years ago.”

“Wow, that’s dedication.”

Her smile fades, but before I can question her, she starts dishing up the porridge. “Please get Anna so the warriors can eat.”

I glance at the three bowls. “That’s not enough,” I tell her.

“Wrath is nil-by-mouth until further notice.”

“Says who?” I demand, and she smiles again.

“Believe it or not, you’re not in charge, Wynter.”

“You’re going to starve him for his behaviour last night?”

“Not me,” she admits. “I’m in charge of the girls in the cave, not the guards.”

“He has to eat. He won the fight, and he’ll need fuel after putting himself under so much strain.”

She nods in agreement. “But it’s their decision.”

I chew on my lower lip before giving a stiff nod. But as I leave the kitchen, I take two bread buns from the basket and stuff them in my apron.

Anna is scrubbing the bathroom floor in the guards’ quarters. “Would you like me to do the food delivery?” I ask.

She looks surprised by my offer. “Are you sure you don’t mind?”

I smile all the way back to the kitchen.

“I’m doing the food run,” I tell Martha, who can’t hide her smirk as she points to the trolly loaded with the three plates.

I think she’s getting used to my behaviour.

“They each have fruit today,” she adds, placing a basket on the top shelf.

“And if you send Lenny my way, I have bacon. That should keep him busy for ten minutes.” She gives a knowing wink, and I head off.

Lenny eyes me with mistrust. “Where’s Anna?”

“She’s busy cleaning the bathrooms. I offered to help out. Also, Martha has bacon in the kitchen.”

He grins and unlocks Zeus’s door. “Great. Let’s make this quick.”

I take in his breakfast, seeing him chained at the table. “Good morning, Zeus. I hope you slept well. Martha sent fruit today,” I say brightly. He grunts, and I laugh. “It’s polite to say good morning back.”

“When it’s a good morning, I’ll say it back,” he tells me.

I greet Maximus the same way, smiling more when he grunts in response. “I think he’s growing to like me,” I tell Lenny. “Look, there’s only one more. You go and get the bacon, and I’ll sort Abraham.”

He laughs. “Nice try. I’m not a pushover like Alex.”

I shrug. “Suit yourself, but Jax was already in the kitchen when I left, so don’t blame me if he eats it all.”

His eyes narrow, and he sighs heavily, dropping his keys into my hand. “Lock it properly,” he orders, heading off.

I give Abraham his breakfast in the same way as the others, smiling wide. He also grunts, and as I’m leaving, I ask, “Can I call you Abe?”

“No,” he mutters.

I grin. “Thanks, Abe.”

“I said no,” he calls as I close the door, but I think I hear a hint of a smile in his tone.

I rush over to Wrath’s room, unlocking it.

My step falters at the sight greeting me.

He’s completely naked again, with his hands chained above his head and his ankles shackled together.

The sound of a woman’s cries fills the room, causing me to wince in embarrassment.

I reach for the television switch, flicking it off and sighing in relief when the noise stops.

Wrath’s head twists my way, and his eyes widen.

He glances nervously at his stomach, and my eyes fall to the wetness coating his skin.

His penis is glistening with the same wetness, and I feel my cheeks burn with more embarrassment.

Jade once told me about the stuff that comes out when a man has sex to get a woman pregnant.

I step closer. “Should I . . . erm, wipe that?” When I drag my eyes to his face, he looks mortified. I offer a sympathetic smile. “It’s not your fault, Wrath.”

I swoop down and grab a discarded pair of shorts from the floor.

I take a breath and carefully place them over the wet patch.

The second I brush it across his skin, his breathing hitches, but I try not to look at him.

As I’m wiping his abs, the back of my hand knocks his penis, and I gasp, dropping the material and stepping back.

His penis is hard, straining as it rests against his stomach.

“I’m so sorry,” I rush to say. “I didn’t mean to touch . . . it.”

Wrath groans, and it sounds painful as he strains against the cuffs. He doesn’t want me to see him like this. It’s evident by the way he turns his head away from me.

“I got you some food,” I say, changing the subject. “Apparently, you’re nil-by-mouth, but that’s ridiculous seeing as you fought last night. You must be hungry.”

He slowly turns back to look at me, and there’s a hint of a smile.

I step closer, taking a bread roll from my pocket.

His chains are too short for him to feed himself, so I place it to his lips and wait for him to take a bite.

He does so quickly, biting half the roll away, and I smile.

“I knew you were hungry.” I retrieve the second roll and hold it up, which earns me a smile from him.

“Don’t tell anyone,” I whisper, winking.

Once he’s eaten the rolls, I take a banana from the trolley and peel it. “This should keep you going,” I add as he takes a bite and closes his eyes in delight. “You like sweet stuff?” I guess. “Me too. My father didn’t allow us to have it much, but when we did, it was the best thing ever.”

“Thank you,” he whispers. It’s so low, I thought I’d imagined it, but when I look into his bright eyes, he grins, confirming I heard him correctly.

I give a small laugh, using my thumb to wipe some of the fruit from his lower lip. I pop it in his mouth, and he sucks it in, taking me by surprise. I know I’m blushing as he releases it, but I can’t rip my eyes away from his as my stomach ties itself in knots.

“I hate to interrupt, but I have work to do.” I glance at the naked woman in the doorway, gasping in fright and immediately stepping away from Wrath.

Wrath begins to shake his head and pull hard on his chains. “Don’t blame me, Wrath,” she snaps. “You brought it on yourself.”

I begin to back out, hating his distressed body language as she straddles him with ease.

She slides down until her face is level with his erection then she wraps her hands around it.

Wrath roars in anger, trying to fight her off as she licks the tip of his penis.

His eyes find mine again, and he cries out.

“Wynter,” he calls, and a choked sob leaves me.

The woman looks up in surprise. “Did he just speak?”

I nod, smiling again. “It’s my name,” I add.

“What the fuck is going on?” comes Lenny’s voice, and I jump in fright, spinning to find him in the doorway.

“Relax, Len, she let me in cos you weren’t around,” says the woman, and I almost sag in relief at her lie.

Lenny throws his arm around me. “Thanks, gorgeous,” he says, leading me from the room. “Don’t let him come,” he tells the woman. “Drag it out at least an hour.”

I risk a look back at where Wrath has his eyes squeezed tight as the woman sucks him.

Lenny slams the door and locks it. “Is she safe in there?” I ask.

“He can’t do anything chained up.”

“Why is she doing that?” I ask.

He grins, this time looking at my chest area. “Turn you on, did it?” I shake my head, words failing to escape as my mouth opens and closes in embarrassment. “It’s punishment.”

“For what?”

“You saw how he was last night.” He dumps the keys on the desk and sits down. “Thing is, it doesn’t matter what we do, he still kicks off. He’s dangerous.”

“He seems okay to me,” I mutter, shrugging. “Maybe it’s how you approach.”

He smirks. “I’ve been a guard for six years, pretty princess, and he’s the only warrior who doesn’t learn a lesson.”

“What will happen if he doesn’t learn?”

“We’ve got a meeting with your father today. It’s his choice, but we’re going to suggest he replaces him with a better trained warrior.”

“Will he listen? I thought Wrath was the best he’s got?”

“Don’t you worry about it,” he reassures me.

“If I have my way, he’ll be gone by this evening.

” My heart aches at the thought. If Wrath goes, I won’t get to see him again, and I feel like we were just beginning to get to know one another.

Lenny rests his arms on the desk. “I don’t know what the rules are now you’re just .

. . one of us, but do you want to go on a date sometime? ”

I stare at him, waiting for him to laugh or tell me he’s kidding. When he doesn’t, I force a smile. “I’m pretty sure it’s against the rules.”

“You’re not part of the Sanchez family anymore. If you were, you wouldn’t be here in the caves.”

“It’s a misunderstanding,” I lie, hoping to bide me some time. “Once my father realises how much he needs me, I’ll go back home.”

Lenny laughs. “You think you’re too good for me, princess?” He stands and rounds the desk.

“No, of course not,” I mutter, eyeing his hand as he brings it to my hair and wraps a loose curl around his finger.

“So, why are you making excuses?”

“It’s just, you’re a lot older than me, and I . . . well, I don’t know what happens outside my family. I don’t know the rules.”

He grins. “I’ll show you things that happen in the real world, princess. Things your father would hang us all for.” This gets my interest, and I allow him to run a finger over my collarbone.

“Okay,” I squeak out. “I’ll go on a date with you.”

Wrath

More blue pills are shoved into my mouth, and I’m forced to swallow.

My cock is painfully hard, and my balls feel heavy.

Leonie sits over my stomach, her mouth inches from mine.

“What I’d give to finish you off,” she whispers.

“Just hearing your voice got me all hot,” she adds, biting on my lower lip.

Out of all the women, Leonie is the only one who’s horny the entire time.

She loves the power of having me chained and bringing me to the edge over and over.

I close my eyes and think of the only woman who’s ever piqued my interest. Wynter.

Her green eyes and flowing, long hair . .

. the few flecks she has over her nose that match her hair colour .

. . and how delicate her hand feels when it touches me.

I groan, remembering how she’d accidently brushed my cock.

Leonie takes my moan as encouragement, and she rubs herself along my cock, trapping it between us.

I hate the sensation of being touched. Or at least I did, until Wynter came along. Her touch calms my mind, it relaxes me. But as Leonie grinds over me, I shudder in repulsion. She smells damp, like the caves. Wynter smells fresh and sweet. I can’t get her out of my mind .

The door opens, and I sag in relief. Leonie’s flushed complexion makes me sick, and as she slides off me, I thank the Lord for saving me.

The guard leers from the doorway, and I notice the yellow thing in his side pocket, the thing that hurt me.

“Someone looks happy,” she purrs.

“I just got myself a date,” he tells her.

“Who’s stupid enough to date you?” asks Leonie, laughing.

He smacks her backside as she passes him, and she yelps, laughing louder. “Wynter,” I hear him say as he slams my door closed. Wynter.

I growl, angrily tugging until the metal cuffs cut into my skin and make me bleed. Not my Wynter.