Page 29

CHAPTER NINETEEN

WYNTER

H is eyes are sunken, and he’s got a lost look in them. The second I entered the caves, Martha was alerted, and she was relieved to see me, wasting no time begging me to encourage Wrath to eat.

There are no guards down here currently, only Alex, who seems to be on our side, surprisingly. Martha didn’t have to convince or beg him to let me see Wrath.

She lingers in the doorway with a worried look on her face.

“Where are the guards?” I ask her.

“They’ve taken Jax for the main entrance and haven’t replaced him yet. With the warriors in here locked away, they seem to think we’ll be fine. They only send extra guards when moving them.”

“How long has he been like this?” I ask, watching Wrath stare at the ceiling with a tight jaw and clenched fists.

“Since you left really. He got worse after the fight.”

“Does my father know?” Wrath tenses further.

“Yes. He’s giving him until the end of the week and then he’ll have him removed.”

My chest tightens. “What does that mean?”

“Killed,” mutters Wrath, and he brings his eyes to mine. “I can’t wait.”

I gasp. “You don’t mean that.”

“I have nothing, and I’m tired, Wynter.” I’m so enthralled by his raspy voice, I almost don’t hear his words.

I focus and scowl. “Just hold on. I’m trying to get us out of here.”

He sits suddenly, almost knocking me from the bed. “Let’s go,” he says, holding out a shaky hand. I stare at it, and after a few seconds, he retracts it. “You have no intention, and I don’t blame you. You have no reason to leave now.”

“It’s not just us I’m fighting for,” I say.

“If you’re holding out for your new man to leave, I think you’ll be waiting a while. He seems very settled here in his fancy house.”

“I know it looks bad,” I mutter, averting my eyes.

“It is bad,” he yells, and I flinch. “You gave me hope, Wynter. I’ve even started to see her again,” he adds, tapping his head, “in here.”

“Who?”

“My mother.” I clap my hand over my mouth to stop the sob escaping, and tears fill my eyes. He sighs again. “I gave up hope of ever seeing her, but you’ve shown me it’s possible.”

“I’m working on it.” The pressure I’m feeling weighs me down as my heart beats faster. If my plan doesn’t work by coming between my father and Silas, I’ll have to find another way, and Lord knows how long that will take. Looking at Wrath, I’m running out of time.

“What sort of things are you doing to get his help?”

I shake my head, confusion furrowing my brow. “Silas isn’t helping me.”

“Really?” he scoffs. “You can’t even look me in the eye.”

“I haven’t done anything,” I cry.

He shakes his head sadly, pushing to his feet. “It’s not as if you owe me anything, Wynter. Just go. You’re safer up there playing happy families.”

“My father forced me to marry Silas. Right after you . . . we . . .” I sigh. “After what happened in the caves, Silas forced me to sign a register and then took me to his home. I didn’t get a say.”

He stares at the ground, his hands resting on his hips. “I think about that day a lot.”

“Me too,” I admit, swiping my tears away.

“The look in your eyes,” he mutters, his voice cracking with emotion, “I don’t think it’ll ever leave me.”

“It wasn’t your fault,” I tell him, stepping closer. Our eyes meet, and I gently run my hand over his cheek. “I don’t blame you.”

“I’m sorry,” he whispers.

More tears roll down my cheeks, and I force a smile. “Me too.”

“You should go to him,” he eventually says, turning away.

“Don’t be like this,” I cry, frustrated at the way he so easily dismisses me. “Tell me what you want me to do.”

He spins back to face me. “I can tell you what I don’t want you to do,” he snaps, closing the gap between us until I have to tip my neck back to see his angry face. “I don’t want you to kiss him, Wynter. I don’t want you to close your eyes and lose yourself in his kiss.”

“I’m sorry,” I whisper.

“I don’t want you sharing his bed.” He takes a calming breath. “Are you sharing his bed?” The pain in his expression hurts me even more.

“Don’t do this,” I mutter.

“Did he buy you these clothes?” he asks, plucking at my dress. “And the fancy hair and makeup?”

“It’s just part of the game,” I explain, desperate for him to understand.

“Game?” he scoffs. “You even sound like them.”

“I have to fit in until I can find us a way out.”

“There is no way out, Wynter,” he yells, and I stumble back in fright. “It was easy to believe you when you were down here like the rest of us, suffering and full of hatred. But now . . . now, you’re with them, living a good life, an easier life.”

“Easy?” I cry, almost laughing. “You think I have it easy because I get to eat dinner and dress in clean clothes?” I wipe my wet cheeks and rub my hands down my dress.

“I spend most of the time reminding myself to breathe because I’m so damn terrified that one wrong move will have me hanging in the town hall.

And then all the people who are relying on me to get them out will suffer.

I have to avoid his wife in case she stabs me in the back, literally.

I hide from his sons because they’ve made it quite clear they like to share with their father.

And Silas,” I take another breath and slowly nod, “I could easily forget he’s the bad guy. ”

Wrath growls, his hands curling into fists as his eyes burn into me.

“But as nice as he’s being, I’m under no illusion he can flip it and be equally as cruel.

So, yes, I lie beside him at night, but do I rest?

” I shake my head. “No, because all I can think about is you, Ares. And if he found out . . . well, we’d both end up hanging. ”

His head is bowed, and his eyes are fixed to the ground. “You’re mine, Wynter. He can’t keep you.”

“Just eat and drink and do what you need to do to survive because I can’t keep worrying about you, Ares. I’m going to get us out of here,” I say with as much conviction as I can muster.

He finally lifts his gaze from the floor. “Okay,” he mutters.

I give a stiff nod and head for the exit, not looking back in case I break completely.

The second I step into the house, Silas rushes from his office and sweeps me into his arms. “Where did you go? I’ve been worried sick.”

I’ve been so lost in thought, I forgot I might have broken a rule. “Sorry. I needed some fresh air.”

“You didn’t take a guard.”

“They were dealing with you and my father,” I mutter, pulling free to look around. “Have they gone?”

He nods, cupping my face in his hands. “You look pale,” he says. “Are you hungry?” I shake my head. I haven’t been feeling well all day, and food is definitely the last thing I want. “I could run you a bath and get you a book to read?”

I smile gratefully. “I think I’m just going to go to bed.” The last few nights have been awkward because Ava has joined us. Silas is always in the middle, and usually wrapped around me, but it still feels weird.

“I like my idea better,” he says, taking my hand and leading me upstairs.

Ava is nowhere to be seen, and I’m thankful but sigh heavily when Silas goes to the bath and begins to fill it with scented bubbles and hot water. “Undress,” he tells me, then he hands me a plastic pot, “and you’ll need to pee into this.”

I frown. “Why?”

“All will be explained,” he says with a smile.

I do as he asks, first peeing in the pot and then undressing. Silas returns to the bathroom naked. I gasp, automatically covering my own body best I can. He smiles. “Wynter, we’re husband and wife, we’re allowed to be naked together.”

“It’s just . . . .” I glance at the door. “What about Ava?”

He takes my hand and leads me to the bath. “It’s just us tonight.”

I swallow the dread in my throat. “Why?”

“You need to relax, and I noticed when Ava is around, you aren’t.”

He climbs into the bath and slides down into the water then holds his hand for me to take.

I hesitate, eventually taking it. I slide between his parted legs, and he pulls me to lean back against him.

I immediately feel his erection pressed against my back and sit upright.

He laughs. “Your innocence is adorable. Turn and face me,” he orders.

I take a deep breath before following his direction, and he takes my hand.

“I don’t expect sex from you yet, but we should get to know one another.” He wraps my hand around his penis, and I gasp, feeling my face flush with embarrassment. “It’s okay, Wynter.” He gives a small laugh. “I’ll show you how.”

He places his hand over mine and begins to guide it up and down in a slow motion.

“That’s it,” he whispers, his eyes darkening and his breaths quickening.

He watches me carefully as his free hand massages my shoulder.

“That feel good?” he asks. I nod even though I’m panicking inside.

Maybe I’ve been na?ve to think he’d not touch me after lying beside me night after night and only holding me.

After the first few nights, I’d stopped worrying, so this has taken me by surprise.

His fingers trace over my skin and across to my breast. He watches carefully for my reaction, and when I don’t move, he drags them over my nipple.

I inhale sharply as a warm sensation shoots through my body.

My cheeks burn brighter, and I can practically feel the heat from them.

Silas smirks, taking my nipple between his fingers and rolling it. “It feels nice, doesn’t it?”

“I don’t think we should be doing this,” I whisper, hating how my voice sounds breathy.

“It’s okay to be nervous,” he reassures me, leaning forward and capturing my mouth in a deep kiss.

I wince as his tongue sweeps into my mouth, pushing against my own.

He forces my hand to move faster, squeezing it tighter around his length.

He breaks the kiss, panting as he looks down between us. “This is what married people do.”

“It feels wrong,” I mutter.

“It’ll feel good, I promise.”