Exquisite Death: Dark, Friends to Lovers Romance (The Gilded Sovereign Book 3)

Chapter 9

Silence forms a barrier between us.I’m tense because I know we’ll be coming face-to-face with Thane soon. I’ve heard stories about him, and I used to see him around Tynewood when I was young, but I’ve never spoken to him. The idea of being so close, within touching distance, to a man like that causes anxiety to twist in my gut.

As we disembark, I can feel the tension radiating from Tarian. I can’t imagine how he’s feeling, but I don’t get a chance to ask, because the moment my feet hit the asphalt, a pair of arms snake around me and I’m dragged away from Tarian.

A scream peals itself from my lips as I struggle in my captor’s arms. Seconds pass before I register the man who’s standing a foot or so in front of me with a smirk on his face. He’s handsome, breathtakingly so, but the only reason I take notice is because he looks just like Tarian. Apart from his eye color— Thane Calvert’s are a deep brown, while Tarian’s are piercing blue.

I’m manhandled closer to Thane until the scent of his cologne envelops me, reminding me of spice and cigars.

“Well, what do we have here?” Tarian’s uncle asks.

“Leave her the fuck alone,” Tarian growls.

His voice is low with an edge of possession that causes me to shiver involuntarily. The words he spits from his mouth are a warning, the foreboding tone deep and gravelly. But words alone can’t rescue me from the thick, brutal arms that are holding me.

“It’s so nice of you both to visit.” Thane grins as his dark gaze flicks between me and Tarian.

We’re in such deep shit. There’s no way we’ll be able to extricate ourselves from this situation without some help.

“I came here to get answers. Stop playing God and tell your goon to let her fucking go, Thane,” Tarian bites out, venom lacing his words, as his body visibly trembles.

Just as I think Thane’s going to give the order to kill me, he waves his hand and I’m released.

“So the rumors are true,” Thane says when I rush over to Tarian. “The little Birchwood whore is under your protection. Has she surrendered her pretty cunt to you yet?”

The question is clearly an attempt to goad his nephew, and I pray Tarian doesn’t fall into the trap. I can feel him shaking beside me. His hands fist at his sides, but he doesn’t look at me. His glare is pinned solely on his uncle.

“Speak about her like that again, and I will fucking kill you. With or without answers.”

I’ve never seen Tarian so fueled by rage. His darkness is on full display. The monster lurking beneath has reared its head, readying itself for a fight.

A dark chuckle falls from Thane’s lips. There’s a saying that the devil is created to tempt, and I find myself believing it as I look at him. I can’t deny the man is good looking. His angular jaw with a light dusting of dark stubble, his dark eyes, and his full dusky pink lips make him look like a carved statue. But the beauty is merely a cover for the ugliness that lies beneath.

“There’s no need to resort to violence, Nephew. Come, let’s go to my home. You’re my guests, and I intend to treat you as such,” Thane invites.

As he speaks, he turns his back on us, and for a brief moment, I wish I had a knife to drive into his back. Tarian craves the death of his uncle, and I’d gladly have blood on my hands to make him happy.

“Don’t get any mistaken ideas that I care about what happens to you, darling. That display back there was me helping you because the society rules have changed, and you could become a Crown. Nothing more,” Tarian hisses in my ear as we walk to the town car that’s waiting. Thane slides into the backseat, but before I can follow, Tarian grabs hold of my arm and tugs me to him. “Fair warning, Grecia, I won’t think twice about letting him kill you if I have to.”

I can’t help but wince at his angry words, and unable to find an appropriate response, I nod. I had no illusions of a fairy tale ending when I decided to accompany Tarian on this trip. I knew how he felt about me, and I came anyway.

His comment about me becoming a Crown also makes me uneasy. When I was sixteen, my father sat me down to explain I could never be a member of the Gilded Sovereign, because of its fundamental beliefs —Women are inferior. Women can’t be leaders. Women aren’t allowed at the table.

As soon as my father told me that, I knew I wanted nothing do with a society that held such misogynistic beliefs. And even though a new generation has taken charge of the Sovereign and is changing its way of thinking, there are still factions around the world that continue to deny women entry and treat them solely as entertainment.

When Rukaiya and Dahlia stepped up as Crowns, I felt a sense of achievement. They had succeeded in becoming part of a society that previously believed women weren’t worthy of their customs or their ink. I know as the oldest child of an Elder, I’m also eligible to become a Crown, but after hating on the society for so long, I really don’t know if I want to join.

I slide into the bench seat where Thane is already sitting, and Tarian takes the seat opposite us. As the car glides away, he ignores me, his gaze trained on his uncle. The silence, thick and heavy, hangs around us like netting that keeps prisoners in or danger out.

I’m not sure how long we’ve been traveling when Thane says, “Tarian, I need you to know I’m sorry.”

Whipping my head around, I take in the older man. Those were not the words I expected to hear coming out of his mouth. I’m not sure if he’s lying. Maybe he’s trying to win over his nephew with empty apologies, but I’m impressed he even knows how to say sorry.

“Save the apologies and justifications until after you explain everything to me,” Tarian responds. “But don’t ever expect forgiveness from me.”

Suddenly, Thane’s large hand lands on my thigh. His fingers wrap around the limb, and frozen to the spot, I’m unable to shove him away. My throat constricts as he slides his hand upward while his eyes remain focused on his nephew.

The familiar blue orbs darken, but Tarian doesn’t make a move to stop his uncle. He merely watches on as though I’m here for Thane’s and his own entertainment.

Thane inches his hand even higher, and I can feel the heat of it between my legs. He doesn’t make a move to touch my core, but I can sense the unspoken threat—soon I’ll touch you there, but not yet.

“Do you have feelings for the Birchwood whore?” Thane asks Tarian. His voice is husky, low and feral, like a predator inching toward its target.

“She’s not a whore.”

“You didn’t answer my question.” Thane smiles as if he’s pounced and caught his prey.

I glance at Tarian’s uncle, and his mouth tilts into a smirk. He looks so handsome I can see how hearts would be broken when he’s around. My body begins to respond to his touch, to his warmth—the things I never get from Tarian.

I close my eyes to halt the stupidity racing through me and to stop myself from getting carried away. I breathe deeply, focusing on the images of Capri and my time there with Tarian. But the moment I think about it, I remember he’s been fucking everything with breasts and a pussy ever since I arrived there.

“Let. Her. Go.” The venom in Tarian’s voice jolts my eyes open in shock.

“You have no claim over me, Tarian,” I bite out in response.

My eyes are locked on his face. The surprise that paints his expression is clear. He wasn’t expecting me to say that… for that matter, neither was I.

“Oh?” Thane responds, his tone suggesting his interest is piqued at this unexpected turn of events. “Now this is fascinating.”

Tarian’s uncle appears to be happy with my outburst. I wish I could take my words back. I want to shove them so far down my throat they’ll never see the light of day again, but I can’t, so now I’ll have to live with the consequences.

“I don’t have any claim on her,” Tarian replies directly to Thane. “But she’ll soon be a Crown, and if you hurt her?—”

“I don’t intend to hurt her, Nephew,” Thane chuckles. “But I can’t deny I’d love to see how she looks lying on her back, legs spread open like the whore she is, while I lick her sweet cunt.”

“I’m not a whore,” I grit out before shoving his hand away from my leg. “And you’ll only ever see me fully clothed and sitting or standing in your company. I will never go anywhere near your bed.” My words are fire, burning my tongue as they escape.

The desire I see in Thane’s eyes scorches me, and I know he has the power to do anything he wants.

Would he force me?

Would Thane Calvert take something I’m not willing to give?

Tarian stares at me for a long while before he nods slowly and replies, “She’s not mine to give or mine to refute.”

I refuse to let Tarian see any emotion in my expression, even though his words are like a blade to my heart. I don’t understand why they’re bothering me so much. I knew from the start what I was getting into with him. I willingly walked into this situation, and I have no one to blame but myself.

“In which case, I’d like to take the whore out for a meal tonight,” Thane announces. Then turning to me he says, “Apologies for my bluntness. I’d like to invite this beautiful young woman to join me for dinner this evening.” His dark gaze locks on mine. He leans in closer, and his spicy cologne assaults me again. “Would you like that, Grecia Birchwood?”

I’m limited to how far away from him I can get, but I shuffle to the opposite end of the bench seat, and curling myself up against the door, I spit out, “I refuse your invitation. I don’t eat with monsters.”