Chapter 31
Chapter Thirty-One
Isabelle
“Oh my gosh, I love, love, love this place,” Mackenzie bubbles, spinning me around. “It’s gorgeous .”
I’m holding a glass of wine and have to cover the top so it doesn’t spill. “It is very beautiful.” I look around the spacious foyer adorned with intricate details and million-dollar paintings on the wall.
We’re at the Black Rose for the auction. It starts in ten minutes, so we’re making our way to the ballroom, where the event will be held.
“Come on, let’s go.”
Like an excited child, Mackenzie takes my hand, and we practically skip down the hall. She’s so excited to be here. I understand why.
She just wants to get everything over and done with so she doesn’t have to worry about Levi anymore. If it were me, I would have been here last night in anticipation for the doors to open.
We’ve been here for nearly an hour mingling and getting ready. She even spoke to Kyle and confirmed their plans for him to win her. When Mackenzie’s face lit up, it was the first time I’ve seen her look of appreciative that she could still do ballet.
I’m glad I can be here for her, but I can’t wait to go home. I feel like I’ve lived a million lifetimes over the last two days, and yet I’ve kept everything to myself.
I had a great day with my dad, but I think he knows I’m not a virgin anymore.
When he arrived, he gave me a big hug, and when he looked at me, there was something in his eyes that made me think he knew. That’s probably me being paranoid again.
I wondered what he’d think if I told him that I gave myself to the boy I got in trouble for. The same boy he called a nightmare in high school because Kade was in Dad’s office almost daily.
I didn’t think too much about what I would or wouldn’t tell him because I couldn’t get Parker and Lana out of my head.
I’ve been thinking about what to do about them. There’s no way I’m going to let that bastard lay down the law on me when he’s sneaking around with the students.
I wish I’d had my phone on me.
Maybe there will be another time. I might not be able to get him for what he did to Mom, but perhaps I could take him down in other ways. Like exposing him.
If it was that easy to catch him with Lana this morning, it means it can happen again. I just have to keep my eyes open and wait.
Mackenzie and I walk into the ballroom. It’s breathtaking.
The high, vaulted ceiling is painted with elaborate frescoes depicting mythological scenes, framed by gilded moldings. Crystal chandeliers hang elegantly in a row, casting a shimmering glow across the room.
Along the sides of the room, large arched windows draped with heavy Rococo curtains offer glimpses of the river and the moon behind it.
I absolutely have to agree with Mackenzie—this place is gorgeous. It’s the fanciest place I’ve been to in a while.
We make our way through the crowded room to the back entrance. I’m supposed to leave Mackenzie here and take my seat in the audience.
“Are you going to be okay?” she asks when we reach the door.
“I’ll be fine, and so will you.”
She gives me a hug. “Thanks so much for being here. I know you’re going through a lot, so I’m glad you came.”
“You are so welcome. Go on. I’ll be fine, and I can take a taxi if you want to see Kyle after.”
“Okay, but let me know if you do. Just so I know you’re safe.”
“Of course.”
We make a heart hand and hug again. She saunters away as if she's about to open the stage for a show, and I find my seat, which is right next to Michael.
He saw me before I saw him.
He was already looking at me.
“Hello,” he greets me with a smile.
“Hi, there.”
Okay, this feels weird. I liked him, and now it feels like I can’t because I’m involved with Kade. Except I’m not involved with Kade.
I sit, and Michael smiles wider at me.
“I’m going to admit that I knew you were coming tonight, so I arranged for you to sit next to me.”
“You did?” My insides squeeze.
“I did.” He nods proudly. “I also knew a certain person wouldn’t be here, so I thought we could take the chance and have that coffee, or whatever you want.”
“Right.”
He can see I’m nervous. I think it might be obvious.
“It’s just a drink, Isabelle. We can still do that, can’t we?” He gives me a hopeful look, and I realize I’m being silly.
“Of course. That will be fine.”
“Should we go after Mackenzie takes the stage?”
“Sure.” One drink, then I’ll head back to Raventhorn.
I’m going straight to bed, and I don’t mind sounding like Mackenzie’s ninety-year-old grandma. I’ve had one hell of a week.
Michael smiles again, and I think of what I should tell him.
Minutes later, the auction begins. I’m surprised to see it’s like a date auction and the guys are bidding serious money. All the girls have been auctioned for no less than twenty thousand dollars. I’m reminded that these guys come from wealthy families where money and power can get you anything.
Soon, it’s time for Mackenzie to take the stage.
In her strapless golden dress, she glides on with the elegance of a swan, taking on the persona of the dancer.
The guys go wild and start bidding. Thanks to Kyle, the bid goes up to fifty thousand dollars, and no one dares to outdo him. The plan worked.
Within five minutes, Mackenzie is sold to her partner in crime and all her problems are solved.
At least the universe has been kind to one of us.
Michael leans into me and whispers, “Ready to go?”
“I’m ready.” Apprehension is still clinging to my stomach, but I paste on a smile.
We get up and head out of the room back to the foyer. I expect Michael to lead me to the bar, but he heads up the grand sweeping stairs.
“My family has membership here, so I have a private lounge when I visit,” he explains.
“Wow, that’s very cool.” It is. I don’t know much about the Black Rose Club, but I’m aware it’s an invite-only association.
With Michael’s athletic status, I’m sure he wouldn’t even need his family’s backing to get in.
“You’ll like the lounge. It has a great view of the river.”
“I’m sure I’ll love it.”
We continue up the stairs and onto the landing. When we nearly reach the end, Michael opens a large oak door and waves me inside.
He was right. The lounge is stunning and offers up a fabulous view of the river through the glass walls and stone archways. It looks like something from a dream.
“My gosh. This is absolutely beautiful.”
“Told you. Take a seat while I make us some drinks. You like red wine, right? Or do you want coffee?”
He gives me a kind smile, and for some reason, I think of Kade. When he smiles, the world stands still and I don’t know what to do with myself.
God, Isabelle. You got it bad if you think that. I also need to answer the question.
“I’ll have some wine, but not too much. I already had a glass.”
“I can drive you back to campus if you want.”
“Oh, no. I’m gonna grab an Uber after our drink. I’ve had a long day.” And I need to be alone.
“No worries. Let me know if you change your mind.”
“Of course.”
I make my way over to the plush white leather sofa and sit while he moves to the drinks cabinet and prepares our drinks.
He pours two glasses of rich red wine into long-stemmed wine glasses that look like they cost a fortune. Then he walks over to me and hands me my glass.
Michael sits next to me, takes a sip of his wine, then places the glass on the little coffee table beside us.
“Well, here we are finally.” He grins. “It’s not the date I imagined taking you on, but I guess it’s something.”
“I hope you sorted out what you needed to.” Again, I play dumb knowing that he’s not going to tell me Kade threatened him.
“Yeah. Things are still busy with championship season, but it’s slowing down.”
“That’s good to hear.” I sip my wine. It tastes sweet and flavorsome. It also gives me an added buzz I probably need to get me through the rest of the night.
“I’m surprised you came here tonight. I mean, I’m glad to see you and I understand Mackenzie is your friend, but I’m surprised your shadow allowed you to attend an event like this.”
My shadow—aka Kade.
“He’s just a little…”
“ Obsessive .”
“Um, Kade is just different to most guys.” And that’s why I liked him in the first place. To me, he was an untamed creature. As wild and as reckless as a mythical being.
“He sure is different. Are you guys seeing each other?”
That’s a good question. One I can’t answer one way or the other. “It’s kind of complicated between us.”
“I see.”
Nervousness gets the better of me, and I take a bigger gulp of my drink. Unfortunately, I don’t get the buzz I previously experienced. Instead, my head feels a little numb.
“Does complicated mean I can’t date you? Because that would be a shame.”
Oh boy . I wish I could have prepared more for this conversation. At least then I’d have some idea of what to say. “I think it’s best I don’t date at the moment.” Because I can’t be with the guy I want, and I shouldn’t be with him either. “Things are too complicated, and I kind of have to focus on my studies.”
“Now, that really is a shame.”
“Yeah, I…” Suddenly, he splits into two and the room spins so fast I grab the edge of the sofa. “Oh, my head.”
“Are you okay?”
His voice sounds stretched out, and he looks faded. “I think I drank too much. I need…water.”
Michael rests a hand on my leg when I try to get up, and his creeping hand pulls me from my stupor.
“I’ll get you some water when I’m done with you.” His voice is eerily calm, and he smiles.
“Done with me?” The room spins again, and I look at the wine glass in my hand.
The wine. I was fine until I had it.
The realization makes me drop the glass. I try to get up, but Michael grabs me.
I cry out from the shock and the roughness of his hands, but he shoves me down on the sofa and places a large hand over my mouth.
“No one can hear you scream in here. In here, I can fuck you as many times as I want, and no one would stop me or say a goddam thing to me.”
Oh fuck. I’m stupid. Michael. He drugged me.
The bastard drugged me, and he’s going to rape me.
I want to fight but can’t move. He’s too strong and whatever he’s given me has messed with my body and my brain.
“Let me go,” I garble out, but he pushes his hand down harder on my mouth.
Then, to my horror, he starts undoing his belt buckle and rips my dress clean off my body.
Tears pour out of my eyes and the room spins again.
My body feels heavier, like I’m sinking into myself and I’m going to fall through the earth. But still, I try to fight and get him off me.
His hand shuffles, and I bite down hard on his skin.
“Stupid bitch,” he yelps.
He moves his hand, and I seize the moment to scream as loudly as I can.
“Shut up.” He slaps me across my face, hitting me so hard I feel like I might die.
He raises his hand to slap my again, but a knife stabs through his palm. At first, I think I’m hallucinating. The room is still spinning, he still looks warped, and my mind is still fractured.
But then he shouts out in pain and the sound of thunder fills the room. The growl of a feral beast follows next, surrounding us, then something massive hurtles into Michael, knocking him right off me and straight to the ground.
I manage to sit up and see the beast and the sound of thunder is Kade.
“You motherfucking bastard. How dare you fucking touch my girl?” Kade barks in Michael’s face.
The two are supposed to be compatible because they’re Knights. But they aren’t on the same level at all. Kade is fueled by hellfire, and Michael looks like he doesn’t stand a chance.
Kade beats the hell out of him, knocking his front teeth out and ripping out chunks of his hair. They roll around on the floor as Michael tries to free himself and fight Kade off him, but all I see is blood and fists flying. Then a knife.
Kade pulls another from his back pocket.
He’s about to bring it down into Michael’s chest when Logan stops him.
Logan came out of nowhere. I didn’t even know he was here.
The last time I saw him was in the woods that night when the guys were messing around with me.
Now here he is, coming to my rescue with Kade.
“Don’t fucking do it, Kade. You’ll end up at the Hallows,” Logan shouts.
The Hallows—Knights prison. The island in the middle of nowhere that no one but the Pakhan knows the location of. If he goes there, no one will ever see him again.
It is an offence to kill another Knight in a fight such as this, even if they were in the wrong. All judgment is made by Aleksander Ivanov, including whether you live or die. You can’t take a life unless he says so.
“Logan, let me go.”
“Fuck you, Kade. You heard me. You can’t kill him. Kill him, and you will never see her again.”
The world tilts, but I’m lucid enough to see that that last warning worked. Kade’s hand loosens on the knife, and he allows it to fall in the space by Michael’s head.
“Kade,” I murmur. I’m not even sure if he can hear me. I can barely hear me.
He turns around to look at me, and I reach out to him, but the room spins again, then I’m swallowed by darkness.