Chapter 20
CHAPTER TWENTY
EVERLY
“ G ood evening, everyone!” Rowan’s voice carries over the crowd around us.
Overhead, the moonlight is spilling down through the trees, lighting the otherwise dark woods.
A particularly bright moonbeam puts Rowan under an ethereal spotlight.
It makes his perfectly styled hair look a stark white and gives his face a beautiful glow.
When he smiles, he looks like a benevolent god staring down at his adoring devotees from the tall tree stump he’s using as a stage.
Even after sleeping the rest of the day yesterday and most of today, I swear it still feels like I’m dreaming. Being in these woods, trapped in an impossible position, watching as Rowan basks in all this attention feels surreal.
In front of him are about four dozen patients.
According to Rowan, this is their court, patients who abide by rules that they put in place.
My gaze drifts over them, looking for… Well, I’m not quite sure.
A friendly face? Someone who would be willing to help me?
But everyone seems enraptured by Rowan’s presence.
I don’t blame them. He’s so painfully beautiful that if he wasn’t sentencing me to a night of terror, I’d probably be staring in awe at him too.
Flanking me and Braum where we stand just behind Rowan, are Sheldon, Jonathan, Conner, and Bastian.
These four were officially introduced to me before we got here, though I already met Sheldon and Jonathan.
They’d been waiting for us on the first floor of the Barrington Regal House when we stepped out of the elevator.
They remind me so much of the guys I grew up around at school—arrogant, spoiled, and bland—that I instantly take a dislike to Rowan and Braum’s closest friends.
“Tonight is an initiation; a holy tradition you all have experienced and have witnessed countless times before. But this time, things are going to be a bit different. This initiation is special because at the end, if she passes, our new friend won’t be just a member of the court,” Rowan continues.
“Instead, she’ll become a part of royalty. A queen.”
Whispers turn into gasps, looks are exchanged, and expressions that range from bewilderment to outright hostility flare to life.
I can see some of the patients trying to get a good look at me.
They peer around Rowan or roll to the balls of their feet to look over the heads of those in front of them to sneak a peek.
But Braum and Rowan were strategic in keeping me in the shadows. The moonlight doesn’t touch my face, allowing me to remain faceless to everyone else.
“Tonight’s test will be the Labyrinth!” Rowan calls out.
At this, outright gasps of alarm and murmurs of concern are mixed with conflicting whoops of excitement and high fives.
Judging by the reaction of the crowd, it’s going to be bad for me.
My stomach twists anxiously. Before our arrival, I begged for any type of information that'd help me, but they refused to divulge anything.
“It wouldn’t be fair to give you a heads up when we wouldn’t do that with anyone else,” Rowan had explained on the way here.
My foot slides back as my anxiety continues to climb. I can’t do this. How can I stand here and accept whatever horrible situation I’m about to be thrown into? No, I won’t go through with it.
As if he can read my mind, Braum takes a slight step behind me, blocking my escape. Swallowing hard, I look up and over my shoulder at him. He doesn’t meet my worried gaze. Instead, Braum keeps his eyes trained on his court. His expression is pinched as if he’s deep in thought.
My gaze dips to his lips. I can still feel the press of them against mine.
What’s more, I swear I can still taste a hint of his release on my tongue.
I know it’s all in my head. I’ve brushed my teeth and used mouthwash since then, but still…
Mortification turns my face warm. I can’t believe I willingly fell to my knees and took his large, veiny dick into my mouth.
I also can’t believe I kind of liked it.
The being used part wasn’t great, but the sounds Braum had unconsciously made as his release drew near were unfiltered and wild.
They were exhilarating to hear. And that pained expression he wore?
That’s because of the bliss I was bringing him.
I’ve never been wanted. Not like that, at least.
To have Braum Milligan enjoying me felt surreal.
I’m sure he’s been with countless other women, but in that moment, it was him and me and he…
he told me I was doing good. Praised me in a deep, sultry rumble that curled my toes and caused my heart to flutter.
This powerful man fell apart because of me .
Each time I consider how much I didn’t hate giving Braum head, a small well of shame follows. Here I was, blowing one of the guys Maverick hates, while he’s somewhere within the walls of Serenity Falls. God, some rescue mission this has turned out to be.
I did this for Maverick. Without Braum and Rowan’s help, I’d be floundering out here on the campus, praying I didn’t run into anyone who would report me. I tell this to myself, but it doesn’t help with the shame.
My eyes rake over the crowd. Braum was sure Maverick would show up tonight, if just to get back at them for pulling the wool over his eyes.
But he’s not here. I’m equal parts disappointed and relieved.
Between finding myself begrudgingly trapped with his enemies to wondering how I’ll survive whatever game I’m about to be thrown into, I haven’t had time to consider all the ugly that’s transpired between the two of us.
Not how Mavie’s game ended with me electrocuted, or how he accused me of knowing about my father’s trafficking business, nor have I considered how thrilled he looked while he attempted to strangle me in his bedroom.
Maybe it’s a good thing I haven’t had time because… I swallow, ignoring the sudden clenching of my stomach and pang in my chest.
“The time has come to put your future queen through her test!” Rowan calls out, his voice growing louder and twisted with excitement. For someone who dreaded dropping the news on Braum yesterday, he seems to be into it now. “I will send her off, and we’ll rejoin you all shortly.”
There’s a cheer of excitement following his announcement before people start talking to those around them, clearly eager for what’s to come.
Suddenly, Rowan turns to face me. His eyes pick me out of the darkness with an eerie precision.
A bright, frantic grin appears as he jumps down off the stump and prowls toward me.
Butterflies inappropriately take flight in my stomach.
I blame the response on being electrocuted.
My neurons must be firing weirdly. I can’t possibly feel giddy and breathless at the striking man coming for me.
He was part of my torture. This perfect face is a disguise for the monster beneath it.
He stops before me and holds out his hand. “Come, it’s time.”
“Do I really have to?” I ask as I stare at his hand suspiciously.
“Yes,” he and Braum say in unison before the latter strolls away, toward the crowd.
With a soft groan, I place my hand into Rowan’s and allow him to lead me away into the dark woods. Jonathan and Sheldon follow behind us while the other two hang back.
We don’t go far. In fact, I can still hear the small group of patients not far off in the distance when we get to a large drainpipe sticking out of the ground.
There’s a massive metal grate on top that looks rusted and old.
Rowan lets go of my hand and walks over to it.
I watch as Jonathan and Sheldon pass me to join him.
The three of them remove the grate and toss it aside.
Rowan looks up at me as he shoves his hands into his pocket.
“Alright, here's the beginning of the Labyrinth,” he announces. “All you have to do is make it to the end which is,” he pulls a hand out of his pocket to point to his left, “about three hundred yards that way. You’ll see a red flag attached to a ladder at the end of the tunnel. Climb up and out, and you’ll have completed your initiation. ”
I glance from Rowan to the dark empty hole, then back up at him.
“Y-you want me to go down there?” I squeak in horror. “Is that sewage ?”
I can’t believe he’d even suggest such a thing.
There have to be a hundred different species of spiders breeding around the entrance.
I don’t even dare contemplate how many other types are probably hanging out in their webs deep within the tunnels, having never been bothered before.
Then there are other bugs to worry about, snakes, diseases festering in the still water, and…
“Relax, it’s just rain run off,” Rowan assures me with a playful drawl.
“And pond water and possibly some excess water from the lake the dam feeds into… I think. Here’s the thing, though, it’s called the Labyrinth for a reason.
Sure, the exit isn’t all that far, but once you get down there, you’ll see it’s a maze of tunnels.
Some lead to dead ends, some just loop around.
The floor isn’t all that sturdy either, so keep that in mind with each step you take.
And finally, you have about thirty minutes before the tunnels start to fill with water.
We’re not quite sure why this happens, but it does every few hours.
We had to wait until it completely receded before we could start.
You know,” he gives me a stunning grin, “so it’ll be fair and all. ”
“Wait,” I shake my head as my voice pitches up an octave. “You’re saying I could drown if I don’t find my way through the dark, old creepy tunnels?”
Jonathan and Sheldon chuckle as Rowan confirms it. “Yup.”
Oh, hell no. I take a step back, away from the three guys. “And what’s the point of this again?”
“To become queen,” Sheldon replies, answering for Rowan.