Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
Wren
Hayloft – Mother Mother
" Y ou're shaking, let me." I take my suit jacket off and try to put it around Peach's shoulders.
" Don't ," she hisses as she accelerates.
"You're cold?—"
"I'm not cold. In fact, I'd say I'm fucking fuming . "
She keeps walking ahead of me as we cross the secret gardens of the country club. We're out of the maze, but I'm not out of trouble when it comes to Peach. That I know.
Surrounded by other newly initiated Shadows and their soon-to-be Heras, there's nothing I can discuss now. But surely, Peach knows I never would have let her choose Elijah. Not in this life or any other she intends to live. I still hadn't come to terms with having to choose a Hera for myself. I hadn't come to terms with the fact that I would be forced to spend the rest of my life with someone who isn't her, so surely, surely , no one expected me to let any other Shadow snatch her from under my nose if I saw her here?
What the hell was she even doing at initiations?
"Can you slow down?" I call out as she all but sprints ahead of me. "You’re hurt. Who was it?"
She freezes, forcing me to come to a stop right behind her. The fury in her eyes when she turns around could make a weaker man crumble.
"Who was it?" she asks. "It was Josh Addington thinking I’m now up for grabs. So, if you don’t mind, I’m in a rush to get back to my life, my home, safety . You know, anywhere there are no men running after me in the hopes of turning me into their personal whore."
"You're not going home. Initiation night isn't over. And believe me, Trouble, you can forget about going back to your life. Safety? Yes. Your safety is me now. Back to normal? Try again. I’ll take care of Josh. Don’t worry."
"Are you out of your fucking mind, Wren Hunter? This whole thing… Fuck this whole thing. "
I pause for a few seconds because I could melt from how beautiful she looks when she's angry. It's hard to focus when she calls me by my full name, and I see that little vein popping on her forehead. Shit, it takes all of me not to lean down and kiss it. I'm dying to feel it throbbing against my lips.
My eyes dart to her bleeding lip. Josh is a dead man; I hope he enjoys his last night. I wonder if he’s the one who invited her, but I’d rather not ask Peach about that. She’s already going through a lot, and I’ll check directly with the Circle.
She shakes her head in disbelief when I take too long to react. Even that's cute. Does she do it on purpose? I forget what we're even talking about, because every time I'm facing her, all my brain can process is how much I want to wrap her in my arms and keep her to myself.
"…this is betrayal like I've never seen, Wren. Too far. Too deep. Our relationship will never be the same. You— I don't feel safe around you anymore."
Those words bring me back like only a bucket of iced water would.
She huffs to herself, and my heart sinks when tears shine in her eyes.
"No, no, no," I panic, putting my palms on her cheeks. "Please, don't cry. I'm here. Don't?—"
Bringing her hands to my chest, she pushes hard, only managing to move herself backward rather than push me away. It doesn't matter. The effect is the same. We're farther apart.
"Don't touch me!" she roars. "I'm not crying. I'm disgusted by your behavior. I don't know who you are. You…" She looks around, making sure no one hears her. "You killed a man."
I blink at her, watching her pant from anger. I could observe her reactions all day long. Poke, trigger, learn, repeat. It's my favorite pastime.
Something hits me. Something that hadn't a minute ago. I can do that now. Any time I want. Forever. I can observe her, learn more and more about her.
A smile tickles my chest, all the way up my throat, and no matter how much I attempt to keep it down, it tips the corner of my lips.
"You're smiling." Death darkens her voice. "You're… smiling ?"
God, any man in the world could die happy knowing they've been killed by Penelope's lethal gaze.
"You're finally mine, Peach. Why wouldn't I be smiling?"
This is cruel. I'm aware of it. In the last twenty-four hours, the woman has learned that I've killed one person—it's probably too soon to tell her about the other ones—that there's a secret society in the town she grew up in, that her closest friends knew about it, and now she's stuck with a man she's probably terrified of. It's a lot, and I shouldn't add the smugness of finally making her mine to that list. But fuck, I've waited so long for this; can I really be blamed for it?
According to the woman of my dreams, that's a yes.
"Who are you?" she rasps.
Oh, she's going to hate me.
"Someone dangerous, but not someone you should fear."
Her jaw squares, and she gives me another few seconds to correct my behavior. I bet she thinks it'll happen, because that's what she's used to. When I don't, she puts a stop to the madness.
"Goodbye, Wren," she says, disappointment slipping from her lips, gliding with the words she believes are true.
She turns her back to me, but she doesn't take two steps before I grab her by the arm, forcing her to face me again.
"Where do you think you're going?"
" Home! " she screams.
"You're my Hera, Peach. You're not going anywhere until you've pledged your loyalty to me."
"Go fuck yourself," she snarls, her green gaze searing into me. "Real deep. You had my loyalty as my best friend. Now you have nothing. "
She keeps vacillating between being furious and being scared. This is good. This means no matter how much her brain knows I'm a murderer she should be scared of, her body knows me as someone she can snap at safely. I haven't completely lost her.
"Fine," is all I say, and her eyebrows shoot up. "Have it your stubborn way."
She doesn't understand what I'm doing when I lower myself to wrap my arm around her thighs and press my shoulder against her hip. It only hits her when I straighten back up and flip her over my shoulder.
"What the fuck do you think you're doing?" she shrieks and tries to wiggle from my grip. "Wren!"
"I really hate to force you to do things, Trouble. Or I would have had sex with you a long time ago."
Her screaming "Put me down" to cut me off doesn't really bother me.
"But we're about to promise the Silent Circle our union forever, so I have to be a little drastic, if you don't mind."
Her fists hit my lower back as she kicks her feet. "I mind! I fucking mind, asshole!"
We had time a few minutes ago, but we're now running late to the rest of the initiation, and the last thing I need is to bring attention to myself. Especially with my dad watching my every move.
We've almost reached the building by the time she gives up trying to get me to let her go. I'm a fool to think she's done, because when I put her down in front of the doors, her slap is harder than some punches I’ve gotten to the face.
My head whips to the side, and I rub my cheek when I look back at her.
"I deserved that, but it could get you in a lot of trouble around here, so I'd suggest attempting to keep your violence down for once."
"I'm not going in there," she says with confidence. As if she didn't just run through a maze, chased by powerful men. As if I didn't just carry her here without a care about her opinion.
As if she has a choice .
"Listen, I'll run you through the rules when we have more time. I have a feeling it's going to take you a while to assimilate." My smug smile is probably pissing her off even more, but I can't help it. "For now, all you have to worry about is doing exactly what you're told in there."
She opens her mouth, but I'm quicker, wrapping a hand around her jaw and forcing her to stay still.
"I'm trying to protect you here. So keep that mouth closed and those ears open."
All she can do is narrow her eyes and circle a hand around my wrist, but she knows I won't let her go until I want to.
"The men in there are dangerous, Peach. You want to go home tonight? Unscathed? Then follow my lead, do as you're told, and you'll be home before you know it." I lower my voice so she understands how important this is. "But be a sassy little brat and you'll not only learn how much power the men of the Circle have over you, but how mean I can get." Bringing my face closer to hers, I say, "Even to you."
The way she goes completely still is the only indication that she's finally taking this seriously. I never wanted her to find out about the murders. But maybe it's not such a bad thing. Maybe her knowing what I'm capable of will keep her in check for once.
I have her.
God, I have her and I'm never letting her go.
Metaphorically speaking. Because I have to let go of her jaw to grab her hand.
"Some Shadows," I explain, as someone opens the main door for us, and we walk in, "forbid their Hera to speak completely when they enter the temple. This is the temple, by the way. It was based off ancient Greece temples, where?—"
"Your mansplaining is already getting on my nerves," she mumbles. "I can act docile, but don't insult my intelligence."
I lick my lips, internally cursing myself as I feel blood flowing to my dick. There's just something about her sass.
"As I was saying," I carry on as I walk her through the hallways leading us to the ballroom. "Some men don't allow their Heras to speak. But you won't give me trouble, will you? I really don't want to have to teach you a lesson in front of everyone on your first day."
She tries to pull her hand away from mine, but there's absolutely no way in hell I'm letting go.
"Funny, because you sound like this is exactly what you want to do."
I chuckle, stopping in front of the doors leading to the ballroom. "Then don't tempt me even further, alright?"
I'm about to open when I stop myself. "Oh, and by the way. You normally would have had a chance to shower and get dressed in a ballgown. But since you wasted both our time out there, your see-through dress will have to do for the ceremony."
"The what?—"
She doesn't get a chance to ask any further questions. We're entering the room, and even though I was prepared for this, it's a lot to take in, so I can't imagine what it’s like for someone who had no idea this society existed twenty-four hours ago.
I keep her hand in mine, making sure she follows as I walk to the line of initiating Shadows. I settle along the wall, guiding her to stand before me.
The ceremony isn't supposed to be long for Heras. Unlike Aphrodites, who will be down in the chambers, having sex with men they don't know all night, Heras vow their loyalty to their Shadows, put a signet ring on our finger, a necklace around their necks, then we have a quick dance. They are pretty much good to go after that, unless they wish to stay and party.
But nothing is simple when it comes to making Peach do something. Especially when she doesn't want to. Hell, it's hard enough for her to do something she's told, even when she intended to do it in the first place.
We're third to last in line, and I feel her eyes widen the more she watches other Heras pledge loyalty on their knees to their Shadows. Her agitation is palpable, and I'm worried she'll run away before it comes to us. Because the way every single woman answers Duval's questions with all their faith is not something she was prepared for. She now knows from witnessing the others that she's about to have to kneel in front of me, bow to the point her head touches my foot, and promise her loyalty before asking me to accept her as my Hera.
This is not going to go well, is it?
Duval comes to a stand between us, and he smiles coldly at Peach.
"Penelope, it's a pleasure to have you here." His eyes dart down to her sheer dress and her nipples showing underneath.
I scratch my throat, nodding to encourage him to get on with it. Duval knows me, what I'm capable of, so hopefully, he understands the threat in my gaze. The one that silently says to not look at what doesn't belong to him.
He taps my shoulder and looks at Peach again.
"To complete your initiation to the Silent Circle, you need to answer 'I do' to the following questions."
"You forgot to specify I'd have to do that on my knees." She can barely articulate her words from how tight her jaw is.
"You saw the other women," Duval answers casually. "Get down."
Her small form stares at him with unblinking green eyes, and it only hits me now that I must have been truly stupid if I thought Peach would complete her initiation without giving us all a hard time.
I feel something shift in her before she even makes a movement, but before any of us can react, she's sprinting out of the room. I only catch my father's disappointed stare as I run after her. But I'm not the only one. Security guards follow her out and into the hallway.
I have to catch her before they do.