Chapter 22
TWENTY-TWO
KNOX
I was, at this point, using my office as a hideout.
I’d shut off the damn security app, unable to handle the constant urge to obsess over her and her cute little vine leaf pictures on the balcony.
Well, they had been cute until she’d made a ‘T+R’ in a heart while she sang, ‘I hate Knox’ almost inaudibly in the security feed.
Unable to cope with the unfamiliar feeling of being jealous of Rogue fucking Manzo, I’d shut it off.
Big mistake, I realised, after receiving a text from Callum.
In it, was a photo of a note in the messiest writing I’d ever seen.
Help.
Lost my key to Rogue’s room cell, need another one. Please leave it under my pillow. Don’t tell Knox I lost it or I’ll be in trouble and I need cuddles really badly.
Thistle and Bunny
Callum: Uh, who’s Bunny?
Callum: And what’s she want with Scum? I thought she was yours.
Me: Complicated.
But I sighed, calling him, instead.
“You know,” Callum said almost instantly into the phone half a ring in. “None of us can quite work out what’s going on. You said she was special, but you didn’t mention you paid five million for her—overheard that tidbit last night.”
“She is special,” I said.
“Alright. Well, does she need a key?” he asked.
“No.” I scowled. “She’s not allowed near him.”
“ Riiight .” There was a pause. “So I was hoping you weren’t going to say that.”
I froze. “Why?”
“Vance might have, uh… already left one for her?”
“What?”
“Come on. He’s a shit stirrer.”
Godammit. I was on my feet in an instant. “How long ago?”
“Couple of hours?”
“Couple of—!” I cut off, ripping the phone from my face as I let out a growl, then slammed it back against my ear. “You’re telling me now ?”
Where was she?
There was murder in my blood.
“ He just told me now. And he said he spotted someone poking about in the gardens earlier too. Possible bunny toy and all.”
“Shit.”
I hung up, storming from my office.
I checked the balcony and her room, already knowing she wouldn’t be there, then headed for the front of the mansion.
I heard the commotion, and when I turned the corner into the foyer toward the huge spiral staircase, I was met with something that made my heart drop.
Rogue and Thistle were half-way up the broad marble stairwell in what looked like a vicious fight. Thistle had her arms wrapped desperately around one of the bannisters as he fought to pry her off without hurting her.
“You have to fucking listen!” Rogue’s voice was a low hiss as he tried to peel an arm away, only for her to kick out, foot catching him in the stomach and getting a grunt from him.
“I’m not going anywhere without you,” she sobbed.
“You will . You’ll stay in your room. I’ll go and deal with?—”
“What?” My voice was cold, and Rogue spun in an instant, grip falling from Thistle’s waist.
“A-Fuck!” he hissed, shifting to the side like he might hide her from view as he glared up at me.
Thistle’s head popped out from around him, hair a mess of raven static, eyes wide.
“I was bringing her back,” he said, tone cautious as he dragged her up a few steps by her arm as if to prove his point. She seized him as she staggered, eyes more determined than I’d ever seen.
Dammit.
The damage was fucking done.
“Bringing her back ?” I asked. “From what , exactly?”
He tugged her the last few steps, so they were on the landing before me, and I noticed Bunny had been stuffed unceremoniously into his jeans pocket.
He dug into the other, then pulled out a silver key, holding it out to me like a peace offering. When I snatched it, jaw clenched, Thistle’s eyes tracked it with fury.
She looked so fucking small next to him, the top of her head meeting the bottom of his pecs. And she was still in that fucking t-shirt of mine with no pants.
“What did you do?” I pressed, forcing my gaze to him, trying to contain the violent surge of anger rising in my chest. Blood red was creeping into my vision.
Rogue’s jaw was clenched as he held my gaze. “We napped together, that’s all.”
“And kissed—!” She cut off with a muffled shriek as Rogue clamped his hand over her mouth, which—at its size—was under threat of suffocating her entirely.
He winced, teeth gritted. “ Accidentally kissed.”
I saw the fury in Thistle’s eyes, and she grabbed at his hand, fighting him to shift his grip.
“Accidentally?” I asked.
“Yeh,” Rogue began. “She tripped and— ow! ” He cut off, hand jumping from her mouth as she managed to sink her little Omega fangs into his flesh.
“It wasn’t an accident.” There were fresh tears in her eyes.
“Doll. Go to your room.”
“N-no.” She dragged Rogue’s forearm to her chest, and he winced, attempting to pry her off. He, at least, clearly hadn’t skipped over my rage.
“No?” I asked.
“I just mean—” A little growl escaped her as Rogue succeeded in extracting himself. “—he has to come.”
“No.” I tried to focus on her, not him. Tried to blink back the red that was threatening to swallow me completely.
“B-but—” Again, she gave her foot an enraged little stamp. “He’s mine .”
“Actually, he’s mine, and you were banned from seeing him.”
Just this afternoon I’d warned her there were punishments she’d regret if she pushed. It had taken her hours to rise to the challenge.
I couldn’t back down— she hadn’t given me a choice.
And she’d met him now.
Ruined everything .
“Your call, mutt.” I glanced back at him. “Who’s taking the punishment for breaking the rules—her, or you?”
“W-wait,” she stammered. “No, just?—”
Rogue dragged her back in an instant, and this time when he clamped a hand over her mouth, crushing her against his chest, there was no way she was getting out of it. “Me,” he said, without hesitation.
I smiled, something bitter in it. “Then why don’t you escort her to her room and wait for me there. I’ll be in when I’m ready.” I stepped back, already turning away.
“You want her to watch ?” he demanded, and the strain in his voice was cathartic, if not enough.
Want?
I could feel the edges of my sanity fraying.
“She will watch.” I glanced back at them both, focusing on how ashen Rogue’s face had gone. “Chain her to the bed so she can’t interfere.”