Chapter 6
6
VIOLET
M y skin is buzzing with anxiety as I wait impatiently at the door. I hear Birdie’s voice inside and heavy footsteps on the carpet. I’m grateful Alaric took her from that gala, but it makes me anxious for reasons I don’t understand to think of them in a room together alone.
Alaric opens the door and gives me a curious smirk as I shove past him and find Birdie with an empty shot glass in her hand near the large mahogany dresser. This was not what I expected at all.
“What are you giving her?” I snap as I march across the room and snatch the glass away from her.
“I didn’t give her anything. She stole it right out of my hands.”
“My mother is going to kill us if she goes back there drunk,” I say.
Immediately, Birdie starts giggling, and I roll my eyes.
Too late.
“She can stay here,” Alaric answers as he grabs the bottle from her.
I tilt my head at him. “Over my dead body.”
Looking offended, he huffs. “I’m not going to hurt her. Jesus, Violet. What kind of monster do you think I am?”
I don’t answer him because I won’t admit to Alaric that I don’t think he’s a monster at all. Sure, I know exactly what he’s capable of, but he’s always been kind when it counts.
He just doesn’t want anyone else to know that.
But I still can’t stand the idea of her staying in here with him overnight, unattended.
“My mother would never allow that. You’re lucky she’s letting you be alone with her this long. She can’t risk her precious Birdie losing her purity .”
Birdie screws up her face in disgust.
“Then take her to your room and keep her there until tomorrow. There are plenty of men out there who would gladly try out the merchandise without taking her purity .”
“Will you please stop!?” Birdie shouts. “Everyone talks about me like I’m not right here. I’m so sick of this talk of my value and purity. It’s disgusting! If they’re so obsessed with this idea of virginity , I wish someone would just take it right now, so then they’ll think I’m worth nothing. Then maybe she’d let me go.”
Tears spring to her eyes, and I run to her, taking her face in my hands. “My sweet Birdie. You’re right. It is disgusting and wrong. You know how much you’re worth to me.” I kiss her on the lips, not caring that Alaric is watching.
There’s a bang at the door that startles us both. I pull away and stare at Alaric in panic.
“Lie down,” he whispers to Birdie. “Look asleep.”
She throws herself onto the bed, her back to the door, and does her best to look passed out. With the drunk state she’s in, it shouldn’t be hard.
Alaric gestures for me to come to him, and I rush to his side as he slowly opens the door. My mother is standing on the other side, her long black hair hanging over her shoulders in loose curls. Her eyes dance back and forth between Alaric and me.
“Clarissa, how can I help you?” he asks in a flat, disinterested tone.
“Where’s Birdie?” she snaps.
Alaric steps out of the way to reveal Birdie lying face down on the bed. “What on earth happened to her?” Mother says with a gasp.
“She had too much to drink, I suppose. You should really keep a closer eye on your daughter.”
Her attention turns to me as a scowl paints her features. “And what are you doing here?”
I step closer to Alaric. “I was trying to have some alone time with Alaric, but Birdie couldn’t handle her liquor and passed out in his bed.”
My mother’s brows scrunch together tighter. “What did you pull Birdie away for then? You wanted to speak to her.”
“About me,” I answer for him. “He spoke to Birdie to find out if my feelings for him are real.”
“And are they?” she says through gritted teeth.
Holding her gaze, I reply, “Yes.”
She pulls in a deep breath and presses her lips together. “This whole night, Alaric Stone has stolen her attention from other men in order to talk about you ?”
Alaric speaks up. “You are aware your stepdaughter does not want to be in that auction tomorrow, correct?”
Glaring at Alaric, she replies, “I don’t care what she wants. She’s been my burden for years, and now she has the opportunity to pay me back, so she can either take it or spend the rest of her life working it off. Which do you think she’d prefer, Mr. Stone?”
“Children aren’t normally indebted to their mothers,” he replies coldly.
“Then it’s a good thing I’m not her mother.”
If I could slap her right now, I would. I’ll never understand how my own mother could have so much hate in her heart. She only loves those who have something to offer her, like my sister, whose only contribution to my mother has been her loyalty and obedience. The moment I started to pave my own path in life, my mother basically cast me aside as useless.
Even as a child, I never truly felt her compassion for me. My father loved me. He showed me affection and made me feel seen, and maybe it was that attention from him that caused her to resent me so much, but the day he died, my mother made it very clear to me that the love in our household died with him.
“I’ll look after Birdie tonight. I’ll make sure she’s ready tomorrow,” I say boldly.
“You better,” she says, looking right at me.
I hold her stare for a moment, hoping I might see something that signifies my own mother cares about me or loves me. But there’s nothing.
“Good night, Mother,” I whisper.
“Bright and early tomorrow,” she replies. “No excuses. And, Mr. Stone…” she says, turning her evil glare toward Alaric. “Don’t lay a single finger on Birdie.”
Alaric lets out a low growl before slamming the door in her face. His eyes meet mine, and he lets the corners of his mouth lift in a delicate smile. He’s never looked sexier to me than he did in that moment.
“Your mother is a real piece of work.”
I roll my eyes as I cross the room to where the whiskey is. As I pour myself a glass, I let out a huff. “You have no idea.”
“Is she gone?” Birdie whispers.
“Yeah, she’s gone,” I reply as I carry my glass over to the king-sized bed. Crawling onto the mattress at Birdie’s feet, I lean my back against the high ornate footboard and take a sip. She smiles at me as Alaric raises his hands in disbelief.
“We’re not all going to fit in that bed,” he says.
“You can sleep on the floor,” I reply snarkily over my glass.
“It’s marble!” Birdie shrieks with a gasp. “You can’t make him do that.”
“Thank you, Princess,” he says, dropping onto the mattress next to her.
“Don’t call her that,” I snap, but he only chuckles in response.
“So, why does your stepmom hate you so much?” he asks.
“She’s just a bitch,” I reply, taking another sip.
“Now you can see why we’re so desperate to get away from her,” Birdie adds, looking down. I can hear the slight slur in her voice from the whiskey.
Alaric takes a deep breath. “Does she know about you two?”
Birdie glances at me before biting her bottom lip.
“She knows that I love my stepsister, and that’s all she needs to know,” I reply, staring at him coldly.
“Don’t let her find out,” Alaric replies. “Never show your weaknesses to your enemies.”
I glance back at Birdie, feeling a sting of guilt and fear. If my mother knew how much I care about Birdie and how much I’m willing to do for her, she could definitely use that against us.
Because he got one thing right—she is my weakness.