Chapter 13
13
BIRDIE
“ A party? What kind of party?” I ask Alaric from across the table in his room where he had his staff serve us lunch.
“A play party,” he replies casually while staring down at his phone.
Violet is sitting to my right, and she glances at him skeptically.
“What’s a play party?” I ask.
He glances up from his phone. “Doesn’t matter. You’re not going.”
“Why not?” I pout.
“Because it’s too much for you.”
I huff in my seat as I scowl at him. “Excuse me? Isn’t that for me to decide? Since when did you become my father?”
Alaric gives me a warning glance. “Will you just trust me? It’s not a regular party or any party you’ve ever been to. And I promise you’re not ready for what may or may not happen to you at that party, so drop it.”
My lips purse as I let my imagination take over, conjuring up images of exactly what this party could be like for things to happen to me there. “So, you’re going…without us?”
He drops his phone in frustration. “The only reason I’m going is because I promised Reaper I’d go, but I don’t plan on participating if that’s what you’re worried about, Princess. I’ll drop in, show my face, and leave.”
“Alone?” I ask.
He swallows, glancing sideways at Violet. “Come to think of it, it would probably be impolite of me to show up without a partner. So, I’ll take Violet.”
“Nice try,” she snaps. “I’m not leaving Birdie.”
“Fine,” he replies with a grimace. “I’ll go alone.”
I watch the two of them, wondering what on earth he meant by that. Was he considering taking her to this…party to try and have sex with her? That doesn’t make sense.
Glancing back toward Alaric, I try my best to appeal to his sympathetic side, although he still claims he doesn’t have one.
“You do realize my stepmother never let me go to any parties. No social life.”
“Like I said, Princess. This isn’t that kind of party,” he replies flatly.
“So, keep me by your side all night. You’ll protect me. I know you will. But don’t shelter me the same way she did. At least let me see it, and then we’ll leave. Promise.”
Giving him a soft, delicate smile, I try to look as angelic as possible. He lets out a disgruntled sigh and glances toward Violet, who only shrugs.
“I’d like to see it, too, if I’m being honest.”
“Fuck.” He groans to himself. After a moment, he points an authoritative finger at me and then her. “We’ll go down for ten minutes. That’s it. Neither of you will so much as look at anyone else in that party. Don’t touch anything, and don’t speak a word. As for the main event…”
His expression grows serious, and my interest piques.
He slams a hand down on the table as he adds, “Don’t even think about joining that.”
Swallowing, I nod obediently. Violet does the same. And I don’t bother asking what the main event is, although I do hope I find out.
Violet lets me borrow a dress for the party. It’s a short A-line gown that only reaches past my ass, but it flows outward, so I find myself spinning my hips in it to make the fabric look like an umbrella. Alaric takes one look at me as he comes out of the bathroom, and with a sigh, he shakes his head.
“You look far too sweet for where we’re going.”
I force a smile on my face as I twirl my dress again.
“Stop it,” he mutters.
Violet buckles her shoes and chuckles to herself. Once she’s ready, the three of us make our way downstairs to where the party is being held. The mansion is so different today. It’s quieter and has an ominous feel that makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.
I clutch tighter to Alaric’s arm. As long as I’m by his side, I’m safe. I have nothing to worry about.
As we enter the room, I watch as he nods at the man who put me up for auction yesterday. He’s incredibly handsome and alluring, but I can’t help but feel a bitter resentment toward him after the hand he played in the worst moments of my life.
Tearing my attention away from him, I get a good look at the room. And my jaw drops.
There is normal furniture scattered around the room as well as some not-so-normal furniture. Things I can’t even begin to describe or name. There’s a bench that I can’t quite imagine how anyone would sit on. A rack near the wall that looks as if it’s meant to hang things…or people by leather cuffs and chains.
Then, I get a look at the people. Some formally dressed. Others…hardly dressed at all.
I feel Alaric’s mouth near my ear. “Told you it would be too much for you.”
I straighten my spine. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m just curious. That’s all.”
“Curious?” he replies haughtily. “Anytime you’d like a lesson, I’d be happy to teach you.”
“Stop it, Alaric,” Violet mutters. “Leave her alone.”
Ignoring her, I look at him. “Is this…what you like?” Remembering the way he spoke last night about wanting to fuck me has my blood scalding my veins. Moisture pools between my legs as I hear those words in my ear again.
“From time to time,” he replies casually.
My mouth goes dry as I notice that people are not holding back. There is a couple most definitely having sex in the corner.
How much of life have I missed out on? My internet searches have been far too safe because it feels like I’ve barely scratched the surface of what’s possible. The moisture feels like a flood at this point. I’m so aroused, it almost hurts.
Is it wrong that I want him to show me? Would Violet be angry to know how curious I am? And did she participate in stuff like this, too, with him? How na?ve am I?
Just then, the blond man Alaric nodded to stands at the front of the room and makes an announcement.
“Time to play, friends,” he says enthusiastically with a sinister smile. “The game tonight is a hunt, but we’re doing things my way.”
A hunt?
“What is this? A game of hide-and-seek?” I ask quietly to which Violet chuckles.
“No, Bird. Not quite.”
I glance up at Alaric who only clenches his jaw. “I said no,” he mutters quietly. It confuses me what makes him so strict about this game. That is…until the man called Reaper continues.
“Participation is not required, of course,” he says. “But those who want to play will choose to be predator... or prey. Prey flees. Predators pursue. And if a predator catches their prey, they can have their filthy way with them. For this game, we’ll follow the tried-and-true safe words. ‘Red’ means stop. ‘Yellow’ means pause. Understood?”
My jaw drops, and that warm brewing need in my belly starts to feel like an inferno. The thought of being chased and then… caught does something I did not expect to my insides. It shouldn’t be as arousing and enticing as it is, but I can’t help it. My thighs squeeze together as I imagine it.
Running for my life. The thunderous sound of their chasing steps behind me. Being caught and forced and—what is wrong with me?
I scan the room, watching as the prey begin to line up near the arched doorway, grabbing a red wristband from the attendant standing nearby. I see the anticipation in their eyes. The excitement. The promise of sex and fun and something deliciously naughty.
Not because they’re being forced to, but because they want to .
These people, as far as I know, haven’t been imprisoned, sheltered, hidden away as a form of torture. They weren’t sold against their will or bullied for having a voice. They are standing independently at that starting line, doing something because they crave it. And no one in this room is daring to tell them they can’t.
“Prey will get a five-minute head start. If you want to play foxes to our hounds, come to me now.” Reaper’s voice feels like a beacon, a siren song of freedom and excitement and rebellion .
I feel myself slipping away from Alaric’s side. He’s speaking to Violet and hardly notices my stepping just a few inches away. Those inches alone fuel that spark.
I can do whatever I want now.
But I’m not seriously thinking about doing this, am I? Any one of these predators, practically drooling at the players near the archway, could catch me. And they could have their way with me. Unless, of course, I change my mind and use the safe words Reaper said.
“It’s time,” Reaper announces, and I take another step. Just then, Alaric turns his attention toward me with a worried arch in his brow.
“What are you doing?” he mumbles.
“You both want me, right?” I ask, glancing between the two of them.
“Birdie…” Violet says in warning as I take another step toward the archway.
“Prey, your five-minute head start begins . . . now.”
The people behind me start their sprints as I give Alaric and Violet a smirk. “Guess we’ll see which one of you catches me first.”
And with that, I turn on my heels, grab a red wristband from the attendant, and take off in a mad sprint into the mansion. Behind me, I hear Violet and Alaric screaming my name to come back at the same time, and for the first time in my life, I don’t obey.