21. Twenty-One
21
TWENTY-ONE
MILA
A wareness slammed into me like a freight train, jolting me awake. My body was stiff and aching, every muscle screaming in protest. The dryness in my throat made it difficult to swallow as I slowly sat up, pain shooting through my leg, reminding me of the injury from Emily. I reached for the glass of water on the end table, and my fingers trembled as I brought it to my lips.
As I shifted my weight, I winced at the sharp agony radiating from my bandaged wound. Glancing down, I saw that someone had changed the dressing. I felt a pang of loneliness when I saw the empty spot in the bed next to mine where Archer usually slept.
As I swung my legs over the edge of the bed, the door to the bedroom opened, and Archer walked in. His face lit up when he saw me awake, and he gave me his sexy, boyish smile.
"You're awake. How do you feel?"
"Sore. How long was I out?" I yawned, rubbing the tender skin around my bandage.
Walking over to me, he kneeled next to me, examining my leg. "Two days."
"Two days?! Why didn't you wake me?" I questioned him .
"Your body went through a lot and needed some time to heal," he responded, standing up to kiss my lips.
"But I have class and work. Oh my God, I'm going to get fired." My protests were met with a gentle shushing from him.
"Don't worry. I spoke with your professors and let them know you weren't feeling well. They agreed to let you complete your makeup assignments when you return. As far as your boss, he says he hopes you feel better soon and to give him a call when you're ready to work."
"You spoke with my professors?" I giggled as I imagined him carrying on a conversation longer than a minute with anyone other than me.
"Well, they are my professors too. And considering how our families pay their salaries, they have little choice but to accommodate their students."
"I can only imagine how that conversation went."
"What? I was nice. I told them about how you have been spending so many hours studying that you haven't taken care of yourself. And it has become my civic duty to nurse you back to health, my little nerd."
I held my hand to my mouth as I laughed. "Thank you for taking care of me." I reached out to touch his face, my eyes sparkling with affection.
"Just doing what any good boyfriend would do."
"Boyfriend? That's awfully assuming," I teased.
Archer grinned mischievously, leaning in closer. "What other title would you give to the man that fills you with his cum every day and is nursing you back to health? I think ‘boyfriend’ is a fair assumption to make." His voice was dark but playful, and he kept his eyes locked with mine.
I couldn't help but blush at his possessiveness. "Fair point," I admitted, unable to hide the growing smile on my face. My stomach growled loudly, and Archer stood up and went to his closet. When he emerged, he was carrying some clothes for me. "Get dressed, and I'll make you breakfast. "
I accepted the clothes from him and flipped through them. "Please tell me these aren't some other chick's clothes."
"They are yours," he responded, shaking a couple of pills into his hands and handing me the glass of water. "Gage wants you to take this anti-inflammatory, some antibiotics, and pain pills."
I let him place the pills in my mouth, took a big sip of water, and swallowed. "These aren't mine," I told him as I slipped on a black lace bra, letting him help slide the matching underwear gingerly past my wound.
"I went out and picked up a couple of things for you while you were sleeping," he stated casually.
"You did?" I asked. I watched his movements as he grabbed a pink crewneck sweatshirt and tugged it over my head.
"Yes, Mila. I am not about to let you walk around naked."
I stood up, placing my weight on my other leg, and let him pull black leggings up to my waist. "Thank you." I gripped his shirt and pulled him to me, pressing my lips against his. His erection pressed against my stomach, and I pushed my hips into him.
He reluctantly pulled away, gripping my hips tight between his hands. "As much as I want to bend you over this bed and fuck the shit out of you, you really need to eat."
I grumbled, "Fine."
"Oh, here's your phone. Lacey has been blowing it up. You might want to call her before she fills out a missing person's report."
"What do I tell her?" I questioned him, panic rising in my throat. "‘Oh hey, Lace. Yeah, sorry I haven't checked in or been home in a couple of days. I was drugged and kidnapped by Archer King, forced to participate in The Hunt, and then I killed some girl at our school, but not before she stabbed me. Don't worry, everything's fine. Just a normal Friday night.’"
"Keep it simple. Everyone at St. Mary's knows we had The Hunt. Just tell her you couldn't tell her about it until it was over. That you were chased through the woods by some masked men, and then I fucked you senseless against a tree. You were so enamored that you weren't paying attention and slipped and fell, cutting your leg on a rogue branch. You're fine, but you have been exhausted."
"She will never believe that I let masked men chase me through the woods."
"Then tell her I chased you. That it's a twisted kink of mine. And then invite her to our next party. That's what she's always wanted, right? An invite to the hottest parties at St. Mary's?"
"Yeah. She's the reason I went to the bonfire at the cornfields. She said it was where you guys looked for prospects."
"She's not wrong."
"Really? I thought she was just being dramatic."
"Nah. That's one thing she isn't being dramatic about," he replied. "Now, can we go downstairs so I can feed you?"
It took a few minutes to get downstairs because I refused to let Archer carry me, and my leg was throbbing and stiff. Eventually, we reached the kitchen, where he helped me onto a barstool at the counter. I took in my surroundings as Archer rummaged through the pantry and fridge. The kitchen was modern and sleek, with a large island in the center boasting marble countertops and barstools lined up against it. The walls were a crisp white, with black accents throughout. The cathedral-style ceilings, walk-in pantry, and wine room made the kitchen more expansive. Baskets of fruit and other fresh ingredients were placed around the room, giving the otherwise cold space a homey feeling.
Archer finally returned with the ingredients for breakfast, and I watched as he expertly whipped up a gourmet feast. Eggs over-easy, freshly baked bread with butter and jam, and a pot of strong, black coffee.
"This looks amazing," I said, my stomach grumbling again. "How did you learn to cook like this?"
He grinned, flipping an egg and sliding it onto a plate. "I am self-taught."
"Really?" I asked, surprised.
"Yeah. I've never really wanted servants to wait on me hand and foot. Cooking relaxes me. "
"How do you find the time?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, with all the killing, fighting, chasing college girls, and running a secret society, cult, or whatever The Brotherhood is?"
"I make time for things that matter," he responded blandly.
"I hate when you do that."
"Do what?"
"Answer my questions with some broad, cryptic statement."
"What do you want me to be more specific about?"
"The Hunt. The Brotherhood. All of this," I sighed, waving my hands around to emphasize the enormous mansion.
"But not the killing?" he inquired.
"And the killing," I rolled my eyes.
"The people I kill deserve it. The Brotherhood was around long before I was born. We are the descendants of affluent families. The Hunt is a way for us to let out our pent-up emotions and reward ourselves for the sacrifices we make daily as leaders of The Brotherhood. As far as all of this , you grew up with a silver spoon in your mouth too. You are well aware that the rich and powerful love flaunting their money to remind people of their importance."
"How does The Brotherhood decide who lives and dies?" I questioned, taking a long sip of my coffee.
"There is a natural order to maintain balance in our world. We merely carry out what we believe keeps the world in check."
"What gives you the authority to make that decision?"
"The Brotherhood is a culmination of many powerful families—Kai's, Theo's, and mine. And while The Brotherhood itself was founded by our fathers, our families have been in control for at least one hundred years. We are a representation of that power and authority. It’s not just about us. It is about our bloodline and the responsibility we have to uphold the values and principles handed down to us by our ancestors. We may seem ruthless, but we simply ensure the world remains balanced to keep the bad guys at bay. It's a necessity." He poured himself a glass of orange juice and took a sip before he continued, "Let me tell you, the world would be a much scarier place without us to keep things in order."
I shook my head, still trying to wrap my mind around his words. "What about the morality of it all? What about the innocent people that get caught up in all of it?"
He sighed, looking at me with sympathy and frustration. "I wish it was as simple as morality. The world is messy, and hard choices have to be made. The people we target are not innocent, but victims of circumstance. This is our world, Mila. The world of the rich, powerful, and deceitful. It's a world we've inherited, and we have a responsibility to maintain it."
"But at what cost? Do the ends justify the means?"
"I don't know. But it's all I've ever known."
"Where do I fit in?" I replied quickly.
"What do you mean?"
"The chasing girls part?"
Archer took a deep breath, moved around the counter, and rested his hands on either side of me, pressing my back against the counter. "The only girl I'm chasing is you. I'll chase you to the ends of the earth. There's no escape from me. And when Hell comes to take me, you'll be right by my side, burning with me. That's the cost of a life with me. That's where you fit in. I will find you in every world, in every lifetime."
I stared at him, unable to look away from the intensity of his gaze. "So, no more girls then?"
He nudged my cheek with his nose, pushing my face to the side, gaining access to my throat and pressing soft kisses against my skin, nipping at the junction between my neck and shoulder. I felt my face flush and wrapped my arms around his neck.
"Only you, little rabbit." His smirk returned. "I've acquired a taste for you, and I'll be damned if I ever let you go."
"You know, I'm starting to feel like I'm in an episode of Dexter," I said with a small laugh, changing the subject.
"What?" he asked, licking my ear .
"Well, you know, this whole hunting thing, and the whole 'we only kill bad people' thing. It's a bit like Dexter, you know?"
Archer cracked a smile. "I see your point." He spread my legs and settled in between them, pinning me to the counter. "However, I'd much rather talk about how turned on I was watching you smash Emily's skull in. God, I wanted to fuck you right there, next to her body."
"Archer!" I hissed, shocked by his admission.
"Don't pretend like you weren't turned on." He put his mouth close to my ear. "I know how wet you get when there's blood involved."
"Maybe," I admitted, "but that's different than you fucking me next to a dead body."
"Oh, is it?" He smirked, and his hand slipped under the waistband of my pants, tracing the line of my hip bone. "I think you're just scared."
"Scared?" I laughed, trying to push his hand away, but my body betrayed me, arching into his touch.
"Yes," he purred, his voice low and husky. "Scared to admit that you love the twisted shit. The chasing, hunting, killing—it turns you on. The rush of power, the control. The thought of taking lives to protect the ones we love. The thought of me fucking you next to her dead body. It's intoxicating, isn't it?"
My breathing became ragged as his hand continued to explore my body.
I looked into his eyes and saw the truth there. The hunger, the desire, the need. "Yes," I whispered. "Is that what you want to hear?"
"Yes," he growled, and I felt his thumb brush against the sensitive skin of my throat. His other hand reached to undo his belt.
The door opened to the kitchen, and Kai and Theo came in, followed by a distraught Lacey. Her face turned into anger and confusion when she saw me.
"Guess I'm having this conversation now," I mumbled.
"What the actual fuck, Mila?" She pushed past Kai and Theo, who both wore amused grins, and Archer kissed my lips while he backed away slowly.
"This one was practically banging down the door. Said she would call the cops and report a murder if we didn't let her in," Theo said as he poured himself a cup of coffee.
Lacey rolled her eyes. "Well, what did you think I would do when you weren’t there when I came home? When I went up to your room, there was blood all over the bathroom. I tried calling and texting you. You're lucky that we share our locations, so I could see you were here."
"I am sorry."
"That's it? Just that you're sorry?" She looked between the boys and frowned when her eyes settled on Archer. "What did you do to her?"
"Lacey, please."
"No, Mila. You've been distant and making bad choices since that night in the cornfield."
"Bad choices? What are you talking about?" I questioned her, taking a sip of my coffee.
"With Archer King, every decision is bad."
"If you came all the way out here just to say that, then you're wasting your time." I crossed my arms.
Kai and Theo exchanged glances, trying to hold in their laughter. Archer chuckled lightly under his breath.
“I came out here because I am worried about you, but clearly, you aren't ready to have this conversation."
"Let's give them time to talk," Archer gestured for Kai and Theo to follow him out of the kitchen.
"Oh, come on. It was just about to get good," Kai teased.
Archer circled his finger, directing them toward the door, winking at me before the three of them walked out, leaving Lacey and me alone.
"Look, we do need to have a conversation," I sighed, nodding toward the chair beside me. She eyed me suspiciously but sat down, nervously running her hands up and down her thighs. "I have some things to tell you, but I also need you to listen. Can you do that?"
"Yeah," she shrugged, folding her hands in her lap.
"Remember the party in the cornfield you dragged me to a couple of weeks ago?"
"Yes, of course."
"That's the first night I met Archer. He got me out of a really bad situation with the guy I was talking to."
"What do you mean...situation?" she pressed.
"It doesn't matter anymore. Just know that if he hadn't, something horrible would have happened to me, and we might not be having this conversation," I explained, watching her blue eyes tear up. "That night was one of the best nights of my life."
"But you almost died," Lacey retorted.
"You're right. But that night, I started to live. For the first time in my life, someone saw me. The real me. And he didn't run away. He didn't try to make me feel guilty. He let me embrace it."
"Are you saying I don't know who you are? Mila, I'm your best friend. I know everything about you," she scoffed, her voice shaking with emotion.
I grabbed her hands and held them gently in mine. "I don't want you to take this personally because that’s not how it’s intended. This is about self-discovery and embracing my feminine self. I have always had to walk this fine line of etiquette with everyone in my life—you, my father, my professors, society, for God's sake. Archer has no expectations. He likes me for me. And all I wanted to do was run to you and tell you how amazing he is, but I couldn't. It felt like I was disappointing you."
"I just think you're better than Archer King. He’s hot, sure. But he’s not the type you get married to, or start a family with. You deserve so much more than what he's ever going to give you. But I want you to be happy. I've always wanted that for you."
"I am happy, Lacey. That's what I want you to understand. Accept that right now, I don't have all the answers, but with him, I feel whole. "
"Okay."
"Okay?" I eyed her suspiciously.
"Yes. If you say you are happy, I will accept that. But the minute he hurts you, I will kill him," she said firmly.
"That's acceptable," I laughed, pulling her into a hug. "There's one more thing."
"Oh, God. Don't tell me you're pregnant."
"No!" I protested. "God, no. I am on the pill. The reason I have been MIA this weekend is, well…you remember when you were telling me about this hunt that happens and how if you were chosen, you'd become a sex slave to the elite?"
Lacey's eyes shot wide open, and her jaw dropped. "No. You bitch! Are you telling me that you got chosen, and now you are living my literal dream of getting fucked by multiple men?"
"Not exactly," I confessed.
"Tell me everything."
"I did get chosen. But I was chosen by Archer. I haven't been with anyone else."
" Yet ," she squealed. "So what happened? What's The Hunt?"
"It's just an event where they chase girls around, and when they catch you…"
"They fuck you? Please tell me why you get to live my dream life. I am so jealous!"
"It has been really amazing, I'll admit." My cheeks burned, and I looked away.
Lacey's laughter filled the room, and I couldn't help but chuckle with her. "Oh, Mila. I'm so glad you told me. I'm always here for you. But please don't skimp out on the details. I'm so jealous you get to go to all the parties."
"Well, Archer said I could invite you to the parties if you want to come."
"What! Of course, I want to come. Are you kidding me? I love you so much. You're the best friend ever." She wrapped her arms around me, pulling me off the chair. I winced, grabbing my leg, and she pulled back, concern flashing across her face. "Did I squeeze too hard?"
"No," I reassured her. "I fell when Archer was hunting me and hurt my leg."
"Jesus, Mila." She looked me up and down, assessing the skin she could see. "You look like someone beat the shit out of you. And your neck. You're definitely going to have to tell Loverboy to cool it on the neck."
"Tell me what?" Archer's voice caught my attention. He casually walked into the kitchen, like he had been standing there the whole time. Somehow, I knew he didn't go far, and it wouldn't have surprised me if he had been outside the door, listening in the whole time. He stood at the counter, a smirk playing on his lips.
He was definitely listening.
"That you should chill on the biting," I smiled, turning to face him. I loved the way he looked at me; it was like he would devour me at any second.
"Not a chance." He stepped forward and wrapped his arms around me. "Everything good in here?" he asked, testing the waters.
"I still don't like you. But if Mila does, I guess I can play nice," Lacey joked, but I knew she was half-serious.
"I'll take good care of her." He kissed the side of my neck softly, sending warmth through my stomach. "I need to go take care of some things with the boys. Do you want to stay here until I get back?"
"Actually, I need to get home and catch up on some homework. I can go home with Lacey."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah."
"Text me when you get home. Don't forget to take your meds with you."
"I won't," I replied, smiling up at him. He pressed his lips against mine, hugging me tightly.
Grabbing my medications, Lacey and I walked out of the house and to her car. I did my best to hide my limp, but I knew she could see it. For right now, she chose not to say anything more about it. Even when I caught her glaring disapprovingly, I pretended not to and inched my way into her car, gingerly sitting down. Once we made it home, I cleaned the blood off the bathroom floor and showered. Lacey made BLTs for lunch, and we sat and ate, talking about how intense Archer was, but how safe he made me feel. I knew she was protective, and I appreciated her even more for it. She was the sister I wish I had, the sister I chose, and even though I could never tell her most of everything Archer and I did together, it was nice knowing that I didn't have to lie about us being together.
I was happy, for the first time in a long time.