Chapter 11
FINN
When I was younger, I used to try to impress my father, but it never worked, and eventually I realized it was pointless to try. As I got older, I started seeing him in a different light, that he was a dark and corrupt man, and that I should be glad I’m not like him.
And I am.
What I hadn’t known until now, though, was just how deep his crazy ran.
He’s clearly gone off the rails, and I’m worried about how far he’ll go to get this alleged crown/throne status that he believes will make it so our family rules the world.
While I believe part of his story, some of it sounds insane.
The Everfords were once hunted, that I’ve found out through research.
But this whole belief in curses and the Everford family once ruling the entire world is a bit far-fetched.
But the problem is my father believes it, and he’s taken this delusion and spun it into an extremist belief that Maddy and I are now going to have to spend a lifetime suffering from.
Here's the thing, though. I know he’ll kill Noah. I wish I could find some doubt in me that he’s bluffing, but I can see the truth in my father’s eyes. He believes his story, and that means he’ll do anything to make it happen.
My hand trembles as I sign the papers to the point where I have to open and flex my hands several times. Once I’m finished, a pool of dread forms in my stomach like I ate something rotten, and my body wants to get rid of it. It’s worse as I watch Maddy sign the papers.
She’s livid and glares at my father as she signs each paper. I’m slightly concerned she might punch him, and if we weren’t surrounded, I’d let it happen. But if she does with the society members in here, they’ll retaliate.
Thankfully, all she does is toss the pen at him. It pegs him in the chest, and he rolls his eyes as he deftly closes the folder with the papers we just signed that basically hand him over our lives.
I hate him.
I want to wrap my fingers around his throat and strangle the life from him.
All those years that I complied with what he wanted, and this is where I end up.
All those years of abuse.
All those years of keeping his secrets.
“Act on that look, Finn, and you’ll regret it,” my father warns without so much as a glance in my direction.
He collects the papers, stands up, and steps away from the table.
He leaves the book and the map on it and walks toward a door.
“We’ll give you two some privacy, but there is a camera I’ll be keeping an eye on to make sure you actually follow through with this.
And a doctor will be giving her an examination afterward to make certain you haven’t found a way around it.
” He pauses near the doorway and grins at Maddy.
“You are a virgin, so I will be able to find out if my son has fucked you.”
“You’re sick fucking piece of shit.” Maddy spits on the floor.
He just laughs and exits the room with a trail of society members following him. Eli takes a moment to smirk at us and make an obscene gesture at Maddy before he closes the door behind him.
And then it’s just the two of us in this room with a bed in the corner that reminds us of what we’re supposed to be doing.
“How the hell does he know I’m a virgin?” She looks at me with her brow arched.
“I didn’t tell him,” I stammer. “I swear, I didn’t. I hate him.”
She studies me intensely as if searching for a lie, but then ultimately sighs. “I know you wouldn’t. But I’m wondering who did. River knows, but I don’t believe he’d tell your father anything about me.”
“He wouldn’t,” I assure him as I nervously rake my fingers through my hair. “We did suspect there were cameras in your dorm room. Maybe that’s how.”
Her lips sink into a frown. “You’re probably right.”
We remain quiet, lost in our thoughts, but knowing we can’t stay this way very long.
I may not be a virgin, but I’m buzzing with nervousness. How am I supposed to go through with this? How are both of us supposed to move past this? How are we supposed to deal with the fact that we’re husband and wife?
“Did those papers really make it so we’re married?” She stares at me with her gorgeous, big eyes. “I thought you had to have a ceremony to make marriage official?”
I want to give her the answer she wants.
I want to give her everything.
I’ve wanted her since the first time I saw her, but not like this.
Never like this.
“In the Royal world, you don’t have to have a ceremony,” I explain. “They made a law so a contract just had to be signed. It makes it easier to force people into arranged marriages.”
Her entire face crumbles. “Oh.”
I reduce the space between us in a few long steps.
“I’m so sorry that this happened.” I carry her gaze.
“I don’t… I wish there were another way around this.
I know you like my brother. I know this is so fucked up.
But Maddy, I feel like I need to say this in the hope that maybe it’ll help.
Maybe it won’t, though. I don’t know…” I start to lose my courage and end up biting back the words I was about to confess.
“What is it?” she hedges, her eyes searching mine. “Just tell me. It’s not like things can get any worse.”
“We could be dead,” I point out, but then sigh. “Sorry, that was a pretty depressing thing to say.”
“It’s fine. It’s the truth, so…” She lifts a shoulder and offers me a miserable look. “Just tell me, please.”
Chewing on my bottom lip, I tentatively reach out and touch my palm to her cheek. Her brows furrow as I skim the pad of my thumb along her cheekbone.
“I’ve liked you since the first time I laid eyes on you,” I confess quietly.
“But you fell for my brother, and I’m going to be honest, it sucked, because I knew I could never, ever go there with you, not when River had never liked anyone until you came along.
I was worried he’d never be with anyone he cared about, but then he fell for you, and I was so happy for him.
But I also kind of hated it because I liked you… Still do.”
“Finn,” she starts to say with hesitancy.
“You don’t have to say anything,” I tell her. “I’m just telling you this so that you know that I like you. Maybe it might help a little with this. Maybe not. But I thought I would offer it.” When she says nothing, I start to lower my hand. “Fuck, did I make it worse?”
She hastily captures my hand and then holds my palm against her cheek. “You didn’t make it worse. I just… Was trying to process what you said because I didn’t think you liked me like that.”
I arch my brow. “I flirted with you all the time.”
“Yeah, but you flirt with everyone,” she reminds me with a trace of an amused smile.
If she’s smiling, I must’ve helped her relax a little.
But then my stupid father has to ruin any drop of ease I managed to put in the air as an intercom clicks on.
“Stop being ridiculous and get on with this,” he warns. “You have twenty minutes to get this done. If you’re not. I’ll have my sniper pull the trigger.”
I glance at the television screen that shows Noah and River talking in the waiting room at the Royal City Hospital. They’re talking intensely, and River is clutching his phone. I have no idea what’s going on, if Lily is okay, since I’m assuming she’s the reason they’re at the hospital.
I shift my gaze back to Maddy, and a look of understanding passes between us. I’m about to kiss her when she cups the back of my head and pulls my lips to hers.