Chapter 6 I Own You
I Own You
JESSICA
Eight Years Ago
The Night of the Guard Ball
The music is loud. Colored lights interchange between red, blue, yellow, and green. We all sway our bodies in time to the music. The newly graduated guards whoop and holler, waving their arms in the air.
The twins are on stage, along with Charlie who looks like he is sitting on top of the world standing next to Sammy Kane, the winner of the contest So You Think You Can Sing, as they harmonize along with The Kittens to a song he and I wrote together.
I can’t believe Draco Music Industries helped Charlie and I pull this together. It feels surreal.
That’s when it hits me. I just sang in front of a large group of people.
I sang. Not very long ago, I sat in a clinic bed blind and unable to speak.
Now, I can speak and sing. For the first time since I returned home a few days ago, it dawns on me that I have everything I desperately wanted—a family, a home, and friends.
Aside from the scars, I no longer look like a broken victim.
I throw my hands up in the air, pumping my arms and swaying my hips to the beat of the music, laughing as everyone joins me in my crazy dance of freedom.
The music changes. Strobe lights from the stage start to flash.
My body turns cold, and for a fleeting moment, I am transported back to the dark hours of this morning.
My skin burns at the memory of Boris’s rough groping.
A flash of the strobe light flickers in my vision, reminding me of the look of disgust and cruelty on his face as he pointed the gun at Shadow and me, right before I…
My insides twist into knots, and my knees wobble.
I struggle to breathe. Emily and Sixes dance with Elijah.
Darwin and Stan, the recently graduated recruits, face the stage.
No one sees the panic attack threatening to erupt within me.
Without a word, I sneak off for some much-needed air.
I want to hide—embarrassed by the growing anxiety filling my chest. I choose the darkest corner of the balcony, just outside the ballroom.
I grip the railing and force myself to take slow, deep breaths. I killed him. I killed Boris.
“I’m surprised your boyfriend left you alone.”
My eyes flash open, and I straighten my spine. Dustin.
“Or did he fall out of love with you because you no longer look like a little boy?” Marcus chuckles. What is his obsession with Liam? As much as I want to say something snarky, I don’t. Maybe if I ignore them, they’ll just leave.
Shudders travel down my spine, and a creepy-crawly sensation runs along my scalp.
Marcus and Dustin stand directly behind me now.
I literally have nothing but a railing and a twelve-foot drop in front of me.
The drop I can handle, but these two assholes…
maybe if I wasn’t wearing this dress. A rough hand grips my shoulder and pulls me away from the balcony into a warm, solid chest.
“Where’s your boy toy, Princess? He and I have some unfinished business,” Marcus growls in my ear. My eyes focus on the scenery in front of me. I won’t give them the satisfaction of knowing that they rattle me.
I yank my shoulder forward. My dress tears as his grip tightens. Forcing me to spin around, he pins me against the railing with his huge body and both arms on either side of me.
“Oh, we’re not playing that game again, sweet cheeks,” Dustin says as he sidles closer. I ball my hands into fists, ready to fight. “Come on. Don’t be like that. We just want to talk. That’s all.” Dustin’s hand lifts to touch my face.
On instinct, I raise my arm, blocking him, and push at Marcus. Like a stone wall, he doesn’t budge.
Marcus and Dustin laugh. “Can we keep her?” Dustin whispers. “I like her fight.”
Marcus’s lip twitches in amusement. “Maybe I want her all for myself.”
Dustin pouts. “What if she wants me instead?”
Marcus cuts Dustin an angry glare before his eyes flick back to my face. I tilt my chin. “Who says I want either of you pigs?” I glance between the two of them, both wearing the official guard suit with the guard crest sewn in over their hearts. What a disgrace to the Emerald Guards.
“Like what you see?” Marcus asks, a cruel grin forming on his lips.
“No, actually. I was just thinking how you’re both disgusting.”
His hand flies up and grips my throat. He pulls me forward, his face so close to mine, his warm breath ghosting against my skin. He squeezes hard in warning, and then he relaxes his grip just enough so I can still breathe. “Where’s my cousin?”
I flick my gaze up to his steely gray eyes and bat my lashes in mock innocence. “You told me he was sent home,” I whisper.
He squeezes harder, cutting off my air. “He didn’t make it home. Stop fucking with me. Tell me where the fuck is Boris?” he roars, shaking me so hard my teeth clack against each other.
Dustin grasps his wrist, pulling Marcus’s grip away from my bruised throat.
I recoil against the balcony and gulp in a breath of air.
He pushes Marcus away. “Not here. What the hell is wrong with you? We’re in enough trouble as it is.
” Dustin turns to me. “Come on, sweet cheeks. Just tell us where he is, and when we get him back home, you and I can have some fun.”
I laugh. Like I would enjoy anything they have planned for me. I raise my hand and tap my finger against my chin, as if I need to think about it.
Dustin crowds me in, blocking me in with his arms. “Don’t be like that.
Once you get to know me, I’m sure you and I will get along just great.
” He leans in closer, bringing his lips to my ear, and whispers, “In fact, if it makes you happy, I’ll get rid of him so you and I can be alone. I’m much more pleasant to be around.”
“Dustin!” Marcus growls, grabbing Dustin by the shoulder and yanking him away from me.
“Eeewwww! Are you two fighting over her?” A bright light flashes in my eyes.
“Elaine, where’s your brother? Don’t you two have some secret incestual twin videos to make for your father’s porn industry?” Marcus sneers in Elaine’s direction.
Elaine Powers had been among the girls in town yesterday. She was all over Luke. Her twin brother, Wills, tried to flirt with me, but Emily advised me to stay far away from him. So, I made it very clear that I wasn’t interested.
From what I learned, the Powers Pack of Territory Three made their riches in the entertainment industry.
While my mother couldn’t confirm, rumor is that the Territory Three’s Alpha has a hand in some shady dealings.
Why does Luke entertain them? From what it sounded like, he didn’t like them either.
Yet he hung around them for hours in town yesterday, and they snuck into the training grounds to meet with Luke and Liam last night.
“Fuck you, Marcus!” Elaine shrieks. “I came here to help, but if you want to be an asshole…” But she doesn’t move, the light still shining on my face.
I glance to the side. Maybe her impromptu visit is a blessing in disguise. If they continue to banter, I could easily slip past them and back into the ballroom. I glide carefully along the railing.
“We don’t need tips on hair and makeup. Now, fuck off, Elaine,” Dustin grumbles.
“Are you sure about that? Hey! Pay attention! She’s trying to get away,” she screeches.
Marcus leans forward, grabbing my arm and pulling me back into him.
“You’re a sneaky little bitch. Aren’t you?” Elaine coos. I hear the clicking of heels against the cement, slowly surrounding us. The flashlight blinds me so I can’t see what direction they came from, but I can imagine her little entourage from town circling around me like vultures.
Marcus’s grip on my arm tightens. “Elaine, get the fuck out of here now!” he barks.
Elaine finally drops the light and cackles. “Oh, my Goddess! Did you really think that no one would recognize you?” She laughs again, and the group of girls join in. “It took me a while, but I knew exactly who you were when I saw your eyes.”
I frown. She recognizes me?
“Clever girl, thinking you could run away from your territory and manipulate your way into the royal family. Thought you could steal my Luke from me, did you?”
I roll my eyes. I’m sure Luke told her all about how I plan to hurt and steal from his family. He hates me. They probably laughed behind my back when he shared how he caught me red-handed giving Charlie my V-card and then running off with Liam right after.
Electricity tingles in my palms. No, no, no, not here.
Not now. I squeeze my eyes shut and try to concentrate on something else.
I don’t care where she thinks she recognizes me from or what Luke told her.
I don’t want a confrontation. My instincts scream to stay away from her, but I can’t leave.
Marcus traps me against the railing, while Dustin blocks from the side.
“You smell so good,” Dustin whispers, tugging on a lock of my hair. “Just say the word and I can get you out of here, away from the drama queen.”
Elaine scoffs, pushing Dustin away.
My hand begins to throb. “Stay away from me,” I grit through clenched teeth.
“Why? You going to use your magic on me, magic wielder?” She glares at me, a knowing smirk spreading across her face.
“I don’t know how you survived, but the Resistance will come for you once I tell them where you are.
” Suddenly, ice chills the blood in my veins, and I stand still in shock.
“Oh, they’ll come for you, and they will kill anyone who even thinks about protecting you.
Is that what you want? To take down the entire royal family and the guards? ”
I am frozen to my core. I want to throw up. Luke was right. I’ll hurt his family, my family. I squeeze my eyes shut as a single tear slides down my cheek.
A vibration buzzes against my arm. The group’s echoing maniacal laughter fills my head. They have me. There is nothing I can do if I want to keep my family safe, except to submit.
Elaine grips my chin, forcing me to look at her. “I’ll make you a deal. We’ll keep your secret if you do everything we tell you to, which includes telling Marcus where Boris is.”
Bile rises in my throat. I want to hurt them, but what choice do I have? I glance over to Marcus, smiling like he won, and turn back to Elaine’s smug expression. Fear and panic grip me, making it impossible to breathe. Her lips move, but the rapid thud of my heartbeat drowns out her words.
Something flits across my vision—no, in my head.
Beyond the deafening roar, I hear a cacophony of voices.
I hear their voices. I unclench my hands and bring them to my ears.
I hear every thought, every plan. Elaine’s only concern is how she will use me to get to Luke. She will ruin me if I don’t comply.
The worst plans, though, come from Marcus. He doesn’t plan to merely torture me. He plans to own me.
I lose myself to the overwhelming, messy disorientation in my head. I gasp for breath. I do not have control over this situation. I don’t know how to gain the upper hand.
I own you, bitch! Those four words ring through my head, echoing from both Marcus and Elaine.
Unexpectedly, I am wrenched from Marcus’s arms.
A large body wraps around me. The strong smell of bergamot, mixed with dirt and freshly cut grass, infiltrates my senses.
My throat instantly opens, and my heartbeat slows.
I take another deep breath, and the deafening roar of voices dissipates.
Before I gain my bearings completely, I am yanked behind a strong wall of muscle.
“What the fuck do you all think you are doing? You dare threaten the Princess in her own home!”
I blink a few times. My gaze travels up the back of the man standing before me, protecting me. He’s so tall, with blond hair. It’s Luke.
In my periphery, long strands of glossy black hair wisp past me.
I step out from behind Luke, intending to clasp onto Emily.
I want to pull her back, but I’m too late.
Without missing a beat, Emily punches Elaine in the face.
Blood splatters down her face and onto her dress.
Emily turns and punches the girl I thought was Liam’s girlfriend, Cassie, running to Elaine’s side.
Elaine wails, “Emily Blackguard, I’m going to kill you! You mark my words!”
“Whatever, bitch. Like I’m afraid of you,” Emily grinds out, looking bored with her arms folded across her chest. She tilts her head to the side, reminding me of Ean and Elias.
“All of you need to get the fuck off my territory right now!” Luke roars. Thundering footsteps approach behind me. The guards are here.