Page 15 of His Dark Cravings

He looks at me then, his gaze searching. "Everyone here has a choice, Everly. No one is forced to stay. They all choose to be here. They choose this."

"But why?" I press, the question a burning need inside me. "Why would anyone choose this?"

"You ask a lot of questions, Everly," he says, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "Perhaps too many."

"I just… I need to understand," I say, my voice shaking slightly. "I need to know what I'm getting into."

"Maybe you should start with this, then. You chose this, too."

I can't stop myself from scoffing and pulling a face. But his assured expression doesn't change.

"What—"

"You've interacted with women here who aren't like Lila and the others," he cuts in. "They signed contracts, just like you did."

My mouth falls open, but no words come out. I try to think back to when he first offered me the year of submission. Was there a time he even hinted at a different agreement?

He stands then, his tall frame towering over me. "Dinner is waiting," he says, his voice smooth, the earlier vulnerability gone. "We can discuss this later."

He extends a hand toward me. I hesitate for a moment, my eyes searching his. We all had a choice in this? Did we really? But then that means some part of me wanted this from the beginning, even if I didn't consciously know it. That's what he's implying.

I take his hand, and his grip is firm, warm against my skin. He pulls me to my feet, his touch lingering.

"Come," he says, his voice a low murmur. "Let's not keep them waiting."

I let him lead me, my heart pounding, my thoughts a whirlpool of emotions and questions. Now that I think about it, I never once suggested some other way. I didn't flat out deny him and refuse to move forward. Of course there could have been some other agreement.

So did I want this?

I don't have time to figure that out.

Xavier doesn't look back at me as he takes me to the other girls. The little confidence I managed to scrape up has completely fallen away by the time they all get a look at me. I wanted to use that confidence as a shield. I wanted this evening to be different. Through no fault of my own, though, it actually is different.

Sable looks like she wants to spit venom at me. I can tell it's not because I walked in on her. It's because now I have a different sort of shield, one she notices almost immediately. They all notice.

Xavier is still holding my hand.

Chapter 6

Everly

I turn off the heat under a skillet of scrambled eggs, the warmth of the handle lingering in my hands. The clatter of dishes fills the space, and the scent of fresh coffee and the savory aroma of bacon invigorates me. Lila stands beside me, expertly flipping pancakes, her expression a mask of calm. I've started to notice that she's nowhere close to being combative in the mornings.

Winter and Sable are absent—as usual—but other workers move through the kitchen with ease.

"Let me take that," one of them says, reaching for the skillet. "You don't have to help us, Everly."

I pull back, a forced smile tugging at my lips. "It's fine, really. I like keeping busy." It's the truth, but there's an undercurrent of tension in my words. The routine feels comforting, almost normal, yet it's a fragile façade.

The kitchen door swings open, and Elia, another worker, steps in. Her posture is rigid, and her eyes are downcast.

"Everly, Xavier needs you tonight. After dinner." Her voice is a monotone, devoid of emotion.

I nod, my heartbeat quickening. Anticipation and fear tangle in my chest. "Okay, got it."

My hands continue moving, though my mind drifts away. The thought of being alone with Xavier again sends a shiver through me, excitement and dread intertwining.

I glance at Lila, her eyes sparkling with mischief. She knows what this means, and she's enjoying my discomfort.

---