Page 32 of Red Lace Manor

I glared up at him, and he didn’t care.

As my legs carried me forward, the weight of exhaustion started to press down on me. And, once we reached a set ofwooden steps, I knew there was no fucking way I’d be climbing those.

And, I think Cassian thought that too–that or he knew I was going to argue with him and wasn’t in the mood–because he picked me up and carried me bridal style.

I’d never actually been picked up…I liked it.

When we reached the top of the stairs, the soft murmur of voices hit my ears. Cassian paused for a moment and looked down at me. A wave of tension crossed his features, but it vanished as quickly as it came.

“Ready?” he whispered.

Absolutely-fucking-not. I was sore, disoriented, and quite frankly, I’d rather go back to bed. But, something deep inmy soulmade me nod.

Cassian pushed forward, and a blinding rush of sunlight hit my eyes. I gasped, digging my palms into the sockets to block some of it out.

As we got closer to the rest of the men, it was like the air shifted. I couldfeeltheir eyes on me long before I opened my own. This worsened when Cassian sat me down in the corner of what I assumed to be a couch.

“I swear to fuckingGod, if any of you rush her,” he warned, resulting in a chorus of unsatisfied groans.

I cracked an eye and looked around me. Once again, I was stuck somewhere surprisingly modern. Green walls, a flat screen TV, and leather couches decorated the area, and the men had scattered themselves around the room.

Ronan stood next to a window, arms crossed, staring me down. The weight of his gaze caused me to shift, and I looked to Solomon, who was curled at the other end of the couch, dark sunglasses on, reading a book.

I couldn’t remembermuchof his file, but I knew his eyes had been enhanced. And, I wondered how terrible that felt on asunny day. My stomach twisted, and I didn’t want to think about that.

Which left me to look at Seth, who was walking directly toward me.

My heart skipped a few much-needed beats, and I instinctively tried to claw my way back into Cassian’s arms. But, it was no use. Seth had me.

His arms wrapped around mine and my body went uncomfortably rigid as I prepared for him to finish me off… except,he didn’t.

Seth just held me with a shaky grasp, breathing me in.

“I’msosorry,” he whispered, lips brushing the shell of my ear.

His words were so soft they were barely audible over the thudding of my heart, but as he pulled away and lowered me onto the couch, he lookedgenuine.

More than that, he looked tired. Dark circles hung from his eyes, making me wonder if he’d slept since our game. He fell onto the couch as if intentionally inserting himself between Solomon and I. Cassian perched himself on the arm of the chair, earning a dirty look from Seth.

A heavy silence fell on the room, and I wondered just how many of those I’d face today.

“Look,” Ronan started, walking closer and settling into an armchair. “If we’re all done being weird, Little Light has a choice to make.”

… I do?

Seth sighed, reaching out and resting his palm on my thigh. Once again, I tensed. Then, his thumb ran up and down the material of my jammies, and my body involuntarily melted, even if just slightly.

I must’ve had the worst survival instincts in the world.

“So, as you know, you were promised a lump sum of money if you survived… which you did,” Seth said, suddenly sounding a little unsure.

“But, since you went poking around in his shit–” Cassian gestured toward Seth–“you knowwewant a bride.”

“That means youcanstay.” Ronan shifted, causing the chair under him to groan.

“But, only if youwantto.” Solomon didn’t look up from his book.

This whole thing felt disturbingly calm, and I wasn’t sure I trusted it. I bit my tongue to prevent myself from saying as such.

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