Page 53 of Silent Oaths
Theodorestands over me, his palm still raised, his expression blank.Juliandoesn’t move.Hisarms stay crossed, his gaze dark.Maxwellshifts beside me, his jaw clenched.
Ibarely register the cool air against my skin untilIsee the wayTheodore’seyes dip lower.Mystomach lurches.
Thethin silk of my nightgown clings to me, andIrealize too late thatIdidn’t bother covering myself before storming downstairs.
Igrab the blanket and yank it up, my face burning.
Theodoreexhales slowly, tilting his head. “Onyour knees.”
Icurl my fingers into the fabric, shaking my head. “No.”
Hiseyes glint with something cold. “Youknow what happens when you disobey.”
Myheart hammers, butIstay rooted to the couch.
Smack.
Thistime, the slap is harder, sending my head snapping to the side.Itaste the copper and metallic flavor of my blood.Isuck in a breath, my tongue running along the inside of my lip.
Maxwellmakes a sound.
Iglance at him, and something in his expression unnerves me.
Hispupils are blown wide, his breathing uneven.Hekneels in front of me, his gaze locked onto my mouth.Ifreeze as he lifts his hand, swiping his thumb against my lip, smearing the blood.Hebrings it to his mouth, sucking it clean.
Hislids flutter shut for half a second, and when they open again, there’s something feral in his eyes.
Ashiver licks down my spine.
Hepulls a knife from his pocket, flicking it open with ease.Thesilver edge glints as he drags the tip lightly down the column of my throat, with just enough pressure to make me feel it, to remind me how easy it would be.
“Youshould listen toTheodore,” he whispers. “Becausehe’s not the only one who likes to play.”
Mybody betrays me, my pulse pounding in places it shouldn’t.Ishould be disgusted, but instead, there’s a slow, insidious warmth curling in my stomach, tangling with my rage.
Idon’t want to feel this.
“Onyour knees,Siren.Infront ofJulian.”
WhenTheodoregives the order once again,Idon’t fight.Mylimbs move on their own, traitorous and weak, asIsink down in front ofJulian.
Julianwatches me, andIforce myself to hold his gaze, but something in my chest twists whenIdo.
Thetorn portrait still litters the floor, fragments of the image he created for me.Ofme.
Guiltknots in my throat.Idon’t know why—it’s not likeIasked for it.Butstill, the destruction of something so intentionally made sits heavy inside me.
Theodoretakes a seat on the couch behind me, his voice cutting through the haze. “Unbuttonhis pants.”
Myshoulders stiffen, my hands clenched in my lap. “No.”
Maxwellmoves behind me.Theair shifts as he leans in, his breath warm against my ear.
Hisfingers thread through my hair, gripping firm.Then, the cold kiss of steel presses against my chest, just above my racing heart.
“Doit,Starling,” he murmurs, voice like a blade wrapped in velvet. “Fightingit won’t do you any good.Doit, or you can keep testing my patience.”
Myhands tremble as my fingers brush against the button ofJulian’sslacks.ThemomentIgraze his crotch,Icatch the slight hitch in his breathing.Hisjaw ticks and his shoulders tense.He’sso hard beneath the fabric, there’s a darkened patch where his arousal has seeped through.
