Another man broke from the pack of men, the fabric of his silver robe swishing smoothly as he crossed the room to me. I could only watch, shocked into silence and stillness by all that was happening. It was only once he got closer that I realized I recognized the man.
It was Rafe’s father.
He barely stopped once he got to me. In a swift motion, he reached out and grasped the pearls around my neck. In the same action, he yanked them hard. The silk string broke and pearls scattered across the marble floor, bouncing and dancing away, the tinkling noise the only sound in the otherwise silent room.
Rafe’s father took the broken necklace and walked back to his son. When he shoved it towards Rafe, Rafe put out his hand as if reflexively.
“Let’s hope you make better decisions from now on, son,” his father said, voice hard. “I expect my eldest son to bring me pride and not shame.”
“It is done,” said the first Elder. “The Initiate’s belle has been chosen.”
Then the canes began to pound the floor again all over the room.
Holy shit. It looked like I wasn’t a reject after all.
I’d just been named a belle of the Order of the Silver Ghost.
5
Rafe
I wanted—
No, I needed to speak to her. I needed a moment of privacy so we could discuss what was about to happen. Did she know? Did she know that we were expected to fuck tonight? Right now? Did she know the Elders would be in the room and watching?
How could she?
I only knew because Sully had told me the rumors were true. I was ready for this, or at least as much as I could be. I had prepared for this. But no way could Fallon be ready. She should have chickened out just as the belle in yellow did. She should have run away for her own sake.
If I could just have a moment with her alone, maybe I could talk some sense into her. Maybe if she pulled out of this Trial before we “consummated” the partnership, the Elders would choose another belle and I wouldn’t lose the Initiation. Maybe there was still time…
But when we entered the guest room on the second floor, I knew deep down we were too late. This was going to happen whether we liked it or not.
The room was large and had its own fireplace. The king-size, four-post canopy bed barely filled any of the massive space. There was plenty of room for a sitting area with a small couch and two high-back armchairs that sat before the handcrafted mantle. The room had richly-woven rugs, crafted wood furniture, collectible books in a custom-made bookcase, and antiques dating from the civil war era. The large window with thick and luxurious drapes overlooked the pool and rose gardens of the expansive grounds. The Oleander Manor truly was magnificent both inside and out.
I knew, without the Elders even saying so, this would be our home for the next 109 days.
The first beat of the cane announced it was time for the consummation to begin.
Silver cloaks, voyeuristic eyes, and fucked up sexual desires stared upon the empty bed waiting…
Waiting for us to fuck.
And even though I knew he was there… I refused to look at my father. I couldn’t look at him. I couldn’t focus on the fact that he was about to watch me fuck my childhood best friend with a room full of spectators.
As if Fallon knew that prolonging the inevitable would only torture us, she unceremoniously removed the light purple dress she wore as she kicked off her heels. She didn’t even keep her undergarments on but stripped completely naked without even casting a glance in my direction.
Once nude, she raised her eyes and locked eyes with mine.
Challenge?
Yes, challenge exuded from her tiny frame. She wasn’t going to hold up this process. She was ready… ready for me.
Knowing I had to do my part in starting this sick performance, I spun her around to face the bed and pressed my chest up against her back.
I didn’t want to see her eyes. I couldn’t have Fallon Perry looking at me as I fucked her.
Having the Elders lined up to watch was sick and twisted enough, especially considering one of them was my goddamn father!
But Fallon… I didn’t want to look into her soul. I couldn’t.
She deserved better than this. She shouldn’t be here.
The beating of the canes began, and I knew there was no turning back.
Beat after beat, and I realized they weren’t going to stop.
Jesus Christ… we were going to have an eerie soundtrack as we fucked.
I cupped her breasts with each of my hands and pressed my hard cock against the seam of her ass. I shouldn’t be hard. I shouldn’t be aroused in the slightest, but Fallon was naked, and my cock had a mind of its own.