But I don’t get a chance to say that. Because he turns abruptly around and leaves. His brother passes Ivy a long and flirtatious look as he backs away.
“There are two of us here on the Chosen’s floor. Consider me your protector though. I’ll walk you to your Carnal Class in the morning. I’m here if you ever need me to take care of any more psychos,” he tells her with a charming smile.
The door clicks closed with a resounding sound of quiet.
“Thank god I didn’t really get a crazy bitch like her for a roommate.” Ivy laughs and laughs as I force a frozen smile to my lips like broken glass gleaming back at her.
And try not to let my crazy show.
Chapter Nine
Bella
She sleeps soundly. She sleeps like a girl who hasn’t yet been hurt by the world. And that’s exactly why I’m lacing up my boots without a sound by our bedroom door.
What does the king want with a girl like Ivy? She’s sweet. Kind. Everyone loves her. He has to know she’s too young to be his Chosen.
But decades have passed. And this kingdom is still as poor as the day I first stepped foot here.
He’s desperate. Even his classes seem hurried. If I remember right, we had a party that lasted three days when I was a Chosen. These girls are being rushed into classes after one day.
But he needs to fuck right off and stop giving herspecialattention. God, why did he have to pick her?
A memory rings around my mind with a sharp pain that splinters through me every time I think of it.
“You’re special to me, Trix. No one’s shown you your worth, but I promise, I will.”
Long fingers push back the hair brushing my cheek. I don’t have a clue what to say to someone so wise and charming. My ex hated when I ruined a moment like this. So I say nothing. A shy smile tenses my lips as I hold his adamant gaze.
The way he looks at me, no one has ever looked at me like this. His golden eyes shine like a man who has spent his entire life searching for a long-lost treasure. And I’m it.
The Sand Man’s rough, lithe body covers mine, and emotions like I’ve never felt wallow within my chest as he presses down on me. Confusion. Love. Sadness. It all swirls into one.
It consumes me.
Then he consumes me.
I blink away the sickening memories, but my gaze can’t pull away from the way the pale moonlight highlights her sharp angelic face. She’s grown, but she still looks like that little girl who used to beg me to readBrown Bear, Brown Bearbefore bed. Her giggles as I’d twist the repetitive lines into animal voices and joking puns dance through my thoughts.
He’s going to wreck her.
Unless I stop him.
My palm presses the door closed without a sound, and I’m a shadow in the halls as I tread down to the first floor. And keep going to the lowest part of the castle.
King Leavon’s chambers.
Some would call it a dungeon. I would. I’d definitely call it a fucking torture chamber. But as for our king, he simply calls it a bedroom. The dungeon halls aren’t drafty and chilling, despite my nerves that are crawling to get out. Every thought in my head is urging me to turn around, run away from this sinister land, and never come back again.
Especially after what I did to Melissa.
My lashes close hard with a wincing memory, but I shake it off and press myself close to the wall as I creep up to the solitary door at the end of the corridor. That’s what it is though. Everything is just memories upon memories that suffocate my mind. The meds my mother gave me, they helped. But I’d rather remember the dark parts than forget who I am.
White light floods out into the heavy darkness from the crack of the partially open door. A smooth and calming voice calls out through the opening, and the blood in my face drains cold the moment I hear him speak.
“What kind of disturbance?” Leavon asks.
The light hits my eye, and I spy him lounging carelessly on the end of his large spanning bed. Tight black pants hang low on his hips while hard line clatter up a chest I’ve touched too many times to feel anything but disgust when I look at the beautiful man.