He spins out of my reach and straightens his shoulders, squaring his body. “I said I’d handle it. Now get in the fucking car. You don’t want to be late. It’ll only make things worse.”
And like that, he shuts me up. I’m irritated but lashing out anymore isn’t going to change things. Talon is completely immune to any sort of arguing. He is set in his convictions. What he says goes. It’s kind of like with my dad.
But it doesn’t mean he won’t feel the rage he ignited in me.
“Fucking ass,” I mutter, ignoring his opening my door. I strut around the car, acting petty as hell, and I slide into the passenger seat next to Esteban.
I don’t stare at the drug lord and sit back, crossing my arms over my chest. The raging emotions within this vehicle are thick enough to stab with a blade, but no one addresses it. Talon knows better. So does Esteban.
I’ll just get to simmer in silence, hoping that I don’t explode.
I need to get my shit together.
I need to steel myself toward whatever consequences that’ll come my way.
Talon smacks the seat, startling me. “Head to the Looking Glass. If you’re even a minute late, I’m holding you responsible.”
Esteban tightens his fingers around the steering wheel and stomps the throttle, peeling away from the curb. A few people honk their horns as he cuts them off, heading onto the main street that’ll take us to the night club. I slouch and stare out the window as the world blurs by. I feel sick to my stomach. I know it’s everything adding up.
I hate Christos. This is all his fault. I will make him pay for this. I will not be the only one punished.
At least, that’s what I have to tell myself.
Because men like him never get held responsible. He never holds himself accountable and still doesn’t think that what he did to me was that bad. Apparently, he was ‘doing me a favor.’ He stole my right to decide about what kind collateral I’d give for the initiation I’d go through. Filming us having sex and handing it over to his chapter king without my consent messed me up. What was worse was that he was pissed off at me for not seeing things his way. He stalked and harassed me for months, refusing to believe that we were over. But then, one day, he just disappeared and relocated.
If only he stayed gone.
“Come on, wild child. We’re here.” Talon squeezes my elbow from the backseat.
I hadn’t realized Esteban parked in the underground parking structure near the Looking Glass. I usually head through the main entrance from the street, allowing the paparazzi to always snap my picture, but this is different. I’m arriving as someone shunned.
I mindlessly stroll beside Talon with Esteban behind us, remaining utterly silent. I train my gaze toward the floor, refusing to look at anything or anyone. It’s the only thing restraining the panic threatening to explode from my chest.
The scent of burning candles permeates the air. Esteban cuts off from us, vanishing into the shadows where dozens of people linger in wait. Talon presses his hand to the small of my back, forcing me to keep moving even though all I want to do is turn around and run. I thought this would be better than dealing with the cops, but I was wrong. I don’t know what I was thinking. This is so much worse. Just being under the silent scrutiny and not knowing what’s about to happen to me leaves me on the edge of losing my mind.
And then I see him.
Christos stands off to the side, right near the altar, the glow of candlelight showing off the fact that he props his mask on his forehead while everyone else remains obscured.
“Executioner, please prepare the Princess. I’ll not be overseeing her punishment due to my ties, so you’ll address His Majesty of the Rabbit Hole.” My dad’s voice bellows out, echoing across the spacious meeting room. I thought William would have returned to his chapter, but I guess he would want to stay to ensure my punishment for disrespecting an heir.
“Yes, Your Majesty,” Talon says, deepening his voice. As my dad’s business partner, Talon handles most of Daddy’s dirty work and oversees the individual members while Daddy overlooks the entire chapter.
Talon pushes his fingers deeper into my back, nudging me to walk forward. My hands tremble, my body turning cold the closer I get to where the King’s chamber is. I don’t know exactly what Talon has to prepare me for, but whatever it is, it can’t be good. He might take away my allowance in front of everyone, stealing away everything I need to survive. I could be forced into taking some shady ass job like a drug mule or madame of one of the sex clubs. I could be put on lockdown and forced to be a servant in one of the chapters. William could even demand I get transferred for a while.
“Princess, heir to His Majesty of the Looking Glass. You’ve been judged as disrespectful toward our traditions within the Society of Secrets. Because of your actions, you will stand before your chapter and not with them while the meeting is in session. Your discrepancies deem you undeserving of our ceremonial robes until you understand your place.” William’s voice booms from the doorway of Daddy’s chambers as he enters the large room. “And to gain such awareness, you have to face the consequences of your actions. You will not have the luxury of private reprimand. However, because of your good record and previous obedience, I will allow you to pick your punishment from a short list I have found suitable.”
What the actual fuck?
Talon growls under his breath, the sound vibrating against the back of my head as he stands close enough to touch. “You don’t have to strip her to make a point.”
“It’s part of the punishment. She must bear the consequences of her disobedience. She does not look ashamed of her actions, and she needs to be humiliated,” William snaps, smacking an ornate, ceremonial cane to the floor, one different from my dad’s.
“Executioner, do your job and listen to His Majesty.” Daddy speaks up from his spot near the altar, finally coming into view. “Princess, do as you’re told. You cannot afford not to. Just be grateful that you aren’t banished completely. Now strip. Bare yourself to the court and accept the consequences of your actions. This is your time of judgment.”
I’m going to be sick.
I can’t believe this is happening. I can’t believe my dad is going along with this.