Her friend with the short black fringe giggles and I grit my teeth, bringing my attention back to the glasses on my tray.
“Tell me, Unfortunate…” She’s not finished… Reluctantly, I look back to Elizabeth. She’s still smirking at me, looking all smug and superior. “Where did you sleep last night?”
My empty, aching stomach drops. I don’t want to tell her… but she has these big blue eyes that pierce my chest… as if she’ll know if I lie to her. I clear my throat. “In Master Kade’s bed,” I say, knowing very well that that’s not what she wanted to hear.
Her almond shaped eyes narrow as she quirks an eyebrow. “Did you have a good time?”
A good time? What kind of question is that? I know she’s cornering me. If I say no, that’s bad mouthing my Fortunate and it might get back to Vince, but if I say yes, it’ll make her mad. Elizabeth waits patiently. In fact, the whole table—nine Fortunates in total—wait for my response.
“Yes, ma’am. I did.”
She taps her fingers on the table, glaring at me like I’ve gone out of my way to frustrate her.
“Perhaps this calls for a toast.” Her slender fingers wrap around the glass and she raises it. I watch cautiously as the other Fortunates take their glasses in their hands, mimicking the movement. “Take a glass, Nine.”
I peer down at the five remaining glasses on my tray and lower it before plucking one off for myself. My movements are suspicious… and I hope they don’t notice.
“To Nine, being the first woman to spend the whole night in Master Kade’s bed, and for proving that Unfortunates aren’t as unfortunate as they claim.”
I still, watching as they slowly sip at their drinks.
“It’s extremely rude of you to ignore a toast, Unfortunate, especially one in your honour. Drink!”
I rake my teeth over my bottom lip before I exhale and bring the juice closer to my mouth. As the cool glass grazes my lip, she tells me to stop. I keep my eyes on hers as her lips pull wider, morphing into an evil grin.
“Tip the glass.”
I clench my jaw… but I do what she says. I tilt the glass, angling it more and more until the cold, sticky juice hits my skin, rolls between my breasts, over my tummy and down my legs. Bitch! I was expecting something like this, but whether I knew this would happen or not, there’s nothing I could do to stop it. A perfectly fine glass of orange juice wasted… The table erupts with giggles as I place the cup back down on my tray.
“What do you say, Unfortunate?” By some miracle, I manage to keep my face neutral regardless of her condescending tone.
“Thank you,” I reply.
I wait for her to dismiss me. Once engaged in a conversation with a Fortunate, you can’t leave until they dismiss you. As she talks about me to everyone else like I’m not standing right in front of her, I drop my attention to a butter knife on the table and ponder how far I could get after I shove it into her neck and run. I jump as a warm, hard hand grabs my arm. For a moment, my stomach drops into my intestines and panic bubbles in my chest. Did I say that out loud?
“Why is she covered in orange juice?” the man with my arm in his hand demands.
His deep, rough voice relaxes me, surprisingly, and I almost sag in relief. Master Kade has come to take me away from Elizabeth… I hope.
Elizabeth bats her long, dark lashes at Kade and smiles sweetly, forcing a bitter taste to form at the back of my throat. “She tripped.”
“Tripped?” Kade looks at me, but I keep my sights on the lush, green grass. “I find that hard to believe. Did you trip, Unfortunate?”
I drag my eyes to his. Without a doubt, the darkness in his is a lot more intimidating than Elizabeth’s blue orbs could ever be. Besides, I don’t owe her any favours and if I’m going to earn Kade’s trust and prove that I’m loyal to him, I have to tell the truth. I shake my head. “No. I was ordered to pour the juice down my dress.”
The Fortunates sitting around the table gasp and Kade’s jaw tightens imperceptibly as he turns his dark glare on Elizabeth. “What have I told you about toying with my things, Elizabeth?”
Her eyes thin. “It’s an Unfortunate, Kade. It’s not like I’m playing with anything important.”
“What have I told you?” Kade shouts, his loud voice booming like thunder. I jump and try to inch away from him, but he tightens his grip, pulling me hard against his body. Strangely, I feel safer here… like no one can hurt me.
Elizabeth pouts. “Don’t touch.”
He pushes me forward until my thighs crash into the table. I gasp as he steps behind me and harshly tugs me backwards. He squeezes my back against the front of his body and immediately his scent envelops me… he smells like the air after a fire in the forest as it mixes with the fresh, salty air of the ocean.