The night moves quickly and everything is going well, until I distinctly feel a hand press to the small of my back and glide over the curve of my ass. My eyes widen, but I don’t dare jolt away. Instead, I subtly reach forward and tug ever so slightly on Kade’s jacket sleeve. As he glances over his shoulder, the hand is gone as quickly as it appeared.
“Vince,” Kade states, speaking his name like he’s not welcome at his own party. “Happy birthday.”
I keep my head down, not daring to peek at either of them. The group of Fortunates Kade was chatting with have drifted off, giving the brothers some alone time.
“Why isn’t she wearing the dress, Kaden?”
Kade draws his glass to his lips and takes a long, pondering sip. “Because she doesn’t have to,” he says when he lowers it.
“Everyone else is.”
“Well, everyone else doesn’t belong to me. The way she dresses is an option I, and I alone, get to choose.”
Vince expels an offended air through his nose. “It’s my birthday and you couldn’t even give me this one thing?”
Kade scoffs. “I bought you two virgin Unfortunates and had them sent to your room earlier today. Not one, but two, so don’t talk to me like I haven’t done anything for you.”
“Virgins? I was done with them within an hour. You could have gotten me something a little more sustainable, like a car.”
Kade sighs and I lift my eyes just enough to see him swirl his drink and take another sip. “You’re not allowed to drive cars outside of the city, so it would’ve been pointless.”
“Whatever, man.” With a swift, harsh slap on my ass that makes me yelp, Vince strolled off. I glance over my shoulder, my cheeks burning with embarrassment and disgust as he slings his arm around a passing Unfortunate, one that graciously wears the dress he wanted us all to wear.
“Ignore him,” I tell Kade, who glares at Vince. “Asshole.”
He looks at me and for the first time, I see sincerity in his face. “Are you all right?”
I feel my eyebrows rise in shock. Is he asking me if I’m all right? “Me?”
“Yes, you.”
“I—I’m fine.” I rub the back of my neck. “Thank you.”
“There’s Albert.” Kade points out.
I follow the subtle point of his finger and spot a grey-haired Albert fifteen metres away, sitting alone and drinking wine yet again.
“I’m going to go chat with him. Alone.”
Out of panic, I grip his arm and his dark eyes zero in on it. I quickly pull my hand back. “What do you want me to do?”
He glances around. “Go stand by that tree and don’t move. It’ll only take a few minutes.”
“Wait, what about Vince?”
“Don’t worry about him. He’ll go to the Black House soon for his usual birthday antics, and other Fortunates like to watch, so the numbers will dwindle. You’ll be safe.” I open my mouth to protest, but Kade grabs my lips, pinching them together. I want him to know there’s a bad feeling swirling in my stomach that I can’t seem to shake. “Go and sit,” he orders. “I’ll be right back.”
He releases my mouth and turns away from me. I guess I don’t have a choice. Rubbing my mouth, I turn and saunter towards the massive oak tree. I sit in the shadows, away from the light to avoid anyone seeing me—especially Vince. I think I manage to go unnoticed for thirty seconds before I hear dry leaves crunch underneath a pair of shoes. Shoes. That means only one thing—a Fortunate. I hold my breath and don’t move, hoping he or she doesn’t see me, but when I see the moon glisten off of leather shoes as they stop in front of me, I know I’ve lost.
“And here I was thinking he’d never leave you alone.”
I push back off of the tree, pulling myself to my feet. “He’ll be back any second now.”
He reaches forward and my blood runs cold as he runs an index finger between my breasts and up my the side of my neck.
“I don’t think Master Kade would appreciate you touching me.”
He jolts forward, his hand clamping around my throat. I feel blood build in my face as my air supply is cut off. He’s pushing so hard I’m certain he’s going to crush my windpipe.
“Is that a threat, slave?”
I shake my head as best I can. My lungs burn with lack of oxygen and his strength is much greater than I assumed it would be. In the dim light, I see his lips curve into a sly smirk and then, he releases me. I splutter as I gasp for air, forcing as much oxygen in my lungs as I can. My head spins and I curl over, using my knees for support. With a dark chuckle, Vince grips my shoulder and pins me hard against the tree.