Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 44450 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 222(@200wpm)___ 178(@250wpm)___ 148(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44450 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 222(@200wpm)___ 178(@250wpm)___ 148(@300wpm)
Peter and Edward took turns guarding me, keeping their eyes on me as I remained quiet. I refused to talk to them, not wanting to give up any information. I didn’t care how hard they pushed; I didn’t want to help them. At this point, they were just keeping me around as a hostage. They were wasting their time. They might as well kill me already and get it over with.
I shifted in the wooden chair, my back aching from the hard wood. I couldn’t even stretch my legs. I rolled my neck, hearing the door open and footsteps approaching me. Lifting my eyes, I spotted Peter walking toward me with a ceramic basin in his hands. When he got closer, I could see soapy water in the basin.
“Don’t do anything stupid,” Peter warned me as he set the basin down on the ground. He undid the ropes around my legs and then the ones around my arms to free me. He immediately clamped a hand around my wrist, pulling me toward him.
I lifted my eyes to his as he towered over me, my heart racing. I could see where Zephyr got his looks from. Despite what he did to me, I felt safer around Peter than Edward, who was far less humane. I could see where Arvo got his twisted mind from.
“Undress,” Peter said. His words were an order, but they weren’t threatening.
I swallowed hard and nodded. As much as I wanted to run, I knew that wasn’t a smart move. He could snatch me up in an instant, and that could prompt them to kill me faster. I pulled off my shirt and slid my pants off my hips and down my legs, feeling Peter’s eyes on me. I paused as I stood there in my bra and panties, wrapping my arms around myself.
“I’m guessing I can’t bathe myself?” I asked him.
Peter held my gaze for a moment before handing me a cloth.
I held the cloth against my chest, feeling my rapid heartbeat. He didn’t seem to want to kill me. Zephyr had a heart. Maybe his father did too. If I wanted a chance at getting out of here, I had to play my cards right.
“Thank you for letting me bathe,” I told him softly. I would feel somewhat better after I wiped all of the dirt and grime off me that had accumulated over the past week of me being down in the catacombs.
Peter’s jaw tightened slightly as he subtly nodded.
“I see a lot of you in Zephyr. Strength. Power,” I murmured before stepping closer to him. “Mercy.”
Peter stared down at me, his jaw loosening slightly.
“Mercy is weakness,” he replied.
The corner of my mouth turned up slightly. Of course, he would have that mindset. Any forgiving or gentle emotion was considered a weakness to the Kings. Yet, their angry and destructive tendencies were seen as strengths. Their mindsets were twisted.
“I see it as strength. It’s harder to forgive someone than to hate them,” I pointed out. “Do you hate me enough to keep me tied to that uncomfortable chair all the time?”
Peter faintly smirked as he tore his eyes away from me.
“A negotiator, I see,” he murmured.
I tilted my head at him, playing up my coquettish, innocent act. If he liked that, I was going to be that girl. I was going to use him all the way to my escape.
“You can still tie up my hands if you like,” I offered, trying to bargain. If I could be free from the chair, I had a better chance of getting the hell out of here. I didn’t know when my lucky break would be, but it would be easier to take advantage of without so many ropes holding me down.
Peter glanced at the ropes on the floor, humming beneath his breath.
My eyes widened slightly when I realized that he was about to give in. My act worked. That had been easier than I thought.
But when were things ever easy for me?
At that moment, the door swung open again, and Edward walked into the room. A dark chuckle broke from him as his eyes wandered up my nearly naked figure.
“My, my. What a lovely surprise,” he said.
I tensed up, trying to hide behind Peter, but he moved away from me. I was vulnerable and exposed, and Edward was heading right toward me. The thought of running crossed my mind, but I knew that I wouldn’t make it to the door on time.
Edward stopped a foot away from me, lifting his hand to brush his thumb against my cheek.
“No wonder boys hound after you like rabid dogs.” He smirked, tracing the bottom hem of my bra with his other hand. “I’d do the same for a piece of you.”
I started to shake on the spot, my chest tightening so much that I couldn’t breathe. He immobilized me so easily. Arvo intimidated me, but his father frightened me to my core. He had no soul, no sympathy. That created a monster, who was right on top of me with bad intentions and roaming hands. I couldn’t think of a worse situation to be in right now.