Sirius takes a step closer, his eyes zeroing in on Alston’s beaten form, but I step slightly in front of him. “Fear is respect, Alston. It keeps people in line. Something you’d understand if you weren’t so naive.”“Fear breeds contempt, Sirius,” Alston replies, his voice mocking despite the pain. “I
Laying in Alston’s arms, sobbing uncontrollably, a flood of regret and guilt washes over me. “H-how could he be so cruel?”Alston slowly pulls the pins out of my updo and massages my scalp in that way, that makes me calm down, but this time it doesn’t work so easily and he whispers my name, “Elise,
Elise flops back down onto the grass, looking up at the sky, a content sigh escaping her lips. “Isn't it just so pretty today? Look at those clouds.”Alston lies down beside her, his eyes following hers to the sky. The clouds drift lazily, forming shapes and patterns that stirred the imagination. Bu
My eyes widen and I practically rip the bag open as I check the supplies in the streams of sunlight coming from the small, window. I gasp when I see her handy work: bandages, a needle and thread, antiseptic – everything I had begged for earlier."I couldn't just watch him die," she says, her voice w
"There," I say softly, brushing a stray lock of hair from Alston’s forehead. "All done."Alston’s eyes flutter open again, and he manages a weak smile. "Thank you," he whispers, his voice barely audible.Lucy watches from the other side of the bars, her eyes wide with a mixture of fear and fascinati
I stare at him in shock, my mind racing to comprehend his words. A public mistress. The humiliation, the degradation – it would be unbearable. "You can’t do this," I whisper, my voice trembling."I can and I will," Sirius replies, his tone final. "You’ve left me no choice, Elise."He signals to the
I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror. The golden fabric hugs my curves, the fitted bodice cinching my waist and emphasizing my figure. The color brings out the warmth in my eyes and the glow in my complexion. “When you look this good, is this a battle you want to fight?”I shake my head no, and
Claudia’s eyes sweep over the scene in front of her, and she sighs. Her emerald green eyes stare at me as if I am the scum on the bottom of her shoe. “Sirius dear, if I knew we were bringing our whores, Julius would have come.”I bristle at her tone, but before I can respond, Sirius stands, his expr