Chapter 10: The Lesson, part 1

KADE

Frustration thickened his blood as he stared at his unmade Unfortunate. She was a gift for his birthday, yet she didn't look like one. He couldn't believe she had the nerve to appear in his bedroom undressed. Nine shivered in her tunic, the red gown he hand-picked for her clenched in her fist. Shadows, cast from the fireplace, nestled in the hollows of her cheeks and under her covered breasts.

"Is there a reason," he began, sliding his teeth together, "you are not dressed?"

She didn't answer, and that thrust his frustration in the direction of rage. He gripped his bottom-heavy glass and dragged an inhale through his nose as he stepped closer.

"I asked you a question," he spoke, hoping his dark, low tone penetrated her flesh and speared sense into her. "It's in your best interest to answer it."

"Yes," she whispered, swallowing hard. "It exposes more than—"

"Speak up, Unfortunate."

Nine lifted her head, her pretty violet eyes flaring in a way that quelled the frustration in his blood. "It exposes more of me than I feel comfortable with."

"Comfortable?" He laughed under his breath and closed the distance between them until he was in danger of crushing her toes under his shoe. "What part of your existence is meant to make you feel comfortable?"

Nine flinched, dropping her gaze to the floor. Kade caught her chin and tilted it up. Her skin was soft, even on the tips of his fingers. He hated he noticed that.

"Why do you want me to wear something like this?" she asked, and blush swirled furiously in her cheeks.

It wasn't for him. Having her dressed this way was all part of his plan. Nine was the juicy slab of meat he would dangle in front of lions. He'd use her to get everything he ever wanted. Of course, he couldn't tell her that yet.

"You have twenty seconds to put the dress on, or you're going out there naked," he threatened, tightening his hold on her face.

Nine's delicate, pointy nose twitched, and he released her from his grip. Kade flicked his head toward his bathroom, a silent demand, and without a word, she obeyed.

When she shut the door, he exhaled and sauntered toward his desk. He retrieved a new, clean glass and filled it with his favourite whiskey. His thoughts fell onto his party, and he grunted before shooting back the golden-brown liquid. He hated birthdays and parties. To him, they were a waste of time and resources. His brother, Vincent, however, loved a good soiree. He jumped at any opportunity to drink until he was paralytic and slept with women who weren't in any state to enthusiastically consent to the act. Vince was a bad guy. He lost his humanity when their mother was killed and could no longer guide him down the right path. Vince was too young to remember her lessons, but Kade remembered them well. Though society groomed him into the cold man he now was, he was still his mother's son deep down. He remembered every lesson and every point she ever made. He wished he didn't. Life would be so much easier if he didn't.

Kade poured more whiskey into his glass and moved across the floor, dropping into his favourite armchair. He placed his glass onto the small, round side table and pinched the bridge of his nose with a sigh, hoping it'd relieve his throbbing headache.

The bathroom handle shimmied, and he cast his gaze to the door. He couldn't help but hold his breath as anticipation seared down his neck. In the next heartbeat, his Unfortunate stepped into the main room. Kade stopped his index finger against the table surface and drank her in, inch by inch. He dragged his stare up her long exposed leg, jutting out from the slice in the fabric, her slim hips, and her narrow waist before stopping at her breasts. Among the distraction of red cloth and glistening sequins, he saw her nipples. Barely. But they were there. Her long, wavy hair framed her feminine face. It sat haphazardly over her shoulders, its ends curling around the sides of her generous bust. She was a vision. Finally, he pulled his sights to her expression and analysed the slight furrow between her brows. Her pouting lips were pursed into a flat line and her violet gaze burned with resentment.

Kade shifted forward in his seat. "You look like you want to say something."

She clenched her jaw and stared at him with eyes so intense that it made his heart race. She gave her head a minute shake.

"No?"

Nine dragged a subtle inhale through her nose, then blew it out, lowering her shoulders with it. "No, Master Kade."

Liar. Excitement lifted the hair on the back of his neck at the thought of punishing the auburn-haired woman. He had to send an Unfortunate to retrieve her. How many Unfortunates did she pass on her way here, undressed and disobedient? He couldn't let her get away with defying him. She could tell other Unfortunates. It could come back on him. It could catch on and spread like the plague. Exhaling, Kade reached for his glass and swallowed its contents.

"You disobeyed me," he said, returning his cup to the table.

"I am wearing the dress, as requested."

"As requested?" He cut his eyes. The nerve of her. "I had to threaten you."

Nine's jaw flexed, but she didn't dare utter another word. She balled her fists at her sides, her flesh sinking into the chiffon fabric at her thighs. Her gaze remained locked on his, and he held her there, not daring to be the first to look away. She shouldn't even be making eye contact with him. Yet, here she stood, not backing down for a second. The air was tense, her threat ringing as a challenge in his ears. He abhorred physical punishment. It made him uncomfortable in every layer that made up his complex being, but it was something that came with being a Fortunate. He had to get used to it. He had to endure it—survive it—the same way an Unfortunate would.

Parting his lips, he let out a soft exhale and relaxed into his chair. Placing his arms along the thick armrests, he curled his fingers over the edge and gripped the leather. "Get down on your hands and knees, Unfortunate."

She lifted her eyebrows, and the purple fire in her irises snuffed out. "But—"

He shook his head, and she pursed her lips against her protest. She exhaled and slumped as she lowered herself onto her hands and knees. The red fabric threatened to swallow her frame like a bee in the centre of a rose, and she downcasted her gaze to the hardwood floor.

"Crawl to me."