Page 87 of Reign of the Queen
“Tell me what happened with your grandmother.” I request softly and soothingly. I have the feeling that if I try any of my demanding alpha caveman shit right now, she’s likely to knee me in the balls.
“Nothing happened. You are all safe here. No one will take Carter from here.” She leans back in the chair, crossing her arms across her chest, putting distance between our bodies and closing herself off from me.
“And the cost for that?”
“What do you mean the cost?” she asks warily, her features a blank mask, giving none of her thoughts away.
“In our world, there is always a cost Mia. What is the cost to you for protecting us?” I bring myself closer to her body. Getting on my knees and bracing my hands on the chair arms, caging her in. A tremble makes it way through my body; something fucked up is happening here, and this time the threat is not one of the king’s parents. I can feel it in my bones.
“War always has a cost, Mia. Who is paying the cost of this one?” Finn inquires, moving closer to us.
She doesn’t answer. Looking between the three of us, I can see determination in her expression and also hate. There is hate brewing behind those blue eyes. “You are,” I state with a sudden heaviness in my chest.
“What did she request from you as payment Mia?” Finn inquires softly, his fists clenching at his side.
Mia moves to get up from the chair and avoid answering the question, but I have her caged in with my body. “What have you done, Mia?” I question, fear rushing through my system. I lean in and let my nose brush against where her neck and collarbone meet, inhaling her scent deeply.
“Release me, Theo.” Her face hardens, and she pushes against my straining arms.
“No. Tell me what your grandmother has demanded in payment, Mia. It’s not yours to pay. It’s ours; we brought him here,” I spit out through clenched teeth.
A sarcastic laugh leaves her, the sound making the hairs on my arms and nape stand up. She again pushes against my frame, this time more forcefully, trying to get me to release her from the chair. “There is nothing any of you have that she would want.”
Her words are like a slap, hitting me hard. I drop my arms to my side and move back, allowing her space to move away from me and the chair. She doesn’t hesitate, moving quickly to the large windows, looking out over the view of the cold Atlantic Ocean. The sunlight streams through the glass, making her look radiant from the glow. Watching her encased in that glow brings a brief moment where I can release the harsh breath that is being strangled in my chest.
Mia’s hair, in her messy bun, reflects and picks up the sunshine, taking on a warm, golden hue. The exposed skin of her neck and stomach glow a warm amber from the sunlight, making her look almost ethereal. Her expression is tight, not giving anything away.
“So, you will pay the price. What has she asked in return, Mia?” I stalk in her direction.
Turning she smiles at me, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. “You’re being ridiculous, Theo. My grandmother loves me. She would never ask me to pay a price for protecting me or for protecting you as an extension of me.”
“I don’t believe you. You’re fucking lying to us.” I approach and pull her into my arms. Her whole body tenses up and she tries to take a step away from me. I won’t be deterred, needing to feel her. I pull her into my embrace and wrap my arms around her waist. I drag her fully into my frame until our bodies are completely aligned. My breathing, harsh and loud, the beat of my heart sound loudly in my ears. I breathe her in, her scent calming my thudding heart. Squeezing her tighter, she lets out the breath that she was holding. Her rigid body softens in my embrace. A moment or two pass with just us standing in each other's arms, the outside world forgotten. Her warm body pressed against me, my senses completely enthralled with her.
The moment is broken when she raises herself on the tips of her bare toes and lets her breath whisper over my lips. She’s so close I can see the deep flecks of sapphire in her eyes and the few freckles she has across the bridge of her nose and cheeks. Licking her lips, she leans closer, just a brush of her soft, pouty lips touching mine. Desire and hunger for her rises in my blood. I want to burn in the scorching fire that is Mia and rise from the ashes with her by my side.
“You should be more worried about what I will demand in repayment, Theodore Saint-Lambert. I will be harder to please.” She arches a brow and presses her lips firmly on mine, letting her tongue move against the seam of my lips, demanding entry, her fingers grasped tightly to my shirt.
I open my lips, and my tongue comes out to entangle with hers—a deep moan bearing out of my chest. My hands grasp her hips firmly as I push my hardening erection into her stomach. It seems my body is always ready for her; it craves hers like a drug. For Mia, I am a willing addict. She brings out an animalistic savage need to have, control, and mark her.
Pulling back from the heated kiss, l observe her features, not allowing temptation to distract me. “What are you demanding in payment, Mia?”
Her lips tilt up in a smile but it doesn’t reach her eyes, they are haunted and cold. “All of it. Your control over me, the school, your crowns, and even your fucking future legacies. The four of you will belong to me and only me going forward for however long I deem necessary. I will have sole control over the school and you. When you leave Casbury, you will go where I dictate. I will control all of you,” she declares, looking at me through her long lashes.I can’t be hearing her correctly…she’s not demanding our lives in repayment.
“What the fuck, Mia?” Finn shouts behind me.
Mia looks over my shoulder, a cold brutal smile gracing her face. She pulls back from my hold, going over to Finn. “Take it or leave it Finn, your crown, power, and obedience, for my protection.”
“Is this some fucking joke, Mia? We are in a serious situation here. Carter almost died and will die if his sick fuck of a father gets his hands on him. You want to negotiate terms, now?” Finn demands, rage filling his strong features.
“No, Finn, there is no negotiation here. You will relent and agree, you have no other choice, and you know it. I will protect the four of you with my name and my family’s power, but I will not do it under any other terms.”
Finn glares down at her, the room fills with heavy silence. Each of us trying to process Mia’s words, her ultimatum that makes us her willing prisoners. All you can hear is the harsh breaths leaving each of our chests as our world crumbles further under our feet.
Finn grabs Mia’s wrist, dragging her forcefully to him and runs his nose down the side of her jaw, his breath skating across her flesh as he breathes her in. Wrapping his hand around her throat, he tightens the pressure slightly until her breath stutters, her face rising in color as he pushes her hard into the nearest wall. He stares down at her with a mixture of rage, fear, and desire painted across his features.
I should move to try to defuse the situation. Our presence here is precarious with Mia’s grandmother and the security team just outside of this room. But I’m rooted to my spot, unable to move, watching my brother take possession of her.
“You want my crown and my obedience Mia?” His other hand trails up the back of her ass and squeezes her ass cheek tight in his grip, lifting her to the tips of her bare toes. “Fucking take it then.” Tilting his head, he takes her mouth in a punishing kiss, all teeth, and tongue. She lets out a groan, wrapping her arms around his neck and digging her fingers into his hair and neck. His hand drops from around her neck and grips the loose bun in her hair, pulling and controlling her movements, ensuring that she can’t move away from him as he continues to plunder her mouth.
