Page 34 of Liar
“You’re defending him.”
I don’t ask it. It’s said as more of a warning. Don’t test me.
“I also know what I did.” Her voice grows husky, like velvet caressing my dick. I clench my jaw to remain in control. Why the fuck did I think it was a good idea to come here?
“I’m the one who dealt the worst blow,” she says.
I find myself rushing to defend her. “You weren’t the one with a blade. Pliers. Willing to mutilate him.” I continue, softer, “I know you, Ember. You hit him hard so you could knock him out quick. So you could end it.”
Her forehead wrinkles with conflict. “Speaking of, when were you going to tell me Savannah’s lost her mind?”
I tip my head back, studying Ember. She’s dismissed my excuses for her actions and gone straight to the source. It’s a hard reminder that I have to measure my words with her. Always. She cannot make me weak.
“Sav’s traumatized by her experiences, as you can imagine.”
“So you give her weapons?”
“No, we weaponize her.”
Ember draws up short. “Oh my god, you’re serious.”
“What part of the Societies has you hesitating at admitting their ruthlessness, little pretty? Yes, Sav has trauma counselors, funded by the Societies to ‘help’ her, but underground, it’s a different sort of assistance. My father thinks she’ll come in handy when he needs information extracted from certain individuals. She’s both an excellent lure and a willing torture device. Tell me you couldn’t see it last night.”
“No.” Ember shakes her head. The paddle drops onto the bedsheets. “No. What we did was forced, and worse, she’s vulnerable. I saw the sweet side of her yesterday as much as I witnessed her savagery. Savannah needs actual help. She’s still in there. Your girlfriend can be saved, Thorne. Why aren’t you fighting to stop this?”
“For the same reasons you’re not willing to leave.”
My voice whips through the air. With the way she lurches, it feels like I’ve cut through her.
“My father manipulates you into the darkest version of yourself, or haven’t you noticed?” I point at my chest as if I can directly show her the evil nestling within, cultivated and pruned like a rare, poisonous plant. “He’s awakening it within you. You feel guilty now, but at that moment, you were his creation and out for blood. It’ll only get worse the longer you stay with them. Why didn’t you escape when you had the chance?” I sharpen my gaze on her, hoping my intensity slashes into her soul. “Sav’s back and happy to resume her position. You could’ve stepped down. You could’ve stopped her from proving to everyone what a valuable asset she’s become. There was no longer a place for you until you carved one for yourself by winning yesterday’s challenge.”
Ember doesn’t waver. “Is that why you broke into my home? To tell me how much I’ve screwed up my chances to be free?” She laughs, low and bruised. “My future was fucked the moment I met you, Thorne Briar. Anything I do now is merely a bonus trip to Hell.”
She’s telling the truth, and it hits hard. Her defeatist attitude twists my heart in a way it was never meant to register.
“I’ve come here to warn you.” My tone comes out rougher than intended. “I’ve finally figured out what my father wants with you, and that’s to make you one of his weapons or break you while he does it. Either one will suit him.”
“Like he did with Malcolm?” She whispers it. “Or is it Savannah? Who are you comparing me to?”
I cross my arms, the muscles there thrumming with the need to tie her to the bedposts and force her to submit. The craving heats the backs of my eyes. It’s the only feature I can’t warp into stone.
“I can take care of myself,” she says. “I certainly don’t need you to slink around Weatherby manor’s sewer lines and pop up when it’s convenient for you.”
I stare at her. “Me? You think my constant saving of your ass is about me?”
“Oh, that’s rich. I don’t recall you swimming beside me during Damion’s rock-climbing challenge, or yesterday when a pile of torture devices was thrown at my feet. After I was told to dress like a virgin and hurt someone until they passed out.”
Ah. It starts making sense. “You liked it.”
She balks. “Excuse me?”
“You liked smacking Zeke around, you enjoyed the risk of death while swimming in the pitch black, and you like it when I tongue that pussy of yours with my hands around your throat.”
I step closer. She skitters away, retreating until her back slams against the wall.
“You feed off adrenaline. It’s what motivates you. Fuck, it’s what keeps you with the Virtues instead of doing the smarter thing and walking away.”
I smack my palms on either side of her head, caging her in. Ember flinches but doesn’t shrivel under my stare. I bend until my nose almost touches hers. “And yes, you finished my father’s impossible challenges all by yourself because you couldn’t be bothered to heed my constant warnings to get the fuck out of this place.”