It puts all the houses I thought were over the top in Sterling Bay to shame.
Huge canvases of modern art line the light grey walls along with sculptures on each of the ornate pieces of furniture. It looks nothing like I would expect from five college kids. Although they are college kids with more money and power than sense, so I guess I really shouldn’t be surprised.
I didn't have Cade down as an art lover—not that I've spent all that much time thinking about him or considering him having a life that doesn't involve ruining everyone else's.
We pass multiple closed doors as we follow, my eyes taking in everything, trying to absorb any information that might come in useful one day.
"Our guests are here," Cade announces, throwing open a set of double doors and walking in with his arms held out wide.
Mia hurries around him and darts toward one of two empty chairs at the head of the table. Predictably, she doesn't go for the one that looks like a throne. I think we all know who that belongs to.
The room itself is quite plain. There’s more artwork, but the most distracting thing is the floor-to-ceiling windows that look out over the forest in the distance. If it weren't for all the sets of eyes drilling into me, I might get a chance to appreciate it.
"Please, come and take your seats." Cade smirks as he gestures to the only two vacant chairs that aren’t his over-the-top throne. Fucking asshole.
While everyone else is sitting in high-backed, cushioned mahogany dining chairs, the two waiting for Alex and I look like something from first grade.
Alex takes a step forward, clearly ready to accept this fate and allow this cunt to humiliate us, but before he can take another, I throw my arm out to stop him.
My ribs smart with the sudden movement, but I fight the grimace that wants to cover my face. He doesn't need to know that I'm still suffering because of him.
"Get us some decent seats and we might join you."
Cade's brows rise at the fact that I even dare to speak out of turn.
"I'm sorry, did you say something?"
"Yeah."
He takes a step toward us, tension crackling between us.
"Bexley," Alex hisses, but I ignore him.
"It would be in your best interest to do exactly as you’re told, Easton."
"Why? Gonna take me back to the pit?"
His eyes drop down my body as if he can see the bruises that still mar my skin from their brutal attack on Friday night.
"No," he drawls. "I know how to make it hurt worse than that." He studies me for a few seconds as my fists clench and unclench at my sides, more than ready to take a swing for the asshole.
"Babe?" he calls, not taking his eyes from mine for even a second.
"Y-yeah?" Mia's soft voice flows through me and makes my chest ache with my need for her, my need to get her away from this cunt and to safety.
"Remind our initiates who's in charge here."
"Uh… I'm… I'm not getting involved," she stutters.
Finally, he rips his eyes from mine and looks over his shoulder, piercing her with his death stare.
"Bexley, Alex, please, just sit down," she says after a beat, clearly deciding that this isn't worth Cade's wrath.
My chest heaves as Cade's attention comes back to me.
"You heard my queen. Take your seats."
I swallow down the response that's on the tip of my tongue and nod once at him in agreement.
His lips twitch in a smirk, but I'm not doing this for him. It's for Mia. Always for Mia.
The tension is heavy as Alex and I sit like we're a couple of toddlers at the adult table.
Each of the Electi stares at us with amused smirks on their faces.
After a few silent minutes, Cade's knife taps against his glass at the head of the table. I can't help but roll my eyes at his need to command the room. It's pathetic.
"Welcome, Electi. Prosapia." He looks at Mia and smiles insincerely at her.
It makes my skin crawl that she has no choice but to be close to him, to accept whatever he throws at her. "Initium. Before your initiation tasks continue, we thought it only right to get to know you. To learn what makes you both tick." He narrows his eyes on me. "Although I think we already know one of your weaknesses." One of his hands drops beneath the table and Mia startles, a quiet gasp passing her lips.
My teeth grind as my fingers twist in the fabric of my pants.
"So, without further ado, please enjoy our food—and more importantly, our company. After all, so long as you pass and are still breathing at the end, we are all now bound to each other for life." He smiles down at me, but it does nothing to lighten the weight of the threat that was laced through his words.
This is a death sentence, regardless of whether we're still breathing at the end of it.
The doors behind me open and two young women dressed in small black and white maid’s outfits, just like the one who greeted us, carry two huge trays in and begin placing plates down in front of the Electi. As they bend over, their asses are on show in their short dresses and their breasts threaten to spill out the top.
Ashton and Brandon eat it up, taking in every inch the women have to offer, while Cade watches on, seemingly unfazed, and Mia squirms uncomfortably beside him.
The scent of herbs and spices fills the air and my stomach growls in anticipation. Maybe one good thing could come out of tonight.
But before the women get down to us, they turn and leave the room, closing the door behind them.
18
Mia
This is hell.
No, it’s worse than hell.
Cade lords over the entire meal like he’s the king and we his lowly people. He keeps one hand on me at all times, touching my arm, my knee, sliding his fingers up my thigh,
