Page 173 of Glutton for Punishment

I stare at the shattered pieces scattered across the floor, my breath coming in ragged pulls. Behind me, Arwen remains still, her shock hanging in the air between us.

“Should I leave?” she asks quietly.

Almost instantly, shame hits me and I close my eyes. I never lose control of my emotions, and now I’ve done it in front of my bond again. I feel like a feral animal. Just like I did in Greed.

Arwen hasn’t moved when I turn around. Her hands are in her lap as she just observes me. Lowering myself back into the chair, I press the heels of my hands against my eyes. “It’s my father.”

I laugh bitterly. The exhaustion of it hits me all at once. I have spent so long performing—keeping my voice level, my expression neutral, my distance exact—that I have almost forgotten what it costs. Months of standing close enough to reach out and touch the girl I’m falling in love with, and choosing, every single time, not to.

“My father is unhappy,” I say finally. “He says the reports from his academy contacts are disappointing. That he’s concerned I’m not making enough political connections.”

Arwen rolls her eyes.

“He also seems to think I’m not spending enough time with… other women.” The words taste like ash. Arwen’s gaze drops to the floor, her fingers tightening on the armrest.

“He sent me a contract. A marriage agreement.”

She sits up straight, attention spiking, the moment she registers what I’ve said.

“What? What do you mean, a marriage agreement?”

I force the next words out before I lose my nerve. “My father wants me engaged. To Daphne.”

The silence that follows feels endless as Arwen simply stares at me.

“He said it wouldn’t happen immediately and the actual marriage wouldn’t be until after graduation. But he wants it known publically that I intend on ignoring the bond and focusing on my esteemed duties.”

“He’s assuming I’ll sign it,” I add on.

For a long moment, Arwen doesn’t respond. When I get the courage to look at her, the hurt on her face is so obvious it nearly destroys me. As if someone reached into her chest and twisted.

The sight makes something vicious rise inside me.

This is exactly what my father wanted. To remind us both that he controls every piece on the board.

“Atticus...” she whispers.

I shake my head. “No. I’m not signing it. It’s over.”

Her eyes widen in surprise, and I move closer to her. “I don’t care what he threatens.”

I kneel in front of her chair. The words leave my mouth before I can second-guess them. “I don’t care what punishments he’ll bring down on me. I can’t do it anymore.”

Across from me, Arwen’s expression shifts from concern to confusion. “Can’t do what?”

I drag a hand through my hair. The shattered cup is still scattered across the floor between us. I look at it for a long moment.

“I can’t keep doing this.” My voice comes out lower than I intend. “Being his puppet.” I finally look up at her. “Pretending you mean nothing to me.”

The silence that follows is total.

“I’m cutting ties with my father.”

All the color drains from her face. “You can’t do that.”

The conviction in my voice catches me off guard, but the moment the words leave my mouth, they feel like truth. “It will be fine. You have power now, Arwen. The Council already took you back. I’d bet the Universe itself they wouldn’t dare try to remove you again.”

Her lips part to protest, but I continue before she can.