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Chapter 22
Piper
Walking back into thatcabin was like walking into the gauntlet. I knew they were all going to be waiting for my answer, and I was dreading every second I came closer to having to tell them.
"Miss Billings?" Darren stepped out from his seat and approached me. The poker face he usually wore softened to let his concern peek through. "Piper?"
I swallowed, let out a shaky breath, then nodded to him. "I'm alright. I've decided."
The masters stood from their seats, all of them looking in my direction. Well, all but Antoine. He was still typing on his computer without a care or even an inkling that I would be picking him. I tried not to look at him so the others wouldn't guess before I could get it out.
I knew when Rayne read my mind. He let out a curse, and his amber eyes met mine briefly. They were so filled with disappointment and pain that I wanted to run to his side and console him, but I had made my decision. I couldn't back out now, not because I didn't want to hurt his feelings or the others. This wasn't about us. This was about making sure Valentine stayed away.
So, when Rayne gave me a curt nod, I offered him an apologetic shrug before turning to the rest of them. As I laced my fingers in front of me, I grappled for my words.
"I know this is a big decision, and I don't want any of you to think I didn't think this over. I did. I also want to make sure you all know that just because I have chosen someone else, that doesn't mean that I feel any differently about any of you. I chose the one I did because he was the right person for the job, the person I felt would be the biggest deterrent to Valentine and cause the least amount of fighting among you."
"Ah, fuck," Drake groaned as he slammed his open palm to his forehead. "You choose that asshole." He jerked his head toward Antoine with a grimace.
Antoine still hadn't stood or even shown any indication he was listening, but I nodded. "Yes, I choose Antoine."
There was a collective moan of protests from the others save for Marcus who simply watched with those dark eyes of his. I had a feeling he didn't much care one way or the other. That was good, it meant one less person's feelings I had to worry about.
"Now, I don't want you to think that I'm picking him over any of you." I paused and moved closer to Antoine in hopes of grabbing his attention. "He's the head of your house, and as well as being the oldest, Valentine already showed he hated him at the dinner party."
"Pfft." Allister shook his head. "Valentine hates all of us. If that's what you're basing it on—"
"I'm not." I shook my head as I interrupted him. "I mean, I'm not just basing it on that. Antoine's also already bound someone before, well, unless you have some human servants hiding under your bed?" I scrambled to add, trying to make them understand. When I glanced around the cabin, and they all shook their heads, I relaxed slightly. "I didn't think so."
"But Piper..." Wynn approached me, his hand grabbing mine and drawing them to his chest. "I don't think you know what you're getting into. Antoine won't only be bound to you by blood, but he'll be able to feel your emotions, find you no matter where you are."
I swallowed and nodded dumbly. "I understand, but Antoine is the only one who hasn't tried to seduce me. Sure, he's used my attraction for him to get me to do what he wanted, but not the way the rest of you have." I licked my lips and shot a look his way, expecting him to speak up, but he simply watched me speak with an unreadable expression.
Rayne snorted. "So, you're picking him because he wouldn't give you the time of day? What a womanly thing to do."
I glared at the redhead. "That's not what I said at all."
"No, no, we get it." Rayne held his hands up with a growl. "He won't get emotional about it is what you're saying."
"Something like that," I tried to explain further, but Rayne jumped in again.
"Then you might as well have had Marcus do it. As far as ice sculptures go, he's about as frigid as they come." Rayne gestured to the large stoic man who simple glowered down at him.
I opened my mouth to argue further why I hadn't chosen Marcus when Antoine finally spoke up.
"Enough. Piper has made her decision." He stood and buttoned his suit jacket before meeting me in the middle of the aisle. "We only have a short time before we land. If you still have protests, save them for afterward, or better yet, wait until we are back home where they can't be used against us." His eyes moved around the cabin, making each of the brothers shrink back into their seats.
See? That was exactly the reason I picked him. All he had to do was look around the room, and they stopped their arguing. If my being bound to one of them was going to stop Valentine, then Antoine was the one to do it.
The vampire in question brushed past me and walked to the door on the left, the one with the queen-sized bed in it. I wondered at the implication but didn't question it. I didn't want to do this in front of everyone anyway. The fewer people watching, the better.
I glanced around at the others for one brief second before making my way to the back. Darren stood by the doorway waiting for me. I paused before him and then had to ask, "Is it worth it?"
Darren reached up and patted the side of my face with his white-gloved hand and gave me a reassuring look. "Yes. A hundred times, yes."
I let out a long-relieved breath. "Stay with me?"
This time he shook his head. "This isn't something you share with another. Don't worry, Master Durand was the right choice." With those parting words, he left me at the doorway and took his seat once more.
