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"What! No!" the queen tried to protest but Hollis quickly slung his arm over her and turned her toward the front with an evil laugh.
"Are you still scared of heights?" he cackled.
Queen Sienna could feel her rage shaking through her limbs. She tried to shift herself out from under his arm, facing the view of her city.
Hollis chuckled again when she didn't respond. "Are you giving me the silent treatment?” His face dipped a little closer, almost scandalously close. A finger ran from her temple to her chin turning her face toward him. Sienna glared daggers back. "This is so childish," Hollis whispered.
"And trapping me on this ride wasn't?" She gritted through her teeth. "Why are you here, Hollis?"
He smiled at her response and lounged back in the seat with both his arms resting behind them. "I want to know what happened. I want to know what happened from the time we went to that party until you took the crown. I want to know everything that happened with your sisters."
Her mouth went dry and every time she swallowed it only felt like she was pushing cotton into a ball in the middle of her throat. Eventually, it would choke her. "Is that why you're here? Is that why you've come to these events?"
"Of course, I would like to be king as well," he said, bringing his hand forward and tapping her once on the nose.
She snatched his hand from the air, gripping it until he was squirming in his seat. "Do not play with me. I’m not a lovesick child." It was easy to forget her surroundings and the way they sat so high above everything else around when she was focused on wanting to punch holes right through his face. "If it is higher status you seek, I don't think I can give that to you."
Sherefusedto give it to him. He didn't deserve it.
Hollis used his free hand to slowly peel her fingers off of his. When his hand was free he opened and closed his fist trying to regain proper blood flow. When he looked back up there was something remotely sad in his gaze. Sienna knew that Hollis was a good actor. He'd been great at lying; clearly today was no exception.
"Do you really think that's all this about?" he whispered the question but it felt like he’d screamed it.
Her heart hammered inside its fragile cage. The proximity of him already made her weak in the knees and grateful that she was sitting. She didn't need anyone to make her weak!
"You said it yourself."
Hollis let out a loud breath that sounded like it was supposed to be a laugh. "Sienna Havelock, you are as clueless as ever. Look at me."
The ride was bringing them back down to the ground when he grabbed her face with both of his hands pinning her attention on him. Had he been anyone else she would have the guards remove his hands from his body immediately. She couldn’t bring herself to do that though.
"Sienna, I've loved you since I was a child. I was stupid, young, and scared of losing you. And I lost you anyway. I'm back to claim what's mine."
What's his?She was not to be owned. Their seat approached the stand, not slowing to let her off as the man running the ride assumed they would want a couple of go-arounds. Knowing the risk, feeling her entire body tense, she ripped herself from Hollis’s grasp and yanked the bar up so she could stand on the small ledge.
"Stop the ride!" She watched as the man on the platform sprinted to the lever and yanked it hard causing the ride to jerk to a stop. She braced herself, holding onto the sides as they rocked to a stop. "Youcannotclaim me. You do notloveme.”
She glared down at him. Not hardly believing what she was saying because he was all she had ever wanted. For years and years, she'd begged for his attention and now he was finally giving it to her. But it was too late. It's too late for them.
"I do love you." His voice was steady as he spoke, not at all ashamed that they were causing a scene.
Sienna wanted to scream her frustration but shoved her way past him in silence, leaving him in the seat. She stopped on the platform and pointed at him "Do not move."
Hollis's eyes widened at the command but he stayed put. Possibly the first time he’d ever listened to her. Sienna scanned the crowd looking for any of the animals she'd seen earlier. Her eyes landed on a couple who had a dog the size of a child. She stormed through the grass holding her skirt slightly above her heels so she wouldn't trip not caring about how she looked. Apparently, she looked mighty menacing considering how the crowd tried to avoid contact with her.
When she approached the owners, she didn't say a word as she tore the leash from their hands and bent down to unclasp the dog’s collar. Turning on her heels and marching back up to where Hollis remained, the crowd parted easily for her. The dog’s owners scrambled after their pet that immediately took off. On her way back she passed the other suitors, still gathered together waiting for their turn with the queen. They all remained silent watching her with both interest and fear.
"What are you doing?" Hollis said.
Sienna liked the way his voice was laced with mild panic. "You cannot own me. And it's time you learned your place while you are here." She messed with the collar until it was roughly what she imagined the size of his neck was. She stood on the platform leaning into the seat and hastily fastened the collar around his neck. "I am your queen. I own you."
She stepped away and pulled at the leash. Hollis didn’t move at first but he flinched when the collar dug into the back of his neck.
"You can be my pet for the day. We'll see how much youloveme then." She took another step and yanked again. This time Hollis followed her. She could feel the tension in the leash between her and him and it only made her feel more in control. More powerful. He trailed behind her down to her waiting suitors. They stared at Hollis.
"You will not speak unless I tell you to. You will do as I command. Do you understand?" she said to him.
"Or what?" He managed even though muscles were chording in his jaw.
