AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I thought you sent him after me,” she intoned, causing me to look back at her in dismay.
“What?!”
“To teach me a lesson because I was being too chatty or annoying or just defiant or something,” she rambled.
I stared at her for a long moment and released a short laugh. “If I wanted something done to you, I’d do it myself,” I growled, reaching for her arm to march her down the hall. “I don’t need others to do my bidding for me.”
“Oh, that’s nice to know. I’ll keep that in mind,” she piped sarcastically. “Could you stop dragging me?”
I loosened my grip on her arm slightly but maintained my hold, leading her farther down the endless corridor toward the end of the wing.
“Where are we going now?”
“You’ll stay in one of the guest suites,” I announced, planning it as I spoke. “Until I get the staff assessed.”
Pausing before a set of intricate double doors, I tested them to ensure they weren’t locked. I rarely used the guest suites, and I had no idea if there were even linens in this room, but it would have to suffice for now.
To my relief, the door opened. A key was one less thing I’d have to go looking for that evening, and the chandelier flickered on with the dimmer when I tried it.
“Woah. This is an apartment,” Briar muttered, but I was barely listening to her, my mind back on Lochlin and his disrespect.
“There should be towels and blankets in the closets,” I informed her, stalking back out toward the hallway. “I’ll have the house staff check with you in the morning.”
“Wait!”
I hesitated and peered at her, regretting every minute I spent in proximity to her. I needed to keep my distance.
“What is it?”
“How did you know I was being attacked?” Briar’s voice was trembling, her wide blue eyes a mixture of confusion and fear.
That was a loaded question. I didn’t know that she was being attacked. All I knew was that an inexplicable, unseen force told me she needed me, so I followed my instincts. I couldn’t tell her any of that, though.
I lolled my tongue around in my mouth. “Go to sleep,” I instructed her. “Someone will meet with you in the morning.”
With that, I closed the door and hurried far and fast away from her, reaching for my cell phone as I did.
Draven answered my call on the first ring, alarm lacing his tone.
“Did you hear what your relief guard did this evening?” I voiced through the phone.
“No, sir. What happened?”
“Whatever it was, it won’t be happening a second time. Hang his body from the front of the prison as a warning that nobody touches what’s mine.”
I heard Draven swallow through the phone. “Sir?”
“I want it to hang there for three days,” I rasped, my rage regrowing with every word I spoke. “I won’t tolerate anybody going behind my back.”
In my mind’s eye, I could see Lochlin on top of Briar, her tiny frame quivering with fear as he ventured to take what had explicitly been forbidden from him.
“I want it public and loud,” I went on, heat surging through me as I threw open the doors of my own suite, a blast of fireplace heat assaulting me as I moved. “I want everyone to remember what happens when I am contradicted, Draven. Is that a problem?”
“No, sir. I’ll ensure the matter is handled at once.”
I disconnected the call and threw the cell onto my bed before falling after it with a flop, my arms extended outward.
No one goes against my orders,I thought firmly.They’ve become too complacent and need to be reminded of what happens when they dare cross me.
