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“I can’t wait for a real meal,” Atticus replied bitterly. “Surely, my father will get me out of here soon.”
“What about us?” Augustus sneered.
“Frankly, I don’t give a damn about us,” I replied. “I just want Christine to be safe.”
“Exactly,” Atticus added. “Once I get out of here, I’m going to free her.”
I ached for Christine, imagining her in the lovely white dress I had always adored, the one that exposed her porcelain skin. Her blonde tresses spilled over her back, and her azure eyes glared at me, full of reproach. I’d give anything to have one more glimpse of her, yet I knew I would never be deserving of her love. She was from a high-ranking family. She went to the best schools. Wore the best clothes. Had a prince and a criminal mastermind at her disposal.
I was just a soldier. Someone with no money. No prospects. Just a heart that beat for her.
Augustus rinsed his mouth and spit into a puddle at his feet. “I’m not going to sit here and rot,” he said before wiping his hand on his pants.
Atticus snarled, “I’ll find a way to free her. No matter the cost, I will get her back.” His voice was thick with determination and a possessive, jealous anger.
“You have to save her,” Augustus whispered. “Christine is the only reason for existing. They can take away our freedom, or even our lives, as long as she is safe and happy.” His words were a broken promise, a surrender to the helplessness he felt. “I can’t let her die again. And knowing she’s with Lord Nathan is almost worse than death.”
I was enveloped in a sorrowful, paralyzing silence. The thought of Christine and my own careless stupidity weighed heavily on my mind. I cursed Atticus for making me face my emotions, and I despised myself more for not being able to seize the few remaining pieces of her love. I had allowed her to believe that I didn’t care when all I wanted was her. I wanted to take back every mistake, but all I had left were regrets. She admitted her love for me, and I was thankful for even a chance to right my wrongs. But I couldn’t stop feeling like I was undeserving.
I didn’t save her three years ago, and I couldn’t save her now.
“I wonder what they plan to do with us?” Augustus asked.
A chorus of despair rose from Atticus’s throat. “My father delights in watching people suffer; it’s how he holds his power. This is entirely my fault. I should have been more vigilant, all my attention devoted to Christine and our family business, and yet I failed to recognize the machinations of my own father. He has been plotting this for months, and I’m too late to stop it.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat and whispered, “When we get out of here, he’ll wish he never came between us.” I couldn’t bear the thought of Atticus going down for this. I should have known better. I could have put up more of a fight. I could have done something different. I should have tried harder, but instead, I just let it all go.
“He’s ruthless,” Atticus said in a tired voice. He reluctantly glanced at each of us, struggling to hide his own despair. “The man made me watch him kill someone when I was barely in grade school.” There was a hushed silence that seemed to last an eternity until he continued. “I knew he was a terrible man, but I never expected this.”
“I’m prepared for whatever the outcome is,” I replied.
“I’m not afraid to die. I’m afraid they’ll kill her spirit,” Augustus added. “You never told me how they got you. The moment I was summoned, some man in a hood captured me. But how did they sneak up on you? Christine is a murdering machine. I can’t help but feel like she could have escaped.”
I exchanged a look with Atticus. I didn’t really want to talk about all of us being in bed together.
“We were asleep,” Atticus grunted. “And she was determined to save you.”
“Asleep? One of you should have stayed awake to keep watch. And you definitely shouldn’t have come looking for me,” Augustus snapped.
“Yes, well, we were very tired. And you know damn well, when Christine is determined, there’s nothing that will get in her way,” I said, sounding defensive. I knew I fucked up. I should have dragged her out of this damn castle, kicking and screaming.
“Tired?” Augustus asked. “Why?”
Atticus raised his eyebrows, challenging me to admit why we were so worn out we hadn’t noticed the attack.
“We were with Christine. What do you think?” I replied, feeling sick to my stomach. I was having the best sex of my life while Theodore and Nathan were scheming.
Augustus’s face lit up in astonishment. “You finally did it!”
Atticus cut him off. “He had a bit of assistance.”
Augustus glanced between us, aghast. “You two? Together? Damn. How the hell can I compete with that?”
Atticus stood tall, attempting to look menacing. “Leo loves playing on a team. I’m sure he’d be more than happy to join you sometime. Unfortunately, I can’t really get into the incest thing.” A cheeky grin spread across his face. “But hey, if Christine wanted to give me a blowjob while you and Leo…”
“Okay, enough,” Augustus shrieked. “I’m still processing the fact that we’re brothers. Let’s not talk about the moral complexities of an orgy together. Leo, man, I had no idea.” He turned his attention to me, his expression full of disbelief. “I never thought you’d actually go through with it.”
“What do you mean by that?” I huffed.
