Cruel War (The Gilded Sovereign 1)

In an attempt to kick, I make contact with the person behind me, and a grunt of pain makes me smile. He releases me, and I make my escape, but I’m not fast enough, not by a long shot, and a hand grips my ankle, pulling me to the floor with a thud that causes my teeth to grit against each other.

The way my body falls on the concrete floor sends pain lancing through my entire body, especially my hip. I’m curled in agony then dragged across the dirty surface until I’m back at the altar. Dust clouds around me, and I can’t stop the sneezing and coughing fit, which attacks me.

“Even though you aren’t welcome in our town, you should stay,” another voice, a deeper, more gravelly one states. “Because then, you can play our little game until you’ve paid for the sins of your father,” he tells me.

“I… I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I bite out in frustration and fear. The two emotions warring against each other as I claw my way forward, a stupid attempt at escape, which I know is futile.

“We do like the chase,” I recognize Ares’ voice the moment the words are uttered. “Well, I do in any event.”

“Why are you doing this?” I cry out when a foot lands on my leg, keeping me in place, making it impossible to keep fighting. I can’t move, so I lie back, waiting for more pain, but it doesn’t come. Instead, I feel the heat of his gaze, and when the original figure steps closer to me, I notice those familiar hazel eyes.

“You, little flower, are mine now,” he tells me. “You walked into my town, thinking you’re safe.” The words he speaks, the tone of his voice is cold, indifferent as if he doesn’t care about me.

Why would he? He doesn’t know me.

“Why are you doing this? I haven’t done anything to warrant your—”

“All things will come to light soon enough, little flower,” he interrupts me, crouching down, so his face is right in front of mine. The glint of the last bit of light flickers on the crown which sits atop his head.

“Why not tell me now?” Tipping my head to the side, I watch him. The hood shadows most of his face, but it’s his smirk that’s clear as day.

He reaches for my chin, gripping it painfully between his thumb and forefinger, holding me steady as he closes the distance between us. I half expect him to kiss me, and I don’t know why I want that, but instead, he laughs in my face as if I’m stupid.

“You know what,” I bite out, wincing when he pinches my chin. “Fuck you. I don’t have to do shit for you.”

“Don’t fuck with me, little flower.” His voice is low, a warning clear in his words. He could hurt me. He has two strong friends beside him, and I’m alone. I may be able to fight, but I can’t take all three.

He lowers himself over me, pinning me to the cold hard floor under him as his heavy body hovers over mine. Every nerve sparks with electric energy when he presses his knee between my thighs, causing a soft whimper to fall from my lips.

“That’s it, flower, I plan to pluck you petal by precious petal.” He grins manically. His two hooded friends chuckle loudly at his threat, which angers me, turning my blood hot with rage.

I move quickly, lifting my knee, I make contact with his thigh, missing the place I was aiming for causing him to guffaw, but he doesn’t relent. He doesn’t move; instead, he stays over me, warming and cooling me at the same time.

“Mmm, she likes it rough,” he murmurs in my face. His lips trail over mine, causing electricity to shoot through every nerve ending in my body. But he doesn’t press a kiss to my mouth, instead he finds my cheek, then peppers a hot path to my ear. “I like it rough, too, little flower.”

It’s a promise.

A vow.

And I don’t know why my body responds, but it does.

“Leave me alone, please,” I plead once more.

Swiftly, he moves, and when I open my eyes, he’s standing over me, dropping a red dahlia on my stomach as he and both his friends saunter off, leaving me in the abandoned building with my heart stuck in my throat.

14

Ares

I reach the hallway, taking the steps two at a time; I know I’m in shit for being late for the meeting, but fuck it, my dick was hard toying with Dahlia.

The fear in her eyes was like an aphrodisiac.

And I plan to see it there a lot more before she learns the truth.

Pulling out my phone, I open the tracker and note that little Dahlia is at home. When we had her in the church, I made sure to get the device attached to her phone. A small, lightweight sticker that holds millions of tiny cables allows me to track her.