Cruel War (The Gilded Sovereign 1)

“Your father…” The seething tone of his voice sends a cold shiver racing down my spine. Silence hangs heavily around us, thick with rage and fury.

“Your hate runs so deep. Nothing can etch it out.” It’s not a question. But something about the way Ares glances at me tells me I’m right. “Why is it you hate me so much when I haven’t done anything to you?”

“This isn’t… I should go.” He spins on his heel, turning toward the window, but this time, it’s me who reaches out to him. I grab his arm, the warmth of him turning me hot. “Let go of me, flower,” he bites out, anger fueling his words.

“Tell me, Ares,” I hiss in frustration. Why won’t anyone tell me who my father really was when he lived here? “Don’t I deserve to know why you hate the man who raised me?”

“You’re his blood, you don’t deserve shit from me,” Ares spins around, gripping my shoulders, holding me hostage with the glare he’s pinned me with. He takes a deep, long inhale before he grins. “Well, maybe I can make an exception and fuck you before I end you.”

“W-wh-what?” The word falls aimlessly from my lips, shock lacing every syllable.

Ares’ gaze burns me as he takes in my now visible cleavage, trailing a white-hot path with his eyes from my chest up to my face.

“You should pay for what your family did to mine. Since you’re the last remaining Milton alive,” he sneers, as his fingers dig deeper into the soft flesh of my arms. I’ll be bruised tomorrow, of that I’m sure.

“You’re sick,” I spit the words in his face, causing his smirk to lift and curl as if a sleeping serpent is about to awaken. Ares shoves me against the wall once more, pressing his whole body against mine. Head to toe, I’m covered by him. Every hard ridge of him is against me, and that’s when he nudges his hips to taunt me.

A whimper falls from my lips when I feel his erection. I’m wet. My panties are soaked, and there’s nothing I can do to stop the electricity shooting through every nerve in my body.

“It seems my little flower is sick, too,” he whispers along my neck and jaw until he reaches my ear. “Don’t worry, Dahlia, I’ll give you what you need.” As he speaks, he rolls his hips, again and again, causing my body to tremble with anticipation. Even though I don’t want this—at least I tell myself that—it seems my body has a mind of its own because it reacts to Ares, needing the release he’s taunting me with.

The tightness in my belly knots and tugs at my restraint and my fingers curl into fists. My nails dig half-moons into my palm to keep myself from begging him for more.

“Is that what you want?” Ares mocks me as his gravelly tone feathers in my ear. His hot breath fanning the flames that are slowly building within me. Bright white sparks dance against my lids as I attempt to curb the desire I feel in this completely fucked up situation.

“Get the fuck out,” I murmur, but there’s no conviction in my voice. I can’t do this. He’s toying with me, turning me into a melting pot of desire and rage. “I hate you.”

“Good. It will make this war so much more fun. An enjoyable battle can only be played between people who hate each other.” He growls. He fucking growls.

Suddenly, I’m ice cold because he steps away. My eyes snap open, taking in the man who’s turned me inside out in a mere few minutes of contact. He turns, and I can’t stop staring at the smirk that curls his perfect lips. My gaze is locked on him, watching as his body moves toward my window. Without a backward glance, he’s gone, and I’m left alone in my room wondering what the hell just happened.

On trembling legs, I race to the window, but the darkness has swallowed him up, and all I see are the tiny pinpricks of lights at the school and the stars in the sky. Even the moon has disappeared behind clouds.

“Shit,” I bite out in frustration.

I have to find out why he hates my dad so much. Nothing makes sense. I know there has to be a truth that nobody is brave enough to offer me. I’m not a fragile flower like Ares seems to think I am.

If I can push Ares far enough, perhaps he’ll finally gift me the truth I deserve. It’s as if everyone is trying to keep me safe by not telling me what I so clearly should know, and I’m tired of it. I’m done with being treated like I’m breakable because I’m far from it.

Did dad really do something so bad to deserve Ares’ family’s hatred?