Damaged Queen (Darkness Within Duet 2)

“His office is that way. You may go to him or go back to your room.”

He didn’t say another word.

She looked toward the door and knew running wouldn’t help her. If anything, it would probably end with her being thrown back in the cells. No matter how stubborn she was, she didn’t want to go back to those cells, so without another look, she made her way toward Draven’s office.

The door was shut, and as she lifted her hand, she paused. Could she go in there?

What would she find? Did she want to know more?

Draven wasn’t the guy she once knew. She’d seen the way he handled his man, the one who’d been intent on raping her. He’d killed him without even looking like he cared there was a body at his feet.

When she couldn’t handle it anymore, she knocked and instantly winced at the loud sound that echoed around the walls of the empty house. No matter how many people she saw, the house was still empty, old.

She hated it, but then she’d hated it ten years ago as well.

Axel opened the door and smiled at her. “Well, well, well, look who has come to join us.”

“You left my door unlocked,” she said.

“At my orders. I’ve got plenty of men, and they all know not to let you go,” Draven said.

Axel opened the door wider, and she saw Draven sitting in a chair, drinking some dark amber liquid.

The door closed behind her, and she stared at Draven as he glanced down the entire length of her body, only to look back up again.

An answering heat filled her just from his gaze alone.

They still had that chemistry, and she couldn’t deny it, even as he kept her prisoner and she knew he intended to make sure bad things happened to her.

“Want a drink?” Draven held his glass up as he made the offer.

She nodded.

“What do you drink?” Axel asked, going to the stand, ready to pour.

“I’ll have whatever he’s having.”

Draven chuckled. “You can now handle your liquor?”

She didn’t say anything.

“Take a seat,” Draven said.

When she went to lower herself onto the sofa, Draven told her no.

“Have a seat.” He pointed at his feet.

She stared into his face and saw he was serious.

Fine.

He wanted to play this game.

She moved toward him, and as she went to sit just a little out of reach, he snagged her around the waist and pulled her closer, forcing her to sit close at his feet with the chair at her back. His hand stayed on her shoulder, and Axel watched them.

“You always said you wanted her at your feet,” he said.

“And she’s going to do as I tell her for once in her life.”

She felt heat fill her cheeks as they talked about her as if she wasn’t there. She wondered if she was even there for them.

Axel handed her the glass, and she took it. Staring at the amber liquid, she swirled it around, watching.

“I wouldn’t drink too much in one gulp if I was you. This is a drink for men,” Axel said.

Harper took a sip, and sure enough, it burned on the way down. She didn’t let them see exactly how much it burned though. Gritting her teeth, she held the glass in her hand and tried not to cough.

“She’s a stubborn one, isn’t she?”

Draven hummed his agreement. “But then, we knew that in high school with how she was. She’d never talk about her feelings. No, you always had to wait for some catalyst that would make her break. I wonder what is going to make her break now.”

“You’re not prepared to listen to what happened for me to run all those years ago. Why should I keep trying to tell you the truth?” she asked.

“Should we amuse her? See if her story matches up with your dad’s?”

“Another time, I have no interest in hearing her lies tonight. One day, I may, especially when her pussy is soaking my cock.”

She took another drink from her glass while her pussy seemed to like that idea of making him wet. She’d missed him. At least, her body had.

The asshole he’d become, she hadn’t missed.

“How did they die?” she asked.

Silence met her request. One look at Axel and he was staring at Draven, the anger clearly there as his jaw clenched.

“You really want to know?” Draven asked.

“I wouldn’t have asked if I didn’t want to know.”

“She’s still got fire. It’s going to take a lot to break her, Draven.”

“I know, but that’s what we adored about her, remember. Stand up.” He tapped her shoulder, and she stood up, using his leg for leverage to stand.

He held his hand out, and she gave him her drink. She watched him place it down on the small table beside his chair, and once again, his gaze was on her, waiting, assessing.