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“Your handsome man is that way.”
I tripped over my feet. Struggling to right myself, I gaped at the unattractive nymph speaking with the most attractive, clear voice. I thought they only screeched and hissed.
“He waits for you.” She pointed. “Gods know why. You’re no prize.”
“Thank you so much,” I forced through clenched teeth. “Have a lovely evening.”
I continued on, thoughts returning to Alex. I was talking about him when I said there was someone around the table that I wanted to have sex with. Wild that I’d have such a strong attraction to him so soon and after everything I’d been through.
My trust should be shattered pieces on a sinking ship, falling farther out of reach. It should... but not with Alex. There was nothing false in the way he touched me or the look in his eyes when he looked at me and only me.
I missed out on all the things that made Punishment or Penalty such a scandalous game. There was nothing for me to hide because there was nothing for me to say.
I couldn’t wait for Alex to change that.
A twig snapped, pausing me in my tracks.
“About time.”
Grinning, I rounded a large oak tree and quickly darted back. Pressing against the bark, I peered around the barest inch—breath catching in my throat as Sebastian Barba grabbed some kid’s collar and shoved him against a tree.
“I’m sure you have my money, Omiros, because you wouldn’t dare come here without it.”
A shiver climbed my spine, forcing me lower. That voice. His expression. This Sebastian was nothing like the smirking flirt I met earlier that day.
“I—I—I—I have it, Sebastian.” Shaky hands tried to reach into his pocket. “All of it, but—but—this is all the money my parents gave me. I won’t have any more to pay you next time.”
“And that’s my problem? Pay or don’t pay. It’s you who’ll regret it, not me.” Sebastian snatched the coin purse out of his pocket himself. “Want to hear something you won’t want to believe? There are at least three dead souls in every room, hallway, and dark corner of this castle, and they all report to me.” He erased the scant distance, drawing taller as Omiros shrank. “So if you don’t want the livings finding out your little secret, you’ll have my money on time. In full.”
“Y-y-yes, Sebastian.”
“Leave.”
Omiros ran off, blowing past without seeing me in the shadows.
I stepped out.
“You can stop counting your money—”
Sebastian turned to me, expression nowhere near shocked or guilty.
“—and hand it to me,” I finished.
“And a very merry evening to you, Vanda. Trixie said you were here, but I wasn’t expecting a robbery.”
“I can’t steal what’s stolen.”
“Where’s that written?”
“I’m giving the money back to Omiros,” I snapped.
He cocked a brow. “Are you now? That would quite defeat the purpose.”
“What purpose?” I ran up on him, shooting that brow higher. “Scaring, bullying, and blackmailing people! Just when I was thinking you couldn’t be more of an asshole.”
“Whoa,” he cried. “Hold on. Blackmailing? How dare you accuse me of such a thing? I wasn’t blackmailing him.”
I rocked back, folding my arms. “Oh no? Then what would you call what just happened?”
