Page 17 of Pretty Savage: Defy

His attention comes back to me. “The Beaumonts are using Carrson’s infatuation with you as proof the Ashfords have lost control. That I’m weak. That my own son doesn’t believe in what we’ve built.” He rests his forehead on his hand. “The worst part is that people are listening.”

A knock sounds at the door.

Carr straightens immediately, irritation flashing across his face. “What?”

The door opens a few inches, and a woman’s voice answers, “Carr?”

Everything about him changes, the shift so brief I think I must’ve imagined it. The hard lines of his face soften. His shoulders loosen. Even his eyes look different, almost wistful.

I follow his gaze to see Samantha’s mother in the doorway, beautiful with her long curling hair. She sends a quick glance my way, then looks back to Carr. “The bonding committee is here. They’re waiting downstairs for you.”

“Thank you, Rebecca.” The words are overly formal, given the raw emotion I just saw flash across his face. “I’ll be right there.”

Rebecca closes the door softly behind her.

Carr’s eyes remain fixed on the closed door, as though part of him is standing on the other side. Carrson told me he thought these two were once bonded.

Maybe he’s onto something.

Carr picks up the pocketknife, closes it with a click, and slides it into his pocket. Leaving the half-eaten apple on the table, he rises to his feet and walks to the door but pauses, one hand on the doorknob. “What Jack demanded, Sealed by Sight, do you know what that means?”

I think back. “Thomson mentioned it once. Bonded by Blood, Sealed by Sight. He didn’t know any details.”

Carr takes a breath through his nose, his gaze shifting briefly to Carrson before returning to me. “In the earliest days of The Order, a bonding wasn’t accepted on vows alone. The Order had to verify it was true. That no one would later claim the bond had been falsified or left unfinished.”

I wait, unease building as the explanation circles closer to something I can’t comprehend yet.

“Blood establishes the promise,” Carr continues. “The vows establish intent. But sight was what made the bond indisputable.”

My fingers curl around Carrson’s hand.

“What does that mean?”

“It means the bonded pair completed the ceremony before witnesses.” His voice is almost formal. “The members of The Order called to attend saw it with their own eyes. Once a bond was sealed, no one could contest it.”

For a second, I think he must mean another ritual. More blood. A prayer. Some final oath spoken in front of the people downstairs.

“I don’t understand.”

Carr Ashford has looked me in the eye while he whipped his own son, while he held a knife and asked whether I loved Carrson, while he explained that the future he believes in justifies every terrible thing he has done.

Now, he can barely look at me.

“You and Carrson consummate your bonding before witnesses,” he says. “Before the entire Order.”

“Consummate,” I repeat dumbly, my brain unable to process the words. “Witnesses?”

He doesn’t say anything, just watches with wary eyes, waiting for me to catch up.

“Wait…you don’t—you can’t possibly…mean,” my voice rises in volume as each of his words hits like a punch to the face, “that Carrson and I have sex in front of everyone!”

He nods once, the motion crisp. “That’s it exactly.”

“But—but,” I sputter, horror rising so quickly I can’t keep up with it. “I mean, everyone?”

“The entire Order is invited.” His gaze goes to my hand joined with Carrson’s. “Given that Carrson is an Ashford and you are, well…you, I’m guessing the turnout will be large. Especially after that little stunt you just pulled downstairs.”

He says it as though being publicly whipped was something I chose because I wanted the notoriety, rather than the only thing I could think to do to protect his son.