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“Why is it? I may as well just stay as I am,” I tell him.

“It’s too dangerous. Your father pissed off a lot of people, and if the rumours are true, and he talks to the police about the Order, it will only put an even bigger target on your back. If you agree to be my Prize, I will have to protect you,” Ryan explains, puffing his chest out as if he’s actually doing me a favour.

“You may have to protect me, but you’ll also have full control over me. I’ll have to give myself to you, no questions asked. Isn’t that right?” I narrow my gaze on him, wondering if he’s going to lie to me.

“Yes, it’s true that a Prize has to gift herself fully to the Pledge, but that’s necessary for me to take care of you and keep you safe. I’d never take advantage of you,” he responds, trying to make himself sound almost angelic.

Just as I’m rolling my eyes, Wren lets out a snort that she quickly tries to hide by covering her mouth with her hand. I turn to look at her, and I can’t help but smile at her desperately trying to stay quiet.

When I turn back to Ryan, he’s watching me closely, no doubt trying to work out what my response is going to be. “Honestly, there was a time when I would have believed you when you said you wouldn’t take advantage of the situation, but that trust is long gone. I wouldn’t feel any safer with you than I would with any other Order Pledge. So I’ll take my chances on my own, thanks.”

As soon as it registers that I’m rejecting him, his entire demeanour shifts. Gone is the innocent, caring guy who just wants to help me, and in his place is the ruthless man who doesn’t like to lose.

His face contorts and a raw crimson flush creeps up his neck as fury ignites within him. His eyes, burning like embers, flash with brutal intensity.

“You don’t know what you’re turning down. You need someone to keep you safe, otherwise this year will be really dangerous for you,” he threatens.

I shrug my shoulders as if I don’t care. “That’s fine. I’ll take my chances.”

“I’ll make sure nobody hurts her,” Wren says, unable to keep quiet any longer.

“You’ll regret this,” Ryan warns as he stands from his stool, looming over us.

“We will see,” I respond with a shrug, his cheeks turning a deeper shade of red as he clenches his teeth, clearly unhappy that he’s not getting his own way.

As Ryan walks away, I take a big gulp of my vodka before letting out a groan. “Why does everyone suddenly want me to be a Prize?” I mutter under my breath.

“What do you mean?” Wren asks, having picked up on my little slip of the tongue.

“Lawson Radley asked me to be his Prize a couple of days ago. I turned him down, before you ask, which is why I didn’t bother telling you.”

Her eyes widen almost comically large as she glowers at me. “Lawson asked you?”

I nod. “He worded it differently to Ryan, but the proposal was the same.”

“What did he say?” she asks, as she leans forward, ready to soak up every drop of gossip like a sponge.

“He basically said he wanted me to be his whore, and that I’d quickly realise that being his Prize was the best future I could hope for.” I roll my eyes as I recall the cocky confidence he’d had when he spoke to me.

Wren lets out a chuckle. “Well, at least he was more honest with you than Ryan, the turd, was. Besides, Lawson is hot as hell, and I can only imagine he’d be a fucking God in bed.”

I shake my head in despair at my friend. “More like the devil.”

Her eyes light up as she nods rapidly. “Yes! He’d be a fucking devil in bed. Tell me you don’t want that.”

I don’t tell her that there’s a part of me that has more than considered his proposal. That I’ve imagined many scenarios involving Lawson and a bed, but that doesn’t mean I’ve changed my mind.

“It’s irrelevant. I still have to be an Order Wife, which means my virginity stays.”

Wren lets out a groan as she dramatically bangs her head on the back of the booth. “You have no idea what you’re missing out on.”

I don’t bother arguing with her, as it’s one argument I will never win. Besides, I agree with her—I am missing out on a lot, but it still changes nothing. I was raised to fulfil a particular role, and I have no alternative but to keep striving for that goal.

We make our way home, once we’ve finished our drinks, and I’d be lying if I said the proposals from both guys weren’t playing on my mind. Why now? I know the Gifting Ceremony is coming up, which is why they’re deciding who their Prize should be, but why do they both want it to be me?

As I climb into bed, I know there’s only one person I can talk to about this, and I just have to hope he’ll give me an honest answer. I just wish he wasn’t the last person I want to talk to about my sex life.

Iwake up the next morning, after a restless night’s sleep, having spent most of the time tossing and turning, as I became overheated thanks to thoughts of Lawson bloody Radley. I don’t know why the idea of being his Prize intrigues me so much, but it was all I dreamt about. So when my phone buzzing woke me up, I was more than a little relieved.