Amelia paused, still half-sitting on the floor. She searched the woman’s face for any trace of the usual contempt or cruelty she had grown used to in this place. There was none. Only a wry sort of honesty.
Skye had striking green eyes that gleamed with intelligence and short white hair that framed her face in a sharp, practical cut. Her posture was casual, her smile crooked, and something about her made Amelia’s shoulders relax a fraction.
After a beat, Amelia accepted the offered hand. Skye pulled her up with surprising strength.
"What are you doing in this part of the mansion?" Skye asked, brushing dust from her own sleeves. She gave Amelia a knowing look. "Looking for a way out?"
"No."
Skye let out a short laugh. "I won’t tell. And it’s hopeless anyway. Trust me, I’ve been here long enough to know. Now let’s leave."."
She grabbed the handle of the trolley and started dragging it forward. Amelia limped after her, each step sending a dull throb up her leg. She bit her lip to keep from grimacing.
"You’re lucky to still be alive," Skye said over her shoulder. "Better cherish it."
Amelia lowered her gaze. Lucky...
The word felt strangely hollow. After everything she’d lost...
She wasn’t sure she agreed. They turned into another hallway. Skye stopped in front of a side door.
"Wait here."
She pushed the trolley inside. A few moments later she stepped back out, empty-handed, and studied Amelia more carefully this time.
"Your picture didn’t do you justice. You’re beautiful."
Amelia didn’t know how to respond. Compliments felt foreign after everything that had happened.
The woman chuckled."Let’s hope you’re beautiful enough for the three devils to fuck."
Amelia’s eyes widened. "What?"
"Didn’t they tell you about the ceremony?"
"Yes. Enzo said—"
"It’s Master Enzo."
Amelia corrected herself quickly, the word tasting bitter in her tongue. "Master Enzo said it’s just a ceremony that checks if one is eligible to be chosen mates to each other."
Skye gave her a long, almost pitying look.
"It seems Master Enzo didn’t tell you everything, leaving the important detail that there is going to be a lot of touching."
Skye started walking again. Amelia followed, still limping, the words circling in her head like a threat.
"One of the activities is going to be intimacy," Skye continued without looking back. "If you think it’s just going to be kissing and being all lovey-dovey, you’re in for a rude awakening."
They finally reached the hallway that led to Amelia’s room. Amelia stopped just short of the door. "This isn’t what I signed up for."
Skye turned, one eyebrow raised. "That’s exactly what you signed up for. It’s just your dumb self for thinking sex wouldn’t be involved."
The truth hit Amelia like a second blow to the leg. She had never slept with anyone before. She had been saving herself for Dylan—waiting for the night they would finally be married. And look how that had turned out. Panic clawed up her throat. Am I going to have sex with them? With the three of them?
They entered the room. Skye walked straight to the bed and dropped onto it with a satisfied sigh, stretching out as if she owned the place.
"They gave you such a nice room... for a mistress."
She sat upright a moment later, catching the pure horror written across Amelia’s face.
"Don’t look so terrified. The devils’ dicks are just the same as any other man’s." A pause. "Even though I’ve never seen them myself."
Amelia began pacing, one hand pressed to her forehead.
"This can’t be happening. I’m hearing things. This isn’t real."
Skye watched her for a second, then her expression shifted. "You’re sounding like you haven’t fucked anyone before."
Amelia stopped and gave her a look. Skye’s eyes widened. "Oh shit. Are you a virgin?"
Amelia nodded once, stiff and silent.
Skye’s voice dropped. "Oh shit. This is really, really bad."
Skye rose from the bed in one swift motion and caught Amelia by the shoulders, stopping the frantic pacing. Her grip was firm but not cruel, forcing Amelia to stand still. The room suddenly felt smaller, the air thicker.
"No one can know about this," Skye said, voice low and urgent. "Not a single soul."
Amelia’s brows drew together. "Why not?"
Skye stared at her as if she had grown a second head. "Are you crazy? Virgins are treated like bad omens here. If word gets out, they won’t just send you back to a cell. They’ll use you for sacrifice. Blood and bone and all the old rituals people pretend don’t exist anymore."
A cold weight settled in Amelia’s stomach. She didn’t need time to think.
"I won’t say anything." The words came out certain. "I don’t need to think twice about that."
Skye’s shoulders loosened a fraction, though the worry never left her green eyes. "Good. Then we just have to make sure you don’t sound like a virgin when you speak. Or move. Or breathe the wrong way around them."
She released Amelia’s shoulders and took a half-step back, studying her.
"Do you even know the sex positions?"
Heat climbed Amelia’s neck. She looked away, fingers twisting together.
"I... did research then before. Missionary. Cowboy. The usual ones people talk about." Her voice thinned. "Wait. Is that what I’ll have to do with them?"
Skye let out a short, almost pitying breath. "Those are the simple ones. What you’ll be doing with the three of them won’t be simple at all. There will be ropes. Whips, even." She dragged a hand down her face. "Gosh, why didn’t those men investigate properly? How did they not know you were still a virgin?"
Amelia barely heard the last part. The earlier words had locked inside her skull and refused to leave.
"Ropes?" she repeated, almost to herself. Her pulse thudded in her ears. "Chains? Is it the same sex we’re talking about?"