None of the three brothers interrupted. They simply watched her. Their expressions revealed nothing. Amelia swallowed painfully.
"If you’re going to end my life..."
Her fingers curled tightly against the folds of her gown.
"...then please..."
The word almost caught in her throat.
"Take my body..."
She lowered her gaze for only a heartbeat before forcing herself to look at them again.
"Or whatever is left of it..."
A faint ache settled in her chest.
"...back to the Blacksmith Territory."
Her voice softened.
"I want to be buried there."
The room fell silent once more.
Reid glanced briefly toward Enzo.
Dean remained perfectly still.
Enzo’s expression never changed.
Finally, he spoke.
"No one is dying," he said coldly. "Not today at least. Unless you choose to."
Amelia stared at him.
Confusion slowly replaced the certainty she had clung to moments earlier. Choose...? Her brows drew together. What does that mean? She searched his face for some sign that he was mocking her.
She found nothing. Her voice came out almost as a whisper."Why am I here?"
Dean answered before either of his brothers could.
"You’re going to be our slave."
The words landed so abruptly that Amelia simply blinked. For several long seconds, she wondered if exhaustion had made her hear him wrong.
A... slave?
Nothing about it made sense.Enzo spoke again, his tone as composed as ever. "Not exactly."
Dean’s eyes shifted toward him but said nothing. Enzo continued.
"A closer description would be..." His gaze remained fixed on Amelia."...our mistress."
Silence crashed over the room. Amelia stared at all three brothers.
Then...
A quiet laugh escaped her. It sounded strained.Broken. Almost breathless. She shook her head slightly.
They must be joking. This has to be some twisted game before they kill me.
But their eyes—cold, intense, and utterly serious—told her otherwise. No trace of amusement. Only dark, calculated intent.
A cold knot formed in Amelia’s stomach.
They’re serious.
Slowly, she planted one hand against the polished floor and forced herself onto trembling legs. Every muscle protested. Her knees nearly gave out beneath her. She locked them before they could. Her breathing remained uneven.
She looked directly at Enzo.
"Not even in hell," she blurted out, the words escaping before she could stop them.
The room became impossibly still. The moment the words left her mouth, a flicker of fear shot through her. What have I done? These weren’t ordinary men. People disappeared for speaking to them with far less disrespect.
But if death truly waited for her...
Then she refused to surrender the last shred of dignity she still possessed.
Reid’s lips curved into a charming, almost playful smile that didn’t reach his eyes. "Do you think we’re negotiating with you?"
Amelia’s heartbeat quickened.
Something invisible settled over the room. The air itself seemed to thicken. Every breath suddenly became harder to draw. Her chest tightened beneath the crushing force pressing against her.
Alpha power.
Pure.
Overwhelming.
It rolled from the brothers in silent waves. She had felt dominant Alphas before. Nothing compared to this.It was as though the room itself had become their territory. And she had no right to breathe inside it.
Reid never looked away from her. "You either agree... or—"
He glanced at Dean.
Dean stood without hesitation, crossing to a suit of decorative armor in the corner. He pulled a long, gleaming sword free. The blade scraped loudly against the stone floor as he dragged it behind him, walking slowly toward Amelia. The metallic sound echoed like a death knell.
Amelia’s heart pounded violently against her ribs. Her breath came in short, shallow bursts as Dean drew closer, the sword trailing lazily at his side. She stood frozen, every instinct screaming at her to run, but her battered body refused to obey.
How is this a choice? Amelia thought desperately. I’m caught between a rock and a hard place.
She closed her eyes for the briefest moment. Dylan’s face appeared in her mind. The promise ring he had slipped onto her finger. The future they had planned together.
I promised you...
Her chest tightened painfully. I promised I’d stand beside you. We were supposed to get married.
Her throat burned.
If I agree...
Fresh tears filled her eyes. I’ll betray everything we dreamed about.
Her gaze shifted back toward the approaching sword. If I refuse... A chill spread through her body. I’ll die.
The sound of Dean’s sword hitting the stone floor made her flinch so violently that she nearly lost her balance.
Reid smiled. It was effortless. Almost gentle.
"Believe me..."
His voice remained warm enough to sound comforting.
"My brother won’t hesitate."
He folded one arm across his chest.
"So you’d better decide."
The tears she’d been fighting finally escaped. They slid silently down her cheeks. "Please..." she whispered, voice breaking. She knew her cries wouldn’t move them, but the word still slipped out.
Reid tilted his head. "I’m giving you ten seconds." His voice stayed smooth as he began counting. "Ten... Nine..."
Amelia’s mind spiraled into chaos. What can I do? What can I possibly do?
"Eight... Seven... Six..."
At five, Dean lifted the sword high, the blade glinting as he prepared to bring it down. The polished steel caught the light. For one horrifying second...
Amelia saw her own frightened reflection staring back at her. Her heart stopped.
"I accept!" Amelia screamed, the words tearing from her throat. "Please! I accept! I’ll be your mistress!"
Dean paused. His long, silky silver-black hair framed a face that could have been carved by the gods, charming in its beauty yet doing nothing to hide the cold, murderous intent in his eyes.
Then he swung.
Amelia’s legs gave out completely. She crumpled to the floor with a terrified scream, arms thrown over her head, body curling into itself as best she could.
No pain came.
No sharp bite of steel.
She cracked her eyes open, trembling.
Without the slightest trace of emotion, he walked back toward the decorative armor and calmly slid the sword back into its place with casual indifference. Reid approached her instead, a document in his hand, his expression one of mild amusement.
"You didn’t have to tease her like that," Reid said to his brother, clicking his tongue. "That’s my thing."
Amelia remained on the floor, gasping, tears still streaming down her face. Her entire body shook with leftover terror and humiliation. The crushing alpha power still pressed down on her, making it hard to think, hard to breathe. She had just agreed to become their mistress.