The Devil You Know

Part I: Chapter 11

Part 1: Chapter 11

tw: attempted SA

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Irelia wasn't sure which one of them moved first—her towards the letter opener she saw on his desk and him towards her. She felt her fingertips graze the cold metal before she was being yanked backwards by the collar of the robe, which ripped straight down the center. She let out a pained cry as she was thrown to the ground at his feet, the tattered robe falling off her and leaving her only in the lingerie. Kane Vanserra loomed over her with a grin.

Lia scooted backwards on the floor, trying to put as much distance between them as she could while her mind whirled, trying to piece together some sort of defense for herself. But the painful thought occurred to her that Amarantha had been one-hundred percent right when she had said she had gotten too comfortable down here.

The truth was, she had relied on Rhysand protecting her, even during their nights with Amarantha. She had completely relied on him protecting her from the horrors that happened outside of their bed chambers. And now she was paying the price for it because she could do nothing as Kane grabbed the chain around her neck and pulled her back to him, sliding along the wood floor.

Even as she gripped his wrist with both hands and tried to yank the chain from his grip, he barely budged. She was a mouse stuck in a trap. A rabbit locked in a cage with a wolf.

He lifted her off the ground and tossed her onto the bed like she weighed nothing. She scrambled to get up but he was on her a second later, pinning her body to the mattress.

"Get off me!" she screeched, slapping him as hard as she could. His grin only grew as he grabbed her wrists in one hand and pinned them down. She let out another desperate cry, wiggling and bucking as much as she could.

"Calm down, kitten," Kane purred. "I don't bite. I promise you'll be screaming my name by the end of the night."

"Please," she cried out, "Please, stop!"

"Gods," Kane bit out, pushing her down again. "Why are you fighting so much?"

She choked on her own cries at his words. He was surprised she was fighting. She couldn't fathom why that'd be surprising. Perhaps he was used to females falling at his feet and couldn't possibly comprehend someone not wanting to sleep with him. Or perhaps he didn't care whether she wanted this or not and was used to females not putting up a fight.

The door opened and slammed shut and Kane paused above her for a second, his lip curling in disgust as he peered over his shoulder to see whoever had entered.

"I knew you were a brute but I didn't know you forced yourself on unwilling girls." Lia couldn't see beyond Kane's big frame but she recognized that voice—polished and full of condescension.

Kane snorted and stood. Irelia quickly sat up, covering herself with her arms as best she could. The lingerie left her feeling exposed and even more vulnerable in a room with two males. She didn't need to see herself to know how she looked. She could feel the kohl running down her cheeks with her tears.

"A whore is never unwilling. Mind your own business, Eris," Kane spat. "And get the hell out of my room."

She choked out a cry at his words.

Eris's amber eyes flickered to hers for a moment before he stared down his brother. Despite having a more lithe, elegant frame, he surpassed Kane in height.

"No, I don't think I will," Eris crooned. "In fact, it'll be you who leaves. Father demands your presence in his chambers."

Kane rolled his eyes. "He can wait; I'm busy. Now get the fuck out. I paid a lot of money for this."