| VEXED |

chapter | fifty one

"Larce has you in line to take the throne, huh?" Des asked as she walked closer to me. "Yes," I responded in a low tone.   

"You know, I've never known whats so special about you." she shook her head and I felt my jaw lock. "Come closer and ill show you." I growled and she laughed.

"You're weak. He would be an idiot to let you assume his place." She said coldly, walking dangerously close to me. 

"How exactly am I weak?" I asked curiously. I've been through absolute hell, and I managed to not let my demons consume me. I highly doubt she can say the same.

"You let emotions rule your life. You don't even know Gideon, yet you were trying to save his life." she mocked. 

"You do know that anger and rage are emotions right? Now you're just being hypocritical." I retorted. Her face fell a little, knocking the humor from it.

"I can't wait to kill you. But first, I have a little party game before your daddy gets here and crashes it." She smiled proudly and I furrowed my brows.

 "Bring them out." She yelled, and I heard movement behind her. She moved from in front of me, and I saw something that made the air in my lungs hitch.

Ethan and Grayson were being drug in by some of her men. she brought them a few feet in front of me and dropped them. they were both propped on their knees, their hands were tied and they looked like they had been hit a few times.

I pulled on my ropes harshly, sending me closer to her. She backed up quickly and smirked at me. "Woah, hit a nerve have I?" she laughed.

"Funny seeing you here." Grayson said sarcastically. When he's scared he makes jokes, it's his way of trying to make things better. 

"I'm so sorry." I shook my head but he gave me a reassuring smile. "Not your fault princess." Grayson argued and I felt my eyes getting watery. I looked at Ethan, he was already looking at me, his eyes were searching me for a comforting symbol.

"You were right, this was stupid." I finally spoke to him, but he looked away. "I'm always right," he responded and I faked a laugh. 

"Here's how your game will work Alex." Des walked back over to me with a wide smile on her face. "I'm bored, Larce is taking too long." she added.

"Choose between them. Whoever you pick lives, the other well, you know." she made a motion dragging her finger around her throat.

"Don't do this to her." Ethan shook his head slowly, and he looked at Grayson with a worried look.

"I won't." I yelled and she laughed. she waved her hand and two men walked over to them. They pulled guns from their holsters and pointed them at both of them. "No!" I yelled, testing my restraints again. 

"Then they'll both die." She shrugged. I felt a tear slip down my cheek. "5..." she started counting down and I looked at both of them. They were looking back at me with a look I've never seen before. 

"Emotions make me weak! is that what you want to hear?" I cried, and she sent me another one of her famous smiles. "You remind me of someone that I used to know." She smiled, remembering, I guess. she snapped out of it quickly, though.