Filed to story: The LORDS Series Free PDF by Shantel Tessier
I was partially named after her. When I was old enough to figure it out and asked, my mother said Annabelle just fit me. She took one look at me and knew that’s who I was. All I can think of is that scary fucking doll that they made a movie about. I’ve always hated it.
“Her boyfriend. They’ve been dating for a couple of months now.” My mother fills her in.
“He’s good,” I tell her.
“Are you guys ready for your trip?”
I don’t know why I told her he was going with me. I panicked when Haidyn left me no choice but to fabricate a trip out of thin air. I guess because my mother knows I’d never go somewhere by myself at the last minute like that, and I’m trying to limit her information about my life. “Yep. Already packed and ready to go.” Fuck, I feel sick to my stomach. Or that could be the effects of the enema.
“Oh, your backpacking trip.” Anne nods, obviously knowing about it. “Sounds exciting.”
Reaching out, I take a sip of the water that Mom had ordered for me when she arrived. I’m swallowing when she asks, “How are things with Haidyn?”
I choke on it, the cold water running down my chin. Setting the glass down, I pick up the napkin and blot my face. “Good.” I nod, trying to convince both of us. “Going great.”
“Haidyn Reeves?” Anne asks, arching a brow.
My mother nods. “I told you she was given her assignment.”
Her friend is of course a Lady. My mother wouldn’t associate with anyone outside of our world. She was raised that the Lords are everything. Royalty only sits with royalty-her words.
“Yes, but I wasn’t aware it involved a Spade brother.”
“How are the sessions going?” my mother asks, and I look at her friend, not sure I should answer.
So I shrug and say, “Good.” It’s a fucking lie.
I’ve fucked up what little chance I ever had. The Lords sent me on a wild goose chase. I think it’s their way of knowing I’ll never be enough for the life I’m supposed to have. You have to be born into this world, but they’re going to see if you’re worthy.
“Sessions?” her friend inquires. “What exactly do you mean by sessions?”
“Oh, Annabelle is his therapist.” She does air quotes at therapist and her friend laughs.
Pretty much what I thought when I read the email.
“I mean, I see how the Lords would use you for that position.” Anne’s blue eyes look me up and down in thought. “Men are weak when it comes to pussy.”
I choke on my own saliva at her choice of words. “Oh, no. We’re not??”
“Fucking?” She chuckles. Her red-painted lips turn up into a smile. “I promise you, honey. He’s thought about it.”
My cheeks flush because of what he did to me today and what I can only guess is to come.
“Well, that won’t be happening,” my mother says tightly.
I’m to remain a virgin. She sold my virginity a long time ago to the man she wants me to marry. I don’t know who that is, but she’ll let me know when the time is right. Again, her words.
“Don’t ever underestimate a Lord,” her friend says in a tone that has a chill running up my spine. Her eyes search mine from across the table, and the smile that tugs at her lips makes me think she already knows what I’ve allowed Haidyn to do to me. “Plus,” she adds, “those Spade brothers have been through a lot.”
I frown. “How do you know?” Placing my elbows on the table, I lean forward. Not many know that Carnage exists, let alone what happens inside Carnage because those who are placed inside never get out.
“My ex,” she answers, and I can’t tell if she’s lying or not. “He knew quite a bit about them.”
“What could he possibly have known?” My mother rolls her eyes while taking a sip of her water.
“What did they go through?” I inquire, fully invested in this conversation now. If I can learn more about them, then maybe I can get leverage over Haidyn.
“They say that Haidyn killed their fathers,” Anne answers, and I watch my mom stiffen like she knows something about that too.
“Why would he do that? To take over Carnage?” I ask.
“No.” Anne shakes her head. “They were going to inherit it no matter what. The rumor is that he killed them for Ashtyn.”
“Why would he kill them for her?” After I got the assignment, I did a deep dive into the Spade brothers. There wasn’t a lot of information out there. The Lords, in general, are very secretive, but I was able to find old social media pages of Ashtyn and some of her friends.
I found that Ashtyn was Saint’s chosen before she was assumed dead. The fact that I just saw her the other day at Carnage tells me that is not the case. It makes me wonder if the Spade brothers started that story to hide her from the world.
Anne’s eyes meet mine when she answers. “Because Haidyn loves her.”
My mother snorts. “The Lords don’t love anyone.”
“Not most, but some are weak,” her friend argues, keeping her eyes on me.
“Saint was Ashtyn’s Lord,” I state the obvious.
“True, but she was assigned as Haidyn’s chosen. He was supposed to marry her.”
“A Lady and a chosen are two very different things.” So that’s interesting that she was supposed to be both for him.
“The Spade brothers have different rules.” Anne waves her hand in the air, refusing to divulge any more information.
“Then why didn’t he?” I saw her at Carnage, and she looked so concerned about Haidyn not answering her calls when she was telling Saint. Does she love him too? Did they have a relationship before she and Saint did? I wouldn’t be surprised. Maybe they were like my friend and her Lord-slept around on one another.
“Although Haidyn acts like a monster, he’s a teddy bear. He’s weak.” Anne chuckles. “He gave her to his best friend, who was also in love with her.”
“Saint,” I say, knowing what she means.
My mother snorts once more, bringing the glass of water to her lips and looking away. “Not sure why they’re so obsessed with her.” She sets it down and looks at me. “She’s nothing like you.”
Every mother is supposed to love their child unconditionally, but my mother is borderline obsessed with me. I grew up doing no wrong. I’ve never been grounded or punished in any way. She raised me to believe that I can achieve anything I want. Except freedom. I was born into this world, and I’ll die being part of it. That’s when I realized that she was lying to me, trying to sell me bullshit. You can’t be anything you want. It’s a fairy tale parents tell their kids in hopes they believe it.
I don’t.
“Like I said, the pussy can be powerful.” Her friend shrugs, and I’m not sure if she’s referring to Ashtyn fucking Saint’s friends or me fucking Haidyn, and I’m not sure I want to know.
My work cell goes off, and I remove it from my purse as my mother calls over to our server. I see it’s a text from Haidyn. My heart picks up, and my throbbing pussy begins to sting as if he just slapped it. My eyes snap up to look around the restaurant to see if he’s here. Maybe he’s listening to our conversation and knows I’m talking about him. When I don’t see him anywhere, my eyes drop back down to my phone to read the text he sent.
HAIDYN: Make sure to drink lots of water.
I roll my eyes and type back.
Yes, Lord, Sir.
HAIDYN: Sarcasm will get you nothing more than a face fucking.
The thought of being on my knees for Haidyn has my pulse racing. I’m sure I’d be tied up somehow as he pushes his cock into my mouth. Gagging me…I wonder if he’d slap my face. My hand goes to my cheek as it reddens just thinking about it.