Chapter 179: Prepare
Chapter 178
Jack
Lalalala, what a good day.
I wish I had a camera in there to capture the look on his face. The way his composure cracked. The way his eyes went wide when he realized that he’d lost. That he was standing in the middle of a room full of people who had just voted to strip him of everything.
Priceless.
I stretch outside in the palace garden, tilting my face toward the sun. The warmth spreads across my skin, soft and golden.
Was the world always this lovely?
The sunshine falling on my face feels amazing.
I inhale and notice roses around me. Reminds me of my sunshine. The same deep red as his hair, the same delicate beauty hiding something fierce underneath.
I pluck one and sniff it.
It pricks my forefinger with its thorn.
Certainly reminds me of my sunshine.
"It was you, wasn’t it?"
Well. There goes my good mood.
I turn around. Watch the red drip down my finger—a small bead of blood, bright against my skin.
Richard Roderick stands a few feet away. Not in his uniform anymore. Just a simple dark coat, no medals, no insignia. He looks smaller somehow. Diminished.
How.Sad.
But his eyes are still sharp. Still furious.
"I don’t know what you’re talking about," I say, coming face to face with him.
"The exposed pictures. The videos." His voice is low, controlled, but I can hear the rage simmering underneath. "The articles that started all of this."
I examine my bleeding finger. Press the thorn-prick to my lips. The taste of iron and rose.
"I understand you’re shocked," I say, unbothered. "But surely you’re not planning to put the blame on me?"
"This was your plan, wasn’t it?"
Honestly? I wanted to make his position shaky. Unstable. To plant enough doubt that he could eventually be removed from power through proper channels.
I didn’t expect step one to achieve a hundred percent of the results.
So I suppose it was my plan. In a way.
He just... sped it up.
"I don’t know what you’re talking about," I say again, tilting my head. Innocent. Confused. Harmless. "Duke—no. Mr. Roderick."
His eye twitches.
His vein pops.
Beautiful.
He takes a step toward me.
"I wouldn’t do that if I were you," I say, not moving. Not flinching.
"You certainly wouldn’t have done something like this back in your glory days. You certainly can’t handle the consequences now."
I look him dead in the eye.
"You’re just a guy now. I’m still a prince."
His jaw tightens. "I am still of the noble bloodline of Roderick."
"Okay." I nod, conceding the point. "You’re just a noble bloodline of Roderick guy now. And I’m still the prince."
His hands curl into fists.
I hold his gaze.
Then I start to walk past him.
But I pause when I’m close enough to speak against his ear.
"I surely hope you didn’t make too many enemies." My voice is soft. Almost friendly. "Because like vultures, they are circling. You certainly have a lot more to worry about than me."
I step back.
Meet his eyes one last time.
Then I walk away.
The sun is still shining.
The roses are still blooming.
My finger is still bleeding, just a little.
I suck the blood off and keep walking.
It’s still a good day.
***
Nolan
"Don’t. I’m not ready." I say to Ciel, bent over the sink while he’s behind me with his fingers inside me, inspecting.
I feel him pour more lube.
"Nollie, don’t be a coward." He’s busy.
Focused. Clinical, even. Like this is a medical examination and not the most embarrassing moment of my adult life.
I can’t even look at my own reflection in the mirror. Ashamed. My face is red. My ears are burning. I’m pretty sure my entire body is the color of a tomato.
"It’s just..." I try to think of an excuse but fail.
"I thought you said you’d do anything for me?"
"You know I would."
"And remember? Months ago, you promised you would fuck Jack for me."
I groan. "Well, yeah. But things are different since then, are they not?!"
Ciel pulls his fingers out. Drops my robe to cover my ass, atleast giving me a sense of decency.Washes his hands in the sink next to me.
"Well, they are," he says, "but you still need to do this."
I want the floor to swallow me whole.
"Nolan, you’re big and strong. You go to the gym." He turns off the tap, dries his hands. "I know you can handle being pounded into next week."
I stare at him.
He meets my gaze. Unblinking.
"I need you, my best friend, to take his frustration. His pent-upness. Once that’s out of his system, it’ll be my turn."
He closes the tap. Looks at me.
"Don’t look at me like that. You like the rough treatment. Don’t lie. I hear your whimpers when he slams you against the wall."
He folds his arms. Dares me to say otherwise.
I don’t.
"Still... today?" I ask.
"Well, my heat is coming soon. And I don’t want my first time with Jack to be when I’m barely coherent."
He gives me that look. The one he knows I can’t say no to. The one that’s gotten him out of trouble, into trouble, and through every difficult moment of our shared lives.
"Fine," I say.
Ciel smiles, walks toward me, stands on his tiptoes, and kisses my lips. Soft. Brief. A promise and a goodbye all at once.
He pulls away too soon.
Pats my cheek.
"I’ll sleep in the room with Lanny today," he says.
He fixes my robe. Straightens the collar, smooths the fabric over my shoulders. Gentle. Careful. Like he’s dressing me for something important.
Kill me now.
Then he unties it. Slightly. Just enough to show my chest.
"Good. You look ready to be eaten." His eyes trail down, then back up. "You could wait on the bed on all fou—"
"I’m not doing that." I cut him off.
He laughs.
"Well, good night, Nollie. See you tomorrow." He pats my cheek again. "Unvirgined."