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“Should we see what’s inside?” Bellaered the black ribbon on the box

“Go ahead and open it” I took a deep breath, needing the distraction to regainunder my skin, but I refused to allow her to see just how much

She pulled out a tuxedo for ured as much, and then she stared into an almost empty box All that reh heels

She held the paintbrush and lifted an eyebrow as she asked, “I’et?”

I took hter that wanted to escape “Looks that way” I nodded to her plate “Eat all your breakfast I’”

I paused, waiting for soet up, remove my belt, and teach Bellamy exactly what happened if she disobeyed rowling and the coffee had time to kick in Luckily for h I saw her nostrils flare slightly, and I could see she was grinding her perfect white teeth, she re into her meal

“Bella after several ht I want you to know I have some expectations for the Trials”

She looked at

“I want there to be no mistake There will be a lot of men at the Trials All eyes will be on you, but there is one rule I will never allow you to break You are mine Only mine You will not touch another, speak with another, or even look at another ive you permission to do so Mine Are we clear?”

She nodded as she sed the toast, needing to sip from the coffee to help wash it down

“I also expect perfection I want our Trial to be better than any of the Initiates before us and even those who follow I don’t do ive it to the… we do it I don’t want them to see sass, to see resistance, or any other kind of disrespect And with that said, I want you to know that I will always protect you, care for you, and guide you through the entire process You are htly I don’t just demand your respect, but you will soon see that I’ll earn it every step of the way Yet I need you to allow me to lead I need you to submit and trust Are we clear in that?”

“Yes,” she squeaked out “Yes, sir” She placed her fork down and leaned forward to give emphasis on her next words “I want to pass these Trials just as roomed my entire life to be perfect You are about to see just how perfect I can be at what the Order throws our way”

4

BELLAMY

Apparently, perfection ant stairwell of the Oleander naked as a jaybird—oh, except for the silver Louboutin heels I held ht, just like we learned in Cotillion classes all those years ago Granted, I didn’t think they had a scenario like this inus in the squeaky high-pitched voice about “eability”

Soton County had been left back in the 20th century… or on a night like tonight as I descended into an exquisite white-as chandelier, like the 19th

Other naked women walked in as I entered the ballroom Men in tuxes and silver robes waited for us My eyes widened slightly when I passed by a group of faces I recognized—Montgoston and his friends Beau and Rafe Shit, I was prancing around naked in front of people I knew When Emmett had fucked me so enthusiastically, at least it had only been in front of the Elders, but tonight… tonight would be in front of everyone

Beside me, Emmett didn’t so much as hold out an arm to steady me No, every bit of this was a test, to see if I would stand on ht I was a spoiled brat as it was

Everyone was alht he e when he whispered low and in that co voice of his, “Just a reminder, you are mine You are not allowed to ht Only me You are not allowed to touch any man Only me And remember, I expect perfection”