Marked By Pain (The Marked #2)(15)

“As much as I don't want to interrupt this, or how much I want to join in, Ryan is awake and asking for you,” Locke says gently, and I step around Logan, leaning up and pressing my lips to his.

“Thank you,” I say, leaning back as he stares at me in understanding. He realises I know everything in one look. Maybe because I'm not glaring at him like I have been since they got here.

“So where are the towels?” I ask looking down at my dripping wet clothes, and making them both smile. I ring my hair out, letting the water drip onto the floor.

“I dunno, I like the wet look on you,” Logan says as he steps out the shower, and my eyes trace his body, wishing we hadn't been interrupted.

“Same here,” I grin, just as Locke hands me and Logan some towels he found. We dry off the best we can before walking out the bathroom, and I see Ryan sitting up on the bed. He looks pale and tired, but there are no burns, which I'm thankful for. I stare at him for a while, not knowing how to process that he’s being lied to. That nothing he knows is real, and all I feel is sorry for him.

“Kennie,” Ryan says, sitting straighter.

“Careful, Ry,” Kelly warns as she watches me from the other side of the room with her arms crossed, wearing a worried expression.

“I'm sorry I've been such a brat, I know I have been and that's changing now. I'm going to try and get along with our father, to help the rebellion,” I say, lying as there’s no way I'm helping them. No, I have to escape before they try to kill me. But at least I know I can trust three of the four people in the room now. Just not my brother.

“I get it, and I’m glad that you’re finally seeing what’s right in front of you. You can trust me, you can trust us,” he says and waves a hand. “Come here,” he asks me. I walk over, sitting on the bed next to him and holding his hand. I just hope he doesn't hate me and everyone else when he realises just how wrong he is about this place, and about our father.





Chapter 8





Mackenzie





“I didn't think you would come, not after the incident with Ryan earlier today,” my father says when he opens his door that I've just knocked on. I smooth down the tight red dress I'm wearing, plastering on a fake smile as I look up at him.

“It was an accident, and I’ve learnt that I need more control over my emotions and powers,” I say as he steps out the way and waves me into his room. The entrance hall is large, as big as my bedroom with two doors on either side. It has gold carpets, gold walls and expensive looking paintings on them. The whole entrance hall looks like it costs more than my old home.

“Well you are young, and that is what we are here for, to teach you control,” he tells me and I smile tightly. I will show him control when I shove my fist into his face.

“Hello, Miss Crowe,” Mr Daniels says as he steps out the door to the left, dressed in a suit that makes him look more attractive than should be allowed. His brown hair is styled out of his green eyes, which seem to lock onto my own. I want to forgive him for everything he has done, but I still can't get the thought that he runs this place out of my head . That he betrayed me from the second we met, even if he decided to side with me in the end. What changed his mind? Was it knowing I would die?

“Mr Daniels,” I reply, my voice more neutral than I thought it would be. We both seem to just stare at each other, both of us needing to say something, anything, but we don't. We can’t.

“Let's get on with this dinner, you are fifty minutes late already, Mackenzie. The poor cooks have been keeping the food warm the whole time,” my father scolds me.

“Miss Crowe has an issue with being on time, it’s something you should grow to expect from her, Alaric,” Mr Daniels says, making me glare at him as I follow my father through the door that Mr Daniels holds open. When I pass Mr Daniels, his fingers graze down my back slowly, making me shiver and look behind me to see him smirking at me.

“Oh, she did turn up then, it’s not like we’ve been waiting for ages,” I hear Verity's whiny voice say. I look over to see her sitting at the table, a smug grin on her face as she turns to pointedly look to her left. I follow her gaze to see Enzo sitting next to her, holding her hand on the table. Anger and fury burns through my mind, and only Enzo's little shake of his head makes me calm down. I have to remind myself that he wouldn't really be dating her. That this must be a part of the plan or something, but it doesn't stop how much it hurts. Or how much I want to pick the knife up from the table and stab them both with it. Repeatedly.

“Hello, Verity, Enzo.” I smile tightly, walking towards the seat opposite Enzo that my father holds out for me. As I sit, I can't help but trail my eyes over Enzo in his suit, reluctantly noting how fucking good he looks.

“You shouldn't stare, it's rude,” Enzo says and I laugh.

“It's rude to bring a girl on a date with another girl you’ve seen half-naked and kissed, and yet here we are. All together,” I say, laughing more when Verity glares at me. I look away as Mr Daniels sits next to me and places his hand on my knee under the table, squeezing once. My father sits at the head of the table, and lifts a glass. I look around at the expensive looking table, the gold plates and crystal glasses. The large fireplace and paintings in the room. It’s clear my father likes to live in luxury, like a king or something.