"Why?" Her voice is soft, empty. "Nothing I say matters to you, anyway."
The quiet dignity in her tone slashes through my control. I've seen Keira angry, seen her scared, but this… this emptiness is wrong. She's turned to stone in my arms, and I've never felt more powerless.
“These men have no honor, Keira. Surely, you demand more than this.”
Her laugh surprisesme even as it sends me into a rage with its mocking tone. "Honor? You wouldn't know honor if it slapped you across the face."
My grip tightens on her shoulders as I catch the staff's reactions. Their eyes round in surprise, and a few even dare to smirk. She's making me look weak, challenging my authority in front of these men who need to fear me.
"You want to talk about honor?" I lean in close, my voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "How about I strip you naked right here? Let everyone see what kind of woman you really are? Because that's my right now. You're mine to do with as I please."
"Phoenix." Blaise's voice carries a warning edge from the doorway. "A word?"
"Not now." I keep my eyes locked on Keira.
He doesn’t defy me, but I’m sure that growl of frustration is from him.
I lift my gaze to the men. “You really going to let her be humiliated like this?”
Suddenly, Keira drops to her knees. I think she’s about to beg for mercy, but then she reaches for my belt. My body reacts instantly, but my mind screams in protest. What the fuck is she doing and how has this turned into such a shitshow?
"What are you doing?" I grab her wrists, but she looks up at me with steel in her eyes.
"Giving you what you want. Isn't this the point? To use sex to break me in front of everyone?"
The staff shifts uncomfortably. Blaise curses under his breath. This power play has spun completely out of my control.
I haul her to her feet, my fingers digging into her arms. "You think you're clever?"
"No." She meets my gaze without flinching. “Which is it, Phoenix? You want compliance? You want to denigrate me? Or not?”
I pull her closer, my voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "Be careful, Princess. Next time, I might not stop you."
I shove Keira away from me, needing distance before I completely lose control. "Take her to her room," I order Blaise. "Make sure she stays there this time."
My brother's green eyes flash with judgment as he takes Keira's arm. The disapproval radiates off him in waves. Now his silent condemnation cuts deeper than I want to admit.
Keira doesn't resist as Blaise leads her away, but she holds her head high. Even in defeat, she maintains that aristocraticbearing that used to drive me wild with desire. Now it just fuels my rage.
The remaining staff stand frozen, waiting for dismissal. I wave them away with a sharp gesture, unable to stomach their presence any longer. They scatter and I pour a finger of whisky, downing it before pouring another and then sitting at the desk.
Blaise returns minutes later, his face hard. "What the fuck was that?”
“You don't get to judge how I handle this."
"Someone has to." He looks at me like he doesn’t know me. "You nearly sexually assaulted her?—”
“I did not!” The accusation burns. “But even if I did, it’s my right. She’s my fiancée.”
Blaise stares at me. “Who are you?”
“You have no right to judge me. You fucked Jenna for the sole purpose of humiliating and breaking her so?—”
“I didn’t assault her?—”
“I didn’t assault Keira either.” I throw my glass across the room, the sound of it shattering echoing through the room.
“You threatened to do it in front of your men. Seriously, you’re fucked up. The Phoenix I know would never, ever, even threaten to do what you just did.”
