Claimed by the Devils

Chapter 38

Aria POV

Sebastian’s house was huge. Arriving Friday afternoon an hour after classes had ended, I tilted my head back and looked at the large mansion. There was no way this was a lived-in house set back into a beautiful countryside. Sebastian had driven us down lanes that looked like we’d stepped into some kind of historical novel, minus the expensive car.

“Wow,” Heather said, coming to my side.

I turned toward my friend with a smile.

“You’ve got that right.”

“Don’t you live in something similar?”

“Nope. My family has a very small house in comparison.”

“But it’s a large one to me,” Heather said.

I took her hand, resting my head against her shoulder. I was still nervous around her, consciously aware of all the little touches I gave. Did she read more into it than was there?

Letting go of her hand, I followed Sebastian, Lucian, Rowan, and Elliot up the five steps leading to the large door.

Sebastian entered as a butler arrived.

“Master Knox.”

“Steve, it’s so good to see you.”

He pulled Steve into a hug.

“It has been a long time. Did you make the bedrooms I asked you to?”

“Everything has been done and pressed to perfection.”

“He works for me, Sebastian, not you.”

An older man, who Sebastian looked like—a younger version—came down the hall.

“Yeah, but when you croak, I get to inherit all of this.”

Sebastian’s dad nodded.

“It’s nice to know my death has already been planned out. Will you be mourning my death or dancing on my grave?”

“Dancing. You’d love it, but I would put on some rap music, not that classical s**t you’re into.”

I didn’t think I’d ever seen Sebastian like this. His father shook his head, but I saw a twinkle in his eye.

I shifted from one foot to another, and his gaze landed on me. His nostrils seemed to flare.

“Who is this?” Sebastian’s dad asked.

I looked toward him as Sebastian pointed at Lucian, Rowan, Elliot, and Heather before landing on me.

“And this is Aria Vale. The selected.”

He added the last part in a whisper.

“You look like your mother,” he said.

“Aria, this is my dad, Justin.”

I stepped forward, holding out my hand for him.

He took it but then pulled me in for an unexpected hug. I flinched away from his touch, too surprised by his sudden contact.

“You knew my mother?” I asked.

This was news. I rarely—in fact, I never—saw any of my mother’s friends.

My dad always had people around, entertaining. Not my mother. How odd.

“Yes, we went to the same academy. The one you’re going to now.”

“Right, yes, you would have been the same age,” I said, forcing a smile to my lips.

The way Justin kept on looking at me, I thought there was something on my face. I clenched my hands, waiting for whatever he was going to say.

“Dad, this is totally not awkward, but you’re making it so,” Sebastian said.

“Right. I am cramping the young kids’ style. The house is yours. Don’t party. Don’t break s**t. Don’t do anything that’s going to get you into trouble.”

Justin slapped Sebastian on the back.

“Where’s Mom?” Sebastian asked.

I saw Justin’s shoulders slump.

“She’s already headed to the city. I’m meeting her there.”

Sebastian nodded, and Justin left, leaving a heavy dose of silence in his wake.

“Well, that was… interesting. Is your dad kind?” I asked.

I wasn’t going to lie, but I was a little jealous of Sebastian’s dad. Mine never showed me any affection whatsoever. He treated me more with disdain.

I hated him, if I was being truthful, and ever since we had our dinner where he’d ordered me to take on the selection, I’d been having foggy memories of a time when I was a kid. The bruises. Drew was there, helping me up when he slapped me down. Calling me names—from a b***h, to useless, and a waste. How he didn’t want a f*****g daughter.

My memories of my mother were a little more vague. She always seemed to be absent, rarely in my company for longer than a few minutes. However, there was one memory, with a knife, that I couldn’t seem to grasp. It was like it was on the edge of my mind, refusing to allow me to see.

Pushing those thoughts to the back of my mind, I smiled at Sebastian.

“So, are you going to give us a guided tour?”

Sebastian loved showing off his place. There was no doubt about it. He loved pointing out certain artifacts, paintings, and how they were purchased. He believed his father had a direct link to the black market, which was how he came to acquire some of life’s treasures. They were really pretty.

After he showed us the swimming pool, game room, kitchen, garden, and the library, he took us upstairs to where we would be sleeping.

Heather had the room next to mine.

The guys were just down the hall, and my room had a view overlooking the garden. It was beautiful. I sat my butt down on the large bed and leaned back.

“That’s a good look for you,” Sebastian said, leaning over me.

I laughed. His hands had gone to either side of my waist, one of his thighs sliding between mine.

“What? On an amazing luxury bed?”

“No, lying down, submissive.”

“Do you have dominant fantasies?” I asked.

“Not the kind you think, but I don’t know how I’d feel if I chained you up.”

He took my hands, locking them above my head.

“With the guys, I’d never need to use rope or chains. I’ve got you.”

He nudged his nose against my neck, and I tilted my head back as he pressed his lips to my pulse.

I released a gasp as he sucked down.

After the way he’d touched me during our date, I’d gone to bed touching myself several times from memory.