SAVAGES (BARGAINING CHIPS)

Chapter Eight: Deal with the Devil

Dinner ended with a thick cloud of tension in the air, the grand dining room filled with the subtle chimes of cutlery against porcelain. After sss had excused herself with a light nod, she quietly retreated to her room. Her emerald eyes were unreadable, but the slight furrow in her brow hinted at the thoughts swarming beneath.

The corridor was silent as she passed by the intricate tapestries. Behind her closed doors, silence fell.

FLASHBACK - Earlier That Evening

Amazon had just returned from school, her uniform slightly creased from the ride back. A stray breeze swept past her as she wandered the corridors, her footsteps soundless. She hadn’t meant to end up at the poolside, but there it was—a vast, glass-like expanse glittering under the early evening sun.

She stood by its edge, staring into the depth. Thoughts came uninvited. Would anyone care if she simply vanished into its depths? Would the water cradle her like the love she'd never known?

Her lips curled in a smile that didn’t reach her eyes, a grim stretch of emotionless amusement. The maids cleaning by the deck froze, exchanging nervous glances.

Suddenly, a calm voice broke the still air.

"Ma'am, the master calls for you in his study," the head butler said politely, bowing deeply.

Without a word, sss turned and followed.

Hermit's Study

It was a room that reeked of intellect and power. Bookshelves lined the walls like silent sentinels. The scent of leather, ink, and burning sandalwood lingered.

Hermit stood with his back to her, his long frame illuminated by the setting sun. He didn’t turn immediately.

Amazon stepped inside, casually trailing her fingers along the polished shelves. "Let me guess," she said, voice smooth and deadly. "You've finally decided to collect the debt from my flesh? Or are you here for my neck this time?"

Hermit turned slowly, his silver eyes sharp, quiet, deadly. "No," he said, his voice low and powerful, laced with something that sent an inexplicable chill down her spine. "But I must say, the idea of having you kneel and beg for mercy is… intriguing."

Amazon's laugh was short and sharp. "You must be really bored then."

"No, sss," he stepped forward. "I'm intrigued by you. You're a broken blade, sharp and beautiful, desperate to stay unbent. And I’ve decided to offer you a deal."

She raised a brow, arms crossed. "Do I get to live through it?"

He smirked. "Marry me."

Silence.

She blinked. "Oh, we're skipping centuries and going straight to royal hostage plots now?"

Hermit walked to the table, pouring two glasses of wine. "The only way my grandfather will hand over the entire inheritance is if I’m married and settled. You will play the role of my wife until I say otherwise."

She eyed the wine but didn’t take it. "And what’s in it for me?"

"Protection, power, freedom—everything your family never gave you. And a room in this palace that no one will dare trespass."

Amazon paced slowly, her finger trailing the spines of his law books. "You want me to wear a collar, be your pretty little puppet?"

"I want you to wear diamonds and walk beside me as a queen," Hermit said coldly. "Or would you rather die a nobody?"

Her lips curled into a crooked smirk. "I have nothing to lose, remember? So why not. But know this, master of cold words and colder eyes," she said, leaning closer. "If you ever try to truly chain me, I’ll burn the whole house down."

He chuckled. "That’s what I like about you. Savage to the bone."

He took a step forward, a little too close.

"Don’t," she warned, her voice softer, more uncertain.

Hermit stilled. She turned away first.

"Sebastian’s birthday is in three days," he said. "You are to prepare a gift. Something meaningful. And from now on, you will dress, speak, and act like my wife. Publicly."

She turned with a bow so mocking it was nearly an insult. "I’m sorry, I’m poor, my lord. I’ll do my best."

PRESENT - Grand Dining Hall, Night

Amazon sat quietly, recalling every word of that exchange. Every sharp syllable from Hermit, every slow burn of her pride.

Down the corridor, laughter echoed from Athena and Snow, Snow still painting sss as the cursed girl from the village.

In the guest lounge, Pickles was assembling another toy-like invention. "I’m gonna make Aunt sss a crown with lasers," he mumbled.

Meanwhile, King, seated in his own family’s tower, looked through the Black-Vale registry with curiosity. "sss," he whispered, tilting his head.

And at that very moment, Sebastian stood in his room, a deep thoughtful expression on his face as he held sss’s treasured stone. He whispered to himself:

"That girl… She’s not ordinary."Looking at the pictures on the wall and around his rooms which seems to bring back old memories in his life . Then finally his gaze settled on the beautiful, older woman who looked a lot like his grandson "Hermit" , staring at this pictures seemed to bring a smile to his face .

"He really is a lot like her" He mumbled and moved to his laptop working as usual and then his eyes drifted to the numerous gifts in his chambers and he smiled when his eyes glanced over to the Vase which looked like it's had been placed carefully and gently in his room , then to the powerful painting which drifted across his headboard to his bed which seemed to have a significant meaning .

He closed his laptop and moved to the expensive glass case which he had placed the stone no one knew the origin but him and caressed the case.

"I really wonder who she is and where she is from " He said staring at the luminous stone which chooses when to excludes its own brightness and darkness and he went and began to ponder into a deep thought

"sss ? You really are not ordinary, I look forward to unwrapping more about you as you unfold yourself" He said and now thinking more like his grandson .

Truly blood was thicker than water and this time The Kingston family had genres and traits that ran deep in their bones .