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Chapter Text

Briton University was a city of gods, and Vaughn Morozov was the one who never bled. 

That was the story that everyone knew at least. The Pakhan’s heir didn’t flinch, didn’t falter, didn’t bend or break for anybody. Her face was all marble, her voice sharp like the crack of a whip. The sons of aristocrats and the daughters of businessmen whispered about her in corridors, weaving mystical stories about her as though she also wasn’t a human. Like she was a myth. 

A warning. 

The truth was simpler though: Vaughn learned from an early age that masks were safer than skin.

She moved through the quad of the towering university with her Heathens at her back. Gareth with his unshakable calm, Killian prowling like a wolf among sheep, Nikolai following every movement as though he was waiting for a fight, and Jeremy. His stare burned between her shoulder blades like it wanted to carve her open, pull her ribs apart, and see what kind of secrets she was hiding. 

He never said much in public. He didn’t need to. Vaughn could feel the strange obsession in every glance, in every action he took when someone came even remotely close to the Bratva heir. Vaughn could see it in the way he stood close, his silence drowning out the noise of the crowd area. Jeremy Volkov didn’t need words to remind her that she was already his. 

Her father’s empire though she was a son. Jeremy thought she was unbreakable. Both these lies were ones that she couldn’t afford to break. 

At Briton, power was a theatre and Vaughn had perfected the role. She laughed when expected, smiled when necessary, swung her chain like a warning when someone tried to test her. She never faltered when the professors tried to claim she was only there because of the Morozov name, proving them wrong at each and every turn. 

But it never mattered when his eyes were always on her. 

Jeremy leaned against the stone wall across from her, hands in pockets, expression nearly unreadable. He didn’t bother to hide his stare. 

“Stalking’s not a hobby, Jeremy.” She said as she passed him. If their classes overlapped, the Heathens agreed they would all walk together. Jeremy and her were often the only ones who did, which was surprising since Nikolai was in the same major as them. 

He tilted his lip at his future leader, his lips curling upwards slightly. “Who says I’m stalking? You’re the one who made us promise to be “normal’ university students. Wouldn’t walking with a friend apply?” 

‘You just so happen to always be outside my classroom when I know the class you're supposed to be in doesn’t end for another forty minutes?” 

“Aw you do love me. Maybe instead of thinking I’m stalking you, perhaps you need to consider that you’re watching me .” 

Vaughn’s own sharp smile didn’t slip from her face at his words. To outsiders, it would seem like a couple of friends bantering but to them? It was a battle of who could break the other first. Her heart beat rapidly as she tried to keep her mask up. She couldn’t let it slip. Not now, not ever. 

What neither of them saw though was Eli King watching from a distance, an invitation with an “H” on it tucked in his pocket. 

Chapter Text

Briton university bleeds excitement whenever the Heathens begin to stir. 

It was that time of year again. The days leading up to the coveted Heathen’s initiation were wild. Anyone who wanted into the elusive “club” tried to show out, to put themselves out there so that the Heathen’s would send them an invitation. The invitations, placed neatly into sleek black envelopes and embellished with the Heathen’s crest, were passed to trembling hands by large muscular body guards of the five students. If you received one there were only ever two emotions: if it’s your first time, you felt nothing but excitement at being chosen to be a part of the club. If you’ve seen the outcome of those who didn’t make it in? You were terrified. You believed you were cursed if you received one. Sometimes there was that rare third emotion of knowing what happens and still getting the thrill of being chosen. 

Inside the Heathen’s private mansion on campus, the five reviewed the list. 

Jeremy refused to let them go into the initiation without knowing who exactly they were hunting. The aristocratic children, children of famous athletes or artists, children of the mafia. Just about every aspect of society you can find at Briton and the heathens needed to be well informed. A large stack of portfolios were dropped in front of Killian, Gareth, Nikolai, and Vaughn. Jeremy sat back in his chair, golf club leaning next to chair like a scepter. Killian and Nikolai groaned, both more interested in the beating up part of the initiation. Gareth grabbed the top portfolio and opened it, scanning every line with a meticulous focus on concentration that only an archer could have. 

“Memorize the names,” Jeremy said flatly. “No excuses tomorrow if something goes wrong.” 

They did. 

Gareth’s brow lifted slightly at two of the portfolio’s. “King. Two of them. Glyndon and Brandon.” 

“She’s mine.” Killian said, snatching the profile of Glyndon from his brother. “She’s interesting. She’s someone who’s never been truly broken .” 

“And this one,” Nikolai plucks Brandon's profile. “Is escaping an ivory tower for the first time in his life. He’s not cold hearted like his brother. It’ll be interesting to see how this goes.” 

Vaughn’s gaze lingered on the names. King blood. A different empire compared to the one the five of them were a part of, a different legacy but still dangerous in their own way. Especially their eldest cousin, Eli King, older brother Landon King, and Eli’s little brother Creighton King. All a part of another elusive club known as the Elite’s on campus. She looked at the faces of the brunette male and chestnut haired girl. They both were nice looking, strong facial features. 

It’s too bad they would be ruined by two of the most deranged people that Vaughn knows. 

One by one, the Heathens studied every name, every photograph. 

But when Jeremy received the final portfolio, he paused. His eyes narrowed faintly as though something was missing. 

“I expected Eli King or Landon King to be on the list.” Gareth said. “Not to get to be one of us but because I figure these two psychos needed a punching bag that could actually take a punch.” 

Jeremy’s mouth curved without humor. “Not this time. Kill and Niko will have to deal with what they get.” 

“What if they just show up without an invitation?” Vaughn asked. 

Killian chuckled, leaning back. “If anybody is stupid enough to show up without an invitation, I’ll make sure he doesn’t leave with two functioning legs.” 

Vaughn didn’t comment after that but she did grip the chains in her lap tighter like a promise. This was what she needed. 

Outside their circle, in the shadowed corridor, Eli King flicked his stolen envelope between his fingers, smiling like he already knew he wasn’t supposed to be there. Watching the blonde with mismatched eyes with intrigue. 

Tomorrow will be fun.

Chapter Text

The woods overlooking the back of the Heathen’s mansion was frightening. Towering trees that casted shadows, land that no longer belonged to the University but to the families that reside there. It was fenced off, guards stationed all around as new initiates gathered within their walls. A great feast for the five predators. 

They stood tall on a balcony, colored purge-esque masks covered their faces despite everyone knowing who they were. Jeremy rested his golf club across his shoulders, biceps bulging as the new potential members eyed the five founders. Gareth was testing his bowstring, making sure he had enough arrows to satiate his desire for the night. Killian twirled his bat around with a boyish glee, blue eyes burning with a desire to draw blood. Nikolai, the only one shirtless, flexed his muscles as he stretched his arms. Like Killian he was hungry for some violence. 

And behind them? Sitting on her own throne of power, was Vaughn. The throne was new but something that Nikolai said was ‘befitting of their future pakhan.” Vaughn knew the slightly older male wanted to say she looked fragile compared to the rest of them considering her leaner build but Vaughn could still handle herself if needed. Her chain coiled like a viper around her body looping to rest gently around her neck. 

The light of the moon gave them more light than they typically had when hosting the initiation but it didn’t matter. It clashed beautifully against the black clothes. Clashed deliciously against her chains. 

“Congradulations on making it to the Heathens’ highly competitive initiation. You are the selected elite the leaders of the club think are worthy of joining their world of power…and connections. The price to pay for such privileges is higher than money, status, or name. The reason everyone wears a mask is because you are all the same in the eyes of the club’s founders.” 

This is the first time Vaughn had heard this speech in person. Nikolai and Killian had sent her videos, saying she was missing out on it. She thought it was cringey to an extent but overall a nice little speech considering they were about to beat all these people black and blue. 

“The price of becoming a heathen is handing over your life. In the literal sense of the word. If you aren’t willing to pay that, please exit through the small door to your left. Once you leave, you’ll lose any chance of joining us again.” 

A dozen or so people left, and Vaughn couldn’t help the slight disappointment. She wouldn’t know who left immediately until after the initiation. Their numbers rattled off in one way, ear pieces in their ears so they could hear how much prey was left for them to hunt. 

Eighty-Nine People. How many would survive the night?

Jeremy’s voice, distorted from his mask voice modulator, broke through the noise once again. “Congratulations again, ladies and gentlemen. We shall now begin our initiation.” 

Although it was hidden behind a mask, Vaughn knew Jeremy had a wicked grin on his face as did the rest of them. 

“Tonight’s game is predator and prey,” he purred. “You’ll be hunted down by the club’s founding members. That will be five to eighty-nine, so you have a severe advantage over us. If you manage to reach the edge of the property before we hunt you down, you’ll be a heathen. If not? You’ll be eliminated and escorted out by a guard.” Murmurs erupted from the prey as though they didn’t see what was so dangerous about the game they were about to play. The poor unfortunate souls. 

“The founding members have the right to use any methods available to hunt you down—including violence. If their weapon of choice touches you, you’ll be automatically eliminated. Bodily harm can and will happen. You are also allowed to inflict violence on the founding members—if you can. The only rule is not taking a life. Intentionally. No questions are allowed and no mercy shall be granted. We don’t want any weaklings in our ranks.” 

Vaughn could see the wheels spinning in the little hamster size brains of those who remained and she almost laughed. 

“You have a ten minute head start. I suggest you run.”  

The initiates scattered. One stood far longer than the others, number 2. Vaughn could see the bottom of his face and smirk that rested there as he walked cooly into the woods. Ten minutes passed in bored frustration on Nikolai and Killian’s part until the timer beeped and all five of them jumped into action. 

Branches cracked under panicked feet, breath torn from throats that weren’t used to running this long. Very few seemed unaffected, like number 89, who Nikolai was stalking apparently. She remembered their conversation the previous day and Killian and Nikolai’s reaction to the King children that were invited. 

Did they actually show? Interesting. 

Screams cracked the sky open as laughter could be heard and the robotic voice announcing the eliminated numbers. Vaughn loved the scent of the earth and the fear radiating from their prey’s body. 

Gareth’s arrows split bark just inches from a girl’s head and pinned her to the tree by her shirt sleeve. He didn’t look at her twice, just pulled an arrow out and tapped her with it twice. He was already notching another arrow to launch across the woods. 

Killian laughed as he swung his bat, smashing the roots of a tree to stop a male in his tracks. He gave the boy a grin and swung hard, getting him in the gut. “In case you don’t know. You’re out.” He hummed the words out like it was the beginning of his favorite song. 

Nikolai took his victims by surprise every time. They underestimated him, which was funny considering he was 6 '5 and a hunk of muscle, but when his fist collided with their body? Well, let’s just say they weren’t having a good time with their gut. 

Jeremy was in no hurry. He appeared like smoke when no one was expecting him, club tapping against shoulders, knees, chest, sometimes tripping them just for fun. His club only started getting bloody after the halfway point and the initiates were getting far to dumb for his liking. He didn’t want any of them to pass. 

And Vaughn? Well, the white masked female stalked her prey. 

Her chain uncoiled with a hiss and lashed out around her ankle. A boy screamed, crashing to the dirt and clawing at the ground as she pulled him towards her. She tapped him once with the toe of her boot. Eliminated. Another snap of her chain wrapping around a wrist and pulling the girl down and striking her hard in the side. 

The silence of the white masked female was worse than Killian’s laughter. Worse than Nikolai’s fist. Worse than Jeremy’s precision. Vaughn’s mask made her a myth. 

And myths don’t need to make a noise to be loud. 

But she wasn’t the only myth walking around in the shadows. 

Eli King slipped between the trees with the kind of arrogance only befitting of the eldest King child. The kind of arrogance that only belonged to someone who shouldn’t have been there in the first place. His smile was light and sharp. He didn’t run nor did he panic. 

He simply followed. 

His eyes followed the golden blond hair of the white masked boy. His eyes racked over his body as they moved. The curve of his shoulders, the whip of his chain, the silence that wrapped tighter than the clothes that he was wearing. While the rest of the forest scrambled to avoid the white masked male, Eli smiled like he was the only reason he’d come. 

Jeremy shifted from yards away, gaze narrowing as though he sensed that something was about to happen. Gareth paused mid-draw, eyes scanning the darkness before settling on the figure of a man wearing a guard’s mask who definitely wasn’t a guard and Killian’s laughter echoed too loud, covering the sound of Eli’s footsteps. 

The woods shivered. The Hunt raged. 

And Eli King closed in on his prey.

Chapter Text

The forest was drowning in chaos but Vaughn’s stretch of trees had gone too still. No prey ran through the area she was hunting in. She could hear the snapping of branches in the distance as the others went after their prey. Here, in the hollow by the old ruined pump house, silence pressed down on her heavily. 

She felt it before she saw him. 

A step too measured. A presence too patient. They didn’t seem like prey. They saw themselves as a hunter.  Vaughn turned around before the other person could make a move and launched her chain at them. It wrapped around a wrist before she yanked and pulled them into the light. 

Eli King grinned at her as he was pulled into the clearing. He grinned like he owned the area and wasn’t at the mercy of the Pakhan’s heir. “Finally, I never thought you or your little masked goons would ever notice me. I’ve been following you for a while, Morozov.” 

“Leave King.” her voice cut through his words. “You weren’t invited.” 

“You are correct,” He nodded. “Yet, I’m still here.” 

Before she could snap his wrist with her chain, he wrapped it around his arm more and pulled her towards him. He used her momentum to slam her against the wall, pinning her against the cold stone wall. The chain clattered against the ground. His mouth crashed onto hers, harsh, demanding, the kiss was one that claimed not one that asked questions. 

Are you okay? 

Is this okay? 

None of the questions running through her head mattered as she fought to get him away from him. Large cold hands moved upwards under her shirt, trailing towards her chest. 

Vaughn’s frame locked itself as her eyes shot open. 

“S-Stop!” 

Her voice, for the first time in forever, was full of fear. The fear of being found out. 

It was too late though. His palm pressed flat against her ribs. It wasn’t flesh that he was feeling. No softness but compression. 

A binder? 

Eli’s eyes locked with her large ones. The fear in her eyes was delicious. He squeezed at the binder one more time before pulling back a little. He didn’t move away completely but enough to get a full view of her. 

Vaughn shoved him further away from her but he didn’t budge. He just stared at her, expression bare of smugness for the first time all night. 

“Fuuuck…” He breathed out, eyes narrowing. The word wasn’t said with disgust. It was a realization. Then softer, darker:  “Got you.”

Her mask trembled. Not the literal one that she was wearing but the one that hid Vaughn Morozov the daughter of the Pakhan in favor of Vaughn Morozov the Son of the Pakhan. ‘Fuck you.” Her voice trembled. “If you—” 

Boots crunched over branches as a metal sound rang low against bark. Jeremy Volkov emerged from the trees, his golf club gleaming with blood. It hung loose in his grip as his eyes cut through the clearing like a blade. He froze when he saw them—Vaughn pinned against the wall, Eli fucking King pressing him there. The air shifted around them. 

“Back the fuck up.” Jeremy’s voice was low, lethal as his grip tightened on the golf club. 

Eli smiled, slow and satisfied with the younger male’s reaction although he didn’t look at him. He kept his gaze locked on Vaughn as if she’d already agreed with his next statement. 

“Now this,” he said.  “will be interesting.” 

He leaned down to Vaughn, whispering in her ear. “Meet me at the Elites’ Mansion later…if you don't want your little secret slipping out.” 

Vaughn’s blood froze as Eli leaned up again and held his hands up as he backed away. “I’m eliminated, he got me.” He motioned to Vaughn before disappearing into the woods. 

Jeremy’s grip on the club tightened as he watched Vaughn yank his shirt down. The blonde male coiled his chain around him like a safety blanket. Vaughn’s heart hammered from Eli’s words still burning against her ear. 

This hunt was supposed to be about survival but for Vaughn it just became blackmail.

Chapter Text

The hunt ended with bodies stumbling out of the trees, pale with relief. Some marked with bruises and more marked by blood, and others simply broken by the fear and pain that they encountered. Briton always pretended and forgot about what happened on these nights but the woods behind the Heathens mansion never forgot. 

Vaughn stood apart from the chaos, chain looped back around her, expression carved smooth as stone. She looked untouchable, the pakhan’s heir who definitely wasn’t having a breakdown about what happened with Eli King. It didn’t help that Jeremy refused to look away from her. 

He stood a few paces off, his blood club resting against his shoulder, his gaze heavy and relentless. He hadn't missed the way Eli King had been in his woods. He didn’t miss the proximity, timing, and sharpness in Vaughn’s movement when he walked up. He didn’t miss the way Vaughn had pulled his shirt down after Eli had stepped away from him. 

Jeremy didn’t need to ask questions, all he had to do was stake a claim. 

He came closer to Vaughn. “Stay away from him.” 

“Who?” Vaughn asked, not even blinking. It was as though she wasn’t kissing Eli King barely twenty minutes ago. 

“You know who I’m talking about.” Jeremy’s jaw flexed but he tried to keep his voice calm. 

He was failing. 

“”You sound jealous, Jer.” Vaughn said, tilting his head up with a smirk. 

“I am.” He said matter of factly, raising his hand and gripping the shorter cheeks. His eyes dragged along Vaughn’s lips as they pursed out slightly from being pinched. “And I don’t apologize for it.” 

He released him, his hand trailing down the shorter boy’s arm. Vaughn didn’t pull away. It was a possessiveness that she had seen in Jeremy from a young age but it's something that she never thought would be aimed at her. 

Later, back at the mansion, Nikolai announced that only one person successfully passed their test and thus could be a part of their ranks. Until they found out who it was and Jeremy shot it down immediately. There was no way that Brandon King, brother of Landon King and cousin of Eli King, was going to be a part of them. The long black haired male pouted at that but relented. Other than that, they talked about the best and worst eliminations of the night. Vaughn participated when expected but otherwise she stayed silent. 

She pulled her phone out of her pocket as she felt it vibrate and saw it was an instagram notification. 

Followed by Eli-King. 

Message request from Eli King. 

Accept or Decline

She looked over the message and glared at it. 

Eli: Don’t forget our appointment, princess. Elites’ mansion. Midnight.

Her pulse slammed against her skin once, hard but she refused to let her face shift. She stood from her seat. “I’m going to turn in early. I have a test tomorrow.’ 

Jeremy’s gaze flicked towards the blond. Sharp and calculating as though he didn’t fully understand what he was missing. Not yet at least. 

Vaughn looked at her phone as it buzzed again. 

Eli: I know you saw my message. Be here or I’ll be there.

Vaughn took a deep breath as she entered her room and locked it like she always did. It was the one time she was able to take off her binder. The one time she got to feel like her and not the boy they all pretend she is. 

Eli’s final message set her off. If going to enemy territory was the only way to keep her secret safe then so be it.

 She could handle Eli King if worst comes to worst. 

Chapter Text

He knew she would come. 

He was rarely wrong and even when he was no one dared say it (well his younger cousin Landon does very often but he’s a little prick anyways). Earlier that night, during the Hunt, it was believed that it would be the night the heathens dominated but in reality he reigned supreme. 

Because he got the best win of them all. A kiss. A single slip of his hand beneath the shirt of Vaughn Morozov and he has fallen deeply into reverence. He wasn’t planning on kissing the younger but after removing the white purge-esque mask and seeing the glaring eyes beneath it, Eli realized he didn’t just want but he needed to own the mafia brat. 

Vaughn Morozov was a puzzle that nobody but him was allowed to solve. 

Starting with having her come to the mansion. Come to the Elite’s mansion if you don’t want your secret revealed.

He wouldn’t do that. Eli understood that the world she lived in was one that ate women alive but he also realized one thing in their short encounter. Vaughn wasn’t someone who ignored a challenge. She wasn’t someone who was easily called weak. And that’s where his desire stimmed from. The fight that she’ll bring him. Or the utter devastation of everything she thought she once was. 

Thus he waited. A few minutes until the clock struck midnight and his window burst open. He didn’t turn from where he sat on the couch residing in his room. His shirt opened partially and sleeves rolled up to his elbows. He was relaxed as he called out to the younger girl. 

“I knew you wouldn’t disappoint me princess.” 

He purred, standing and circling the couch until he was right in front of her. Without the bulky black clothes and combat boots, he could see their true height difference. Eli was tall, the tallest in his family at 6’4. If he had to guess Vaughn was around 5 '6 maybe 5' 7 on a good day. 

“You don’t scare me King.” She growled at him, pushing him against the wall harder than he expected. Her fury was palpable in the way she fisted his shirt. 

“You think you have leverage against me.” 

“Oh no dear princess,” He smirked. “I don’t think so. I know that I have leverage on you. You just don’t want to admit you're scared of your little band of Heathens realizing that you aren’t what you say you are and they’ll leave you all alone.” 

He raises his hand to her cheek. “Prove to me otherwise, little queen.” 

And to his utter surprise, she kissed him. He expected a fight, maybe getting stabbed or shot but a kiss? 

This little minx is something else. 

The kiss was rough, brutal in the way he enjoys tormenting others. He drags her closer by her waist. Her teeth cut into his lip as she bites at it. She kissed him like she hated herself. Eli pulled away from her lips, allowing her to draw in quick breaths of air as he grasped the side of her head with both hands. 

“Mhm. That didn’t take you as long as I expected.” He rasped out. “I knew you’d crack for me one day but to think it would be so soon was a surprise.” 

He turned them so she was pressed against the wall now, one of his hands holding both her wrist in a vice-like grip as his free hand wandered down to the bottom of her shirt before slipping inside. Her skin was smooth and soft under his hand. It traveled upwards, her body tensing and twitching under his movements until his hand settled on the binder that rested on her body. 

Fuck. 

He wondered for the first time (the first of many) how fucked up her perception of herself was. How long has she been living like this? Pretending to be someone she knows she isn’t. 

How long is she willing to continue to hide herself? 

“You’ve been carrying this all alone for a long time haven’t you…” he whispered, eyes locking onto hers. “All this time and no one knew until today.” 

“Say a single word, King, and I swear to god you’ll—” He released her face, cutting her off. “No, don’t pretend that you’re okay with this.” 

He poked her in the chest. 

“You want to bind? To hide yourself? Go ahead but when you are with me and you're in my presence you won’t be hiding. We’ll learn together about who you really are, Vaughn Morozov.” 

“Shut up…” She whispered, and he could hear it. Her voice was shaking. Breaking for him. “You don’t know anything about me…” 

“Then you can leave.” He told her, motioning towards the window in which she climbed in from. “I see no further need for this conversation. I’ll keep my end of the deal, your secret is safe.” 

Her eyes stayed on him for another minute or so before she nodded and ducked out the window. Eli watched her as she looked at him from the path leading to the gate before she turned and disappeared into the night. 

A princess in need of saving. 

He shut the light off in his room and settled into bed. He had a few classes the following day not that he really cared about them but he had to show some face as the eldest child of the new King generation. His eyes closed and he drifted off into the quiet corners of his mind. 

___________________________

He woke up to a weight settling above me. Cold hands wrapped around his throat as his sleep addled brain finally registered who exactly it was above him. Pretty blonde hair glinted from the moonlight as it settled over the form of Vaughn Morozov. 

“W-Well this is a—” his words cut off with a sharp intake as the hands around his throat tightened. “Surprise.” He finished. He noticed something different. Vaughn’s clothes were definitely tighter compared to earlier that night in the woods but now? 

Now her shirt bulged out slightly at the chest—

Oh.

A wicked grin graced his features as his body started its innate function to fight back. 

“Fuck you…” She whispered, leaning down, her grip slowly releasing itself. “Fuck you….fuck you….fuck you.” 

Their lips crashed together again and this time it was full of desperation. A need to be seen not as the future Pakhan but as Vaughn. A girl who’s already had to go through way too much and seen too much for her young age. 

Eli let her take control. He allowed her to finally break as his hands traveled down to her hips. He took every claw hand that scratched at him. He told her everything that she needed to hear as she whispers the words: 

“Help me be myself…” 

He snapped at that moment. He was all for giving the younger girl control but he needed to show her what it was like to truly be Vaughn Morozov and not the fake mask that everyone else saw. 

“That’s it little queen,” He murmured into her neck as he flipped their position. The girl sprawled beneath him as Eli racked his eyes over her body. “Show me you’re real. That you’re stronger than the mask you hide behind. Not because you're the heir of an empire but because you’re you.” 

He kissed along her neck, moving down as his hands slipped beneath her shirt to pull it off of her. He admired her beauty. It was breathtaking that he was the first one to see this view. He would be the only one to ever see her like this. She was his. He was hers even if she doesn’t realize it. 

He kissed between her breasts, they weren’t large but they fit perfectly as he cupped them. Squeezing, pulling, and twisting at her nipples as she groaned below him. His lips traced down to her hips and he looked up at her. 

“Is this okay, Darling?” 

The endearment slipped out before he could stop himself but he honestly didn’t care. She wouldn’t be coherent enough by the end of this to really remember what he called her. 

She took a deep shuttering breath as she nodded, signaling that it was fine for Eli to remove the shorts that she was wearing alongside the underwear that she was wearing. He could have salivated had he been any other hormonal adult. Her pussy looked small and Eli feared that he would hurt her if they went all the way. 

She whimpered as his hot breaths passed along her cunt. It was a feeling that she wasn’t accustomed to. It felt…good. Is this what the other boys meant when they said sex was the perfect form of pleasure? 

“Hard to believe I’m the only one who gets to have this perfect gift.” Eli said, running his fingers over her clit, causing an abrupt moan to leave her. “Mhm, I wonder how long you’ll last?” He wondered aloud before latching his mouth to her clit and sucking. A loud drawn out moan escaped her as she gripped his dark hair in a vice-like grip, grinding her leaking cunt onto his tongue and the fingers that he had since added so that he could scissor her open for the main show.

“Eli…” his name sounds like music to his ears as her legs start to tremble. He pulled away, denying the release that was surely about to come. She whined as he removed her hands from his hair. 

“Why?” She asked with a frustrated growl. 

“I figured you would want a look at what’s to come next.” A laugh escaped the dark haired male as he leaned back on his legs, pulling down his pants to release his cock. He muffled another laugh as her eyes widened like a cartoon character when they landed on his dick. 

“What the fuck.” 

That’s it? That’s all she had to say regarding seeing the Eli King’s dick? 

He was only slightly offended. Just a little. 

“I’ve been told I'm a great lay.” He told her. “Would you like to see if it’s true?” 

Something sparked in her eyes as her nostrils flared at the mention of his past escapades. With a new found strength, she pushed him over so his back was pressed flushed against the mattress and she towered over him. 

“You going to ride me, darling?” His accent was heavy in the haze of lust that had settled over the two of them. “That’s pretty adventurous even for a mafia princess like you.” 

She leaned down and kissed him again to shut him up. Just as she gripped him and lined him up, he stopped her. He sat up so that she was sitting with her legs spread on either side of his hips. “Stop trying to stop me.” She said angrily. “Why are do you keep—” 

He cut her off with a soft kiss to her lips and a smile. “It’s your first time right? I’m not fucking you without a safeword.” 

“Safeword?” 

She said it as though it was something she didn’t consider. As though she thought Eli would simply take even if she didn’t want it. 

“Yes. If something gets to be too much. You say it and I’ll stop immediately.” 

She thought about it for a moment before settling on something that tied to her greatly. Her weapon. Her prison. 

“Chain.” 

“Chain it is.” 

And with that, he pushed into her as they both groaned from the pleasure. 

“Fuuuck darling. You’re so tight.” He groaned, eyes rolling back as he held her hips as he thrusted up into her. Over and over again, going deeper and deeper the longer they went. Vaughn seemed to be enjoying it as well, if the little noises she was making was anything to go by. 

Two hours and two rounds later, he laid in his bed, the blonde hair girl resting her head against his chest as they both panted. Eli looked down as he wrapped her in his arms. 

“You’re a dream little queen.” He whispered into her head as her breath started to even out and her eyes grew heavy. “My…classes tomorrow…” She mumbled and he laughed. 

“No worries…I’ll wake up in a few hours so you can return home for tomorrow.” 

If only they knew that someone was watching them from beyond the gates of the mansion. Jeremy Volkov was stiff as a statue as his jaw clenched in anger from what he had seen. Vaughn was fucking elite? No, it was the worst. Vaughn, his to own, to take apart, was sleeping with Eli fucking King. Half of the embodiment of chaos (the other being Landon King). 

He stood there for another thirty minutes, waiting for Vaughn to leave. When he didn’t, Jeremy turned and walked away. His grey eyes were darker than they usually were and his veins bulged from anger. 

Vaughn Morozov was about to meet his maker. 

Chapter Text

The minute classes finished, Vaughn felt the air around her grow heavy as she walked out the business building. The reason for the heavy atmosphere? 

Jeremy Volkov leaning against his Ducati, arms free from the leather bound jacket he so readily wears. He had his helmet hooked under one arm, his posture deceptively calm compared to the raging storm in his eyes. 

“Get on.” His slight accented voice carried over the crowd as he motioned at the disguised female. It wasn’t a request whatsoever. It was a demand befitting the leader of their little group. How Vaughn wished she had ridden with Gareth or Killian this morning in their cars instead of with Nikolai on his bike. 

Vaughn’s hesitation caught Jeremy’s attention. He could see the war in Vaughn’s eyes. And Jeremy knew he was thinking about Eli King. His hands. His mouth. His cock. Jeremy knew the look of someone who felt shame for something that they did. He also knew how to exploit it. 

Did he want to do that to someone he considered a friend though? 

Vaughn took the helmet that Jeremy offered her. The validation that she felt last night with Eli disappeared in Jeremy’s presence as fast as it appeared in Eli’s. The engine growled to life as Jeremy got on and Vaughn slid on behind him, loosely wrapping her arms around his waist. His muscles were tense under her hands, the world narrowing to the steady up and down of his chest as the bike sped down the street. 

The city blurred. Her pulse matched the speed in which they were moving. And all she could think about was how Jeremy hasn’t made a move to look back at her. Not even once. He didn’t have too. She knew something was wrong. She just didn’t know what. 

When they stopped, Vaughn noticed that they weren’t at the Heathens Mansion. Instead, Jeremy drove them to an abandoned looking house. Jeremy swung his legs back over the bike and stalked off to the entrance of the house. He looked back at her eyes dissecting her every move as she got off the bike. 

“You seem distracted.” He said. 

“I’m fine.” 

His jaw twitched. “Liar.” 

The words hit Vaughn harder than they should have. Vaughn’s mask held but her heart clenched with the pain of the words. She didn’t want to hide from him. From any of them. But they wouldn’t understand. They wouldn’t understand the pressure that she has to be the perfect bratva heir. 

Jeremy stepped towards her, slow and deliberate, until Vaughn’s back was pressed against the dilapidated wall of the house. His hand slid into her hair, tugging until she was looking up at him, her head pressed against the wall. 

“Did you think I wouldn’t notice when one of my heathens left the mansion? The guards are employed by my father. Did you think they wouldn’t say anything when you snuck away to Elite’s?” 

His voice was calm but Vaughn’s heart was beating rapidly. She didn’t think any of the guards had seen her. She left during guard rotation. 

Shit. 

“I followed, V.” He whispered in her ear. “Shadows in the Elites mansion. I saw you. With him. You think I don’t see when someone touches what’s fucking mine Vaughn?” His grip tightened on her hair as he shook the younger. 

“I’m not your property Jeremy.” Vaughn hissed. “You don’t own me.” 

His mouth curled in a dark cruel smile as dragged her into a deep, possessive kiss that left her breathless when he pulled away. His hand not holding her head drifted over her side. Snaking his way up her side. 

“Jeremy! Stop!” Vaughn pushed at the muscled chest that pushed against her. 

“So you’ll whore around for King but not me?” He growled, pulling away slightly. “How many times have you been with him V? Hmm? Do you think that King has the right to be someone to you?” The right to fucking claim you?” 

He pushed the younger down to her knees. “Kneel for me Умница.” 

Vaughn glared up at the older man. How dare he make a claim to her. She was his leader. The only control Jeremy Volkov had was that he was older than the rest of the Heathens and the only one who would take control and blame for something that Nikolai or Killian did that brought them too much attention. 

“I can see your shame Умница. You don’t have to feel shame with me. Afterall, I’m the only one who can truly give you what you deserve.” Jeremy’s smirk grew sharper as he undid his jeans. His cock popped out of his jeans as his hand in Vaughn’s hair tightened. Satisfaction gleamed in his eyes, as he gripped his cock in his hand and guided it towards Vaughn’s mouth, rubbing it against the tightly shut lips. 

“Mhm. God, look at you. The pakhan’s precious son is on his knees for me.” His head tilted to the side as Vaughn’s chest rose rapidly. Her chest ached under the binder wrapped tightly around her chest, her mask threatening to break. 

“Jer–” She was cut off when he slid inside of her mouth. The large girth filled her mouth as tears came to her eyes. This can’t be happening. Her childhood friend was…assaulting her. How would this change their dynamic? Their friendship? Will this be the end of Jeremy and Vaughn? Future leaders of the New York Bratva broke apart. 

“Mine.” Jeremy moaned, hips moving in a rapid movement as he moved the younger’s head in time with his thrust. He was in heaven. Vaughn’s mouth felt so good around his dick. It’s a shame that he wouldn’t let Jeremy have a go at his hole. He knows Vaughn was a virgin before last night, and typically the young Volkov wouldn’t go for virgins but there was something about Vaughn that set him apart from other virgins. Was it the fact that Jeremy grew up with Vaughn? Was it the fact that Jeremy craved the power of control? It had to be that. Why wouldn’t it be that? Vaughn was the son of Kirill Morozov, pakhan of the New York Bratva, Jeremy’s own father’s boss. It felt wonderful having this power. Vaughn was his. Vaughn would only ever be his. 

“Always mine Умница. You don’t need anyone else right? You don’t get anyone else but me.” 

For one blistering second, Vaughn’s mind went back to the previous night. The night she spent with Eli. It was nothing like this. Eli took the time to make sure she was okay. That she felt as much pleasure as he did. He made sure she had a way out of it if needed. 

If you say your word, I’ll stop. I won’t do anything you don’t want, darling.

Chains. 

Chains. 

Chains. 

CHAINS. 

The world echoed in her mind as she beat against Jeremy’s thigh. It didn’t matter if she said the word. It was Eli’s word not Jeremy’s. It was clear that this was for his pleasure not hers. He didn’t care if a safeword was in place or not. As long as he got what he wanted. For a moment, she imagined biting Jeremy’s cock but fear ruled over that thought. The fear of what he would do in response. 

So she did the only thing she could. 

She endured it. 

Wet slaps hit against her chin as he thrusted harder, going as far back in her throat as he could. When he finally released, he yanked Vaughn up roughly, kissing her and tasting his own release in her mouth. He pulled away with a final bruising kiss, sealing his claim over her as silence weighed heavily over them for a few minutes. 

“Remember this Умница. You don’t need anyone else.” He whispered against her lips, her face inches from his. “I’ll give you everything you crave. All you have to do is let me and forget about Eli fucking King.” 

Vaughn’s mask resurfaced. “I don’t need anyone, Jeremy. Or did you forget who I am?” Her voice was flat and cold, distant in a way that she’s never spoken in before. 

“Then why are you still here? Why didn’t you fight back harder?” He asked her, voice holding a clear tone of victory. 

She didn’t answer because how do you refute it? She could have fought back against him. She may be smaller but she was still strong. She was trained by the same people that trained Nikolai and Jeremy. 

She could have knocked him away but she didn’t. 

What if…what if he was right? 

That thought settled in her mind as she ran out of the abandoned house, grabbing her bag from Jeremy’s motorcycle and going as far as possible on foot before calling the one person who promised to be there if she needed him even though they had only really interacted the night before. 

“What a surprise darling.”  Eli’s voice was muffled slightly over the phone. “What pleasure to I have to be speaking to you today?”

Chapter Text

Harsh breaths escaped Vaughn’s lungs and her vision blurred as she ran. She didn’t know where she was going but anything was better than being at that abandoned house with Jeremy. His words still rang through her mind, through her soul. Mine. Only Mine. Those simple words were suffocating. They made her want to scream. She didn’t belong to anyone. She was the daughter of the Pakhan. She was destined to rule over men like Jeremy. Men who thought that they had the power over everyone. 

But he proved that he did have the power over you. Didn’t he? 

Shut up. 

Her hands shook as she pulled out her phone as her thundering run came to a halt as she came into the town. She needed to get back to the mansion. She needed to figure out how she would look at Jeremy the same way. She needed to figure out how she can look at herself the same way. She pulled up one of her contacts and hit called, not caring which of the heathens she called (other than Jeremy) to come and get her. Well she didn’t care until she heard the very distinct deep British voice that came from the other side of the phone. 

“What a surprise, darling.” Eli King’s voice came through the speaker, his voice filled with smug satisfaction. “And what pleasure do I have to be speaking to you at this hour?” 

Was Vaughn going to question how exactly she had Eli King’s number in her phone? No. No she wasn’t. At least not at this moment. There were more important things to do. 

“Pick me up.” 

Her voice, despite the way her body shook, was steady as she spoke. 

A beat of silence passed before Eli replied: “Where?” 

Vaughn told the older man the man the streets that she was standing at. She was glad that he didn’t ask why she wasn’t with the rest of the heathens at their mansion nor did he ask what or why she had escaped into the night without any sort of protection from the guards that Adrian Volkov and her father issued for them. 

When he pulled up to her in a matte black Lamborghini Aventador. He rolled down his window and looked at her from over the sunglasses that he’s wearing. “I’m here to pick up a Ms. Vaughn Morozov? We have a date scheduled.” 

Vaughn looked at him blankly as she settled into the passenger seat of the car. “This isn’t a date Eli. How did your number even get on my phone? I have a password.” 

It was Eli’s turn to look at her blankly. “Yeah I think you need to change it. Because it was really easy to guess.” He wasn’t going to say that he knew a hacker and got access to her phone with said hacker.

“Whatever.” She rolled her eyes as she crossed her arms. 

“You look like hell.” He said. “Want to tell me what happened?” 

She shook her head. “It was nothing. Just a disagreement.”

A disagreement about you. About what we did last night and the repercussions of someone else touching me. 

A shiver racked over her body at the memory of what happened not long ago. Jeremy made her go on her knees to give him a blowjob. The thought that she was his that lingered in the man’s head. 

“Hmm.” Eli said nothing, simply taking off down the road until they got to the turn off to the heathens mansion. 

And then they drove past it. 

“Eli. You missed the turn.” 

“No I didn’t.” 

“The heathen mansion? It was the turn we just passed.” 

“It’s funny that you think I was taking you back to those idiots.” 

“Well if you aren’t taking me back to the heathens where are we—-“ she cut herself off as she saw the large looming mansion that housed the very group that Eli helped establish. 

“No. Absolutely not.” 

Eli grinned as he patted her thigh. “Come now darling, I think it’s only fair to join me for dinner after I came and got you.” 

“Next time I know to just walk.” She bit back. She didn’t trust this whatsoever. Especially since she knew who waited behind those doors. The man who made their lives hell. Landon King. 

Eli pulled into a spot between a Tesla and McLaren, throwing it into park and looked at her. “You’ll be fine. They don’t bite despite how much they look like they could.” 

He paused for a moment before speaking again. “Okay, Landon might bite if given the opportunity but the others are harmless…to an extent.” 

She gave him a look. “Did you forget I’m one of your sworn enemies?” 

“That didn’t matter last night so why would it matter now?” 

The flush that spread across Vaughn’s cheeks were bright compared to her pale skin as she punched his shoulder. “That was a one time thing Eli. It won’t happen again.” 

“I’m sure it won’t, Little Queen.” 

Vaughn would have punched him again if he didn’t get out of the Lamborghini when he did. Like the gentlemen he definitely isn’t, he opened the door for her. 

She wasn’t going to go in but her bladder ultimately won the fight and she didn’t feel like paying for a new interior for the vehicle. 

“I’ll stay for a little bit but you have to take me back to the heathens the minute I want to leave, understood?” She poked him in the chest as he let out a loud laugh. “Of course your highness.” 

Vaughn rolled her eyes at the nicknames as he led her into the Elite’s mansion. It was just as large as the one she stayed in with her friends and filled with just as dangerous people. She thanked any god that was listening that there was a bathroom close enough to the front door that she wouldn’t see anybody. After she finished, Eli dragged her into the main lounge and that’s where trouble was waiting. 

seven people lounged in various areas of the living room. Some were on their phones, some were studying, and others were distractions. 

The blonde girl recognized the various faces around the room, not from seeing them around campus but because her father made sure that her and the rest of her group knew who held power at the university outside of their little group. 

The first was a silver haired girl Cecily Knight, Daughter of Xander Knight and Kimberly Reed. While not the most influential of the bunch, she was smart. Insanely smart.  A psychologist in the making hanging out with these psychos? She must get plenty of practice. 

Next was a pretty blonde girl wearing a pink dress. Ava Nash, Daughter of Cole Nash and Silver Queens. A passionate musician at an instrument Vaughn doesn’t think she ever heard of before. She had her arms wrapped around Cecily’s shoulders, moving one hand up and down her arm. 

Are they together?

Not that it bothered Vaughn if they were. Hell most of the Heathens didn’t care what gender they got with as long as they could take what they wanted. Well Killian and Nikolai didn’t care about gender. Gareth tended to stay primarily with women but something has been off about him after the initiation. Jeremy tended to also stay strictly with women. And Vaughn? Well, you can’t exactly have sex when you're trying to hide something now can you? Okay, she could but she didn’t want to either. She always thought she’d give her virginity to the person she would one day marry but that flew out the window the minute Eli King opened his mouth. 

The next was a boy. She would say he has dark hair but literally every male in the room had fucking dark hair. Like seriously, dark hair and blue eyes must be a requirement to join this group because what the fuck. 

Eli has grey eyes. He’s  different. He doesn’t fit the mold just like you.

She shook her head as she focused back on the boy. He was making a spectacle of himself, talking like he was in medieval times and calling info himself “his lordship”. This could only be Remington Astor, Son of Ronan Astor and Teal Van Doren. 

The next four were all a part of the same family. The same family that Eli came from. The Kings’ were a name that even the business empires in the states had high hopes of getting business with the family. The first one that caught Vaughn’s eyes was a girl with brown hair and blonde highlights. Glyndon King, youngest daughter of Levi King and Astrid Clifford. She remembered that the girl was at the initiation but what Vaughn remembered the most was the deranged look in Killian’s eyes when the five of them went over the files of those that were invited to the initiation. 

The next was another dark haired boy. He had a plate of food in his lap as he listened to Remington talk animatedly to his right. Eli King’s younger brother Creighton King was built like a wall. Why did all the men that she met have to be built like they were fucking brick walls? 

The next two were the ones that confused Vaughn the most. The only twins in the King family who were on the complete opposite end of the spectrum in terms of their personalities. Brandon King was the youngest of the two and by far the nicest of them as well. If Vaughn remembered correctly, his file said that he was working on his masters in art which focused on landscaping. His brother on the other hand, Landon King, focused on sculpting. He was the reason that Vaughn was hesitant in coming into the mansion. Landon was an anomaly that she didn’t understand. He was like Killian that much was safe to say but there was something else about him that didn’t add up. 

“Well, well.” A long drawn out voice said as Landon King stood up from where he was holding an ipad, drawing out ideas for his next sculpture. “A heathen let loose from his leash? Volkov is losing his touch.” 

Vaughn froze for a moment at hearing Jeremy’s last name being so casually dropped by Landon. 

Mine. 

All mine.

“There is no leash this time Lan.” Eli chuckled. “It’s a simple choice. He needed a ride home and I just so happened to forget where to turn.” 

“So you kidnapped him?” Cecily asked from where she was curled into her girlfriend's arm. 

“I would call it willful following.” 

Cecily rolled her eyes as Ava let out a little snort at her childhood friend's reply. “And who are you exactly?” Brandon asked, looking up from the book that he had been reading. It looked like a cookbook? 

“Vaughn Morozov.” She replied curtly, looking around the room as Remington stepped closer. “Rather brave aren’t you? Eli usually doesn’t take enemies alive.” 

It was a joke and she could hear the tilt in his voice but he moved away just as quickly he appeared. 

“Vaughn will be joining us for dinner tonight.” Eli said, looking down at Vaughn. “You came on a good day. Bran is cooking.” 

That would explain the cookbook then. 

“I did not agree to dinner.” She hissed at him as the others moved into the kitchen after Brandon asked for someone to help in preparing the food. “You’ll be fine darling. It’s one night.” Vaughn glared at him and grumbled under her breath. “I'm going to kill you Eli.” 

“You’ll have to grow taller to reach my neck even with those chains.” 

And with those words, Eli took off running. Vaughn set off after his face flushed from anger and the implication of their height difference. 

Fuck you. I’m average, you’re just a fucking giant!

Vaughn ended up catching the taller man and tackled him. She grabbed his wrist and pinned them above his head as she smirked down at him. “Who’s in control now, King?” 

“I must say, I do enjoy this position, Little Queen.” Eli whispered to her. “I don’t mind my girl taking control—” 

He was cut off as one of the many doors to the mansion opened and out stepped a very familiar person. Long dark hair flowed down a purple glad back as blue-grey eyes widened at the sight in front of her. Vaughn’s heart skipped a beat as she released Eli and stood up quickly. 

“Annika? What are you doing here?” 

Her voice was steady but the fear that she felt was overflowing. Of course she would be there. Jeremy had told them that Annika was living with Glyndon King and the other girls on campus. It should haven’t been a surprise to see her here. 

“I-I’m hanging out with my friends.” She said, blinking in confusion. “What are you doing here? Do the other guys know you're here?” She reached for her phone planning to text her brother before Vaughn’s hand grabbed her wrist.

“Don’t.” Vaughn said. “I just need a minute to get out. Plus if they find out I’m here, they’ll figure out that you were here. Do you want Jeremy to lock you in your “tower” again?” 

It was a petty way to get what she wanted but she couldn’t have Annika letting Jeremy know where she was. 

He probably already knows. 

“Fine. I didn’t see you, you didn’t see me?” 

“Agreed.” 

She left and returned to the kitchen where the others were and Vaughn prayed that she didn’t attempt to cook. 

“Well that was fun.” Eli said, standing up and wrapping his arm around her waist. “Want to tell me why you don’t want Volkov to know that you were here? Does it have something to do with what happened today?” 

She doesn’t reply. 

“I want to leave. This was a bad idea from the beginning.”