Chapter 131: Defiant like a Queen

Andrew holds Avery's waist with one hand and takes her hand in his.

"Don't be nervous," he whispers, "I'll help you."

Avery cringes away from his touch. She'd rather die than feel his hands on her body.

"Let go of me," she hisses warningly, "I don't need your help."

Andrew smiles to himself and his hot breath brushes Avery's ear.

"Acting tough isn't going to do you any good," he whispers, "You don't have any experience."

"I'd rather die," Avery replies.

She lifts her head as defiantly as a queen. His chest is pressed firmly against her back and he can feel the heat from her body through their thin clothes. His entire body feels like it's on fire, and he half wonders how the heat hasn't burnt their clothing to ash.

"Do you know why this heart is beating so madly?" he asks.

Avery suddenly stops struggling against him. His words inspire a strong sense of déjà vu. Evan once asked her why her heart was beating so fast, and she repeated the question back to him. Evan flirtatiously explained that sexual attraction excites the nerves and increases the heartbeat. Avery shakes her head to clear her thoughts.

"What's wrong with me? Why am I thinking of Evan?" she wonders, "Why do I care if he knows what's happening to me? Why am I thinking of him in my last moments instead of Gabrielle? Gabrielle is my closest family, but what is Evan to me? Is he the husband that I'm leaving soon? Is he a man I once loved? What am I to him? Am I just a woman he was forced to marry? Am I tool he's using to get Diana back? Or am I something more?"

Avery forces a bitter smile and replies to Andrew.

"It's probably the strain of your guilty conscience on your heart," she says, "Your heart is warning you to reform your ways before you end up dead."

Andrew laughs out loud. Avery can feel the laughter rumbling in his chest, and the sensation agitates her.

"I think the truth might interest you," Andrew finally says.

"Really?" Avery snaps, "I hope you never tell me."

"You've successfully drawn my attention," Andrew whispers.

"You make me sick," she replies.

"I'm envious of Evan," Andrew says, his voice suddenly thick with desire, "Leave him and come to me. I promise I'll give you whatever you want as long as it's in my power to do so."

"Really?" Avery suddenly stops wiggling and feigns docility, but she gives Andrew a suspicious look before asking, "You can give me whatever I want?"

"Sure!" Andrew says.

He rests his chin on her head and smiles to himself. The smell of her hair calms him.

"Okay, I promise to leave Evan," Avery says, "The only condition is I want you to drop dead."

"What a naughty girl!" Andrew exclaims.

He pokes Avery's head with his jaw. The intimate gesture drives Avery over the edge, and she stomps as hard as she can on Andrew's shoe. She wishes she was wearing high heels; she imagines the sharp spike piercing the fine leather of his shoe and impaling his foot. Andrew lets go of her, and Avery starts to lower her hand into the glass box.

Gabrielle is crying in terror. The thought that something dangerous might happen to Avery makes her want to rush over and take her sister's place, but Andrew has ordered a bodyguard to bind her hands and legs. She falls to the ground and squirms like a worm in a desperate attempt to save her sister. She doesn't care what people think of her, she just wants to save her sister. Avery turns around and gives her a soft look.

"Gabby, please don't get any closer," she pleads.

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"Avery, please don't reach your hand into the box," Gabrielle sobs, "Please!"

"Andrew, please. I beg you, don't let Avery catch the snake," Gabrielle continues, "I'm willing to take her place. I'll do anything if you let her go. I'll serve you and behave well."

"Gabby, toughen up!" Avery snaps, "Don't beg!"

"Avery, it's all over if you're bitten," Gabrielle said between sobs.

"Don't cry!" Avery yells.

She doesn't know how to console her sister, but she needs her to stop making distracting noises. Gabrielle stops crying but her body shakes with muffled sobs. The audience is begging for a show. They heckle her as they would a comedian; they don't care that she may die.

"Will you just start already?" one guest jeers, "If you're afraid, just quit. It's satisfying enough to watch you become Andrew's mistress."

"Yes," a woman seconds, "Andrew is known for his sexual prowess. Even if you and your sister have a threesome with him, I guarantee we'll all enjoy it."

Avery glares viciously at the audience, and her look is so intimidating they all fall silent.

"Avery, last chance to beg," Andrew says from behind her.

"If you consider what I've said, then I'll accept your offer," Avery replies.

"Taking a step away from the abyss would be good for you," Andrew counsels, gesturing at the glass box. 

"You're worse than an abyss to me," Avery replies, "If I take a step forward and go through with this, I face certain death, but you're worse than death to me."

"What a woman!" Andrew chuckles, "If you survive this, I'll wait eagerly until you and Evan get divorced."

Avery imitates his laugh.

"Well, you've just robbed me of my last desire to live," she says.

Then she copies what Andrew did. First, she slips a hand into the box to capture the snake's attention, but she's not as lucky as Andrew. Instead of attracting the attention of the coral snake, several snakes lift their heads and look at her hand. The King Cobra seems especially interested in her fingers.

Sweat dampens Avery's forehead and she jerks her arm away just as the King Cobra lunges. She narrowly misses its sharp fangs.

"Afraid now?" Andrew asks seductively, "It isn't too late to beg me to call off the bet."

"Cut your crap," Avery snaps, irritated by the tone of his voice.

"Fine, I won't talk," Andrew says.

He puts his hands in his pocket in a casual way and begins to whistle. As soon as the sound leaves Andrew's lips the snakes begin to sway. Slowly they relax onto the bottom of the box and lie there motionless. Only the coral snake continues to swivel its head and flicks its tongue, looking for something to attack.

"Look, it's just like you," Andrew teases, "You're both completely indocile."

"It's your problem if it's not tamed," Avery sneers, "If you really know what you're doing, why wouldn't it obey you?"

Though she's irritated with Andrew, she wants to seize the chance to grab the coral snake before the others wake up. She slips her hand into the box and imitates Andrew. She wiggles one finger in front of the snake to draw its attention. At the same time, she keeps her hand at a careful distance. Then she slowly slides another hand into the box to grab its head. 

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