Total pages in book: 119
Estimated words: 116875 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 584(@200wpm)___ 468(@250wpm)___ 390(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116875 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 584(@200wpm)___ 468(@250wpm)___ 390(@300wpm)
It was almost our downfall.
“Hey,” she says, her hand hovering close to my face, ready to touch me to bring me back. “You survived.”
Barely, but I don’t tell her that. I’m not ready to share that much with her.
I stroke the side of her neck. It’s red from where my stubble scraped her, the bristles harsh on her skin. I should be sorry that I rubbed her raw.
I’m not sorry. I want to leave my mark on her. But I am sorry that she’s so upset. That I’m the brute she has to marry.
But maybe I can be good for her. Be what she needs. Today, her father was cruel to her. Argos sent me a recording of their call that I listened to after I sent Bella to the bedroom. He didn’t say anything I haven’t thought of myself, but the way he said it… I could kill the Poisoner for the way he spoke to her.
But killing my future father-in-law is not the solution. Killing is all I’m good at, but for her, I can be better.
She needs care and protection. Someone in her corner. A champion.
I want to be that for her. A rock in the storm. A fortress.
A husband who doesn’t let anyone fuck with his wife.
I shift her to the side so she’s lying in the crook of my arm.
She yawns, her eyes fluttering. “I’m so tired.”
“Sleep.” I tug the blanket free so I can cover her with it.
She hums and looks down at my crotch. “What about you?” She’s wondering whether I need to come. My cock strains painfully under her attention.
I ignore it and brush a kiss on her brow. I imagine taking her hand, guiding it to touch my cock. I wouldn’t feel much from her touch, but the pressure would still feel amazing. A few strokes and I’d come all over both of us.
I file the fantasy away for later. I don’t let anyone touch me. Bella’s different, yes, but I still can’t let her touch me. She’s dangerous enough as it is.
I’ll wait until she’s passed out and jack off in the bathroom. Possibly a couple of times. I’ll have to, or I’ll be awake all night. “I’m fine. Go to sleep.”
I lie next to her a long time after her eyes close, just watching her sleep.
19
Bella
* * *
Friday, as promised, Kaiser drops me off on campus. “Be good,” he orders.
“Of course!” I trill and give a reassuring smile. He narrows his eyes at me. He knows I can’t be trusted.
Our relationship has moved into new territory, but the fundamentals are still the same. Great orgasms can’t make me forget that he’s in control. He’s a threat to my freedom and my father, and one day, I will destroy him and everything he loves.
I can feel him watching me as I bounce away. And I like the attention. It’s flattering and comforting. Fuck me, I love it.
I think I’ll miss it when it’s gone.
It’s good I’m getting a break from him tonight. I need to remember my priorities. Kaiser is a stepping stone on my way to becoming a supervillain. If I were Lucrezia Borgia, I would’ve already sprinkled cantarella on his steak.
The bell starts tolling the hour as I make my way toward Honey’s dorm.
For some reason, she’s not on the main quad with the regular students. Or on “Blood Quad,” the one reserved for the members of the Houses—usually direct descendants of the founding mafia families. No, they stuck her all the way back on campus. I follow a winding path past the labyrinth and through the fields until I reach a grand set of iron gates decorated with statues of griffins. Once I’m within the walls, I walk down a dark road lined with trees and iron streetlamps that look like something out of another time.
What the fuck is this place?
I keep walking and finally come to my destination.
“Holy Hecate.” I stare up at the gloomy mansion. It’s huge and striking with red brick and black trim. And it looks abandoned. The front lawn is a tattered mess of brambles, and there’s an empty fountain and a creepy statue half-covered in ivy. Trees and overgrown bushes crowd the sides of the structure, and more vines cover half the building, like the forest is trying to pull the castle-like place back into itself.
Even the air feels oppressive. It reminds me of the graveyard behind my orchard—even the statues and dragon-like gargoyles match.
The door opens, and Honey comes out to the stoop, waving to me. I walk slowly toward her, feeling reluctant to approach. The porch is covered with cobwebs. We could host a haunted house here for Halloween and not even need to decorate.
“What’s up with this place? Are we in an episode of Vampire Varsity right now?”
She giggles. “I know, right? The witch’s coven meets at midnight.” She waves a dramatic hand toward the turret. She’s wearing a green velvet robe that pools past her bare feet, and her hair is tousled. I’ve never seen her in anything but preppy clothes, looking perfectly put together. She looks younger.