God of Fury (Legacy of Gods, #5)

by Rina Kent

“Bossy. I like it. But you know what I like more? Your posh little accent. Question. Does it sound the same when you say crude things?”

“Anyone ever tell you how fucking hot you feel when struggling for control? I could swallow you alive and leave no crumbs.”

“Stay fucking still unless you’re in the mood to take care of the boner you’re giving me.”

“I told you I’d beat you the fuck up if you said that again. Get the fuck out of my face, hypocrite.”

Nikolai’s eyes explode in a myriad of violent intensity, and rage radiates from him in waves.

And yet as I stand here, the only feeling that goes through me is resounding relief. He didn’t leave. He came back.

Lotus flower releases an exasperated sound and turns to go back to the locker room. But before he takes another step, my hand shoots out and I grab him by the throat, slamming him against the wall.

“You’re a fucking nightmare,” he mutters, his throat working beneath my fingers. “Your nightmare.” “I hate you.” “I don’t.” “You’re fucking crazy.” “About you,” I whisper against his lips and claim them with a guttural moan.

This was supposed to be a little game, but I don’t think I’m playing anymore. The worst part is that I feel like I’m already losing.

“Don’t run away from me again. If you do, I’ll flip the world upside down to find you. You’re mine now, baby.”

“I will fucking kill him or anyone who dares to touch what’s fucking mine.”

“I’m going to fucking ruin you as badly as you’ve ruined me, my lotus flower. I’ll get so far beneath your skin, you’ll never fucking get rid of me.” For some reason, that makes me smile.

The moment I touch his wrist, he whirls around fast and slams me against the wall with an elbow on my throat. “Don’t fucking touch me,” he grits out, his lips so close to mine, he almost kisses me with every word.

Then be here every night. Just like I go to see you every day.

He acts like he’s okay with everything, but deep down, he tries to manipulate the situation so it works the exact way he wants it to. He’s picky, standoffish, and meticulous. Difficult and grumpy, too. The quiet ones are the fucking scariest.

He covers his mouth with a palm, but it’s too late, I can see him smiling.

Go find yourself another toy. We’re done. Oh, wait. We were never anything in the first place. Delete my number.

I just don’t have the energy to deal with anyone or anything at the moment. But more alone time only pushes me toward bad habits. Cutting and blood and fucking self-loathing. I’m spiraling and I can’t stop it. I’m falling and can’t hit the bottom.

I’m the fucking anomaly who only ever caused my parents' concern. A fucking hurricane of disappointment and failed potential.

But most of all, I’m sorry that he even wants me.

“Tell me something in Russian.” I cup his chin and stare deep into those eyes that have become my undoing as I say the words Grandpa said Russians take seriously and literally. “Ya nee ma goo bees tee byah zhit.”

You better remember who the fuck you belong to, Nikolai.

I grab onto him, pressing him further into me, harder, closer, until I’m not sure where I end and he begins. Seems that Bran runs way deeper than I thought, but as he hangs on to me as if I’m his only anchor, I know that I’ll never let him go. Not even if I burn with him. For him. In him. I’d willingly catch fire if he so much as asked me to.

“Absolutely, and, baby?” He kisses the top of my head and his next words nearly give me a heart attack. “Even if you hate yourself, I’ll love you for the both of us.”

A hand lands on my shoulder and I whip around to find Landon staring at me with harsh eyes. “Whatever you’re doing, I want in.”

I don’t believe in justice. I believe in fucking vengeance. And this woman signed her death warrant the moment she touched my Bran.

“But you’re okay with me losing you? I’m a shell without you, Bran.” He drags my hand to him and slams it against his chest. “This thing only beats for you and because of you. I used to live an aimless life where adrenaline was my god, but you came along and tamed my demons. You balance me. You complete me. You’re fucking in me. So seeing you bleeding out on the floor was no different than watching myself die. No, it was worse. I’ve never felt so scared for my life, but you…you’re my everything. How could you do that to me? To us?”