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I am not the pet they tamed. I am the beast they let inside. And I keep my promises.
“Don’t sell yourself short, my lady.” A lazy grin pulls at his full lips. “You threw four daggers at my face.”
“You know, if you keep asking me to reveal myself,” I whisper, “I’m going to take it the wrong way.” He bites his lip to stop a smile. “Then they’d really have a reason to stare.”
“Is that why you continuously seek my company?” I ask. “Because you’re afraid of the dark?” His eyes widen innocently. “There’s safety in numbers.” I arch a brow. “You just watched me kill a man.” “Eh.” He shrugs, waving off my recent homicide. “Three’s a crowd.”
“There are people I prefer to avoid.” My mind turns to the courtiers from this morning. “You mean whoever left those bruises?” he asks, a dark edge entering his voice. My head whips around so fast I nearly trip on the steep steps. He reaches out, steadying me with his gloved hand before pulling it away. “If you tell me his name, I’ll make him regret ever laying a hand on you.”
him. “I was learning a new technique.” “Mhmm.” His lips twitch. “With the intention of destroying you,” I insist. He cocks his head. “And how’s that going for you?” “Would you like to find out?” My temper flares dangerously. I expect at least some semblance of the fearful reactions that typically accompany my threats, but instead, he appears delighted. A full smile lights up his face, chasing away the cold perfection of his features. The beauty of it is so striking that for a moment, I forget what we were talking about.
I glance at Thorne to gauge his reaction, noticing how his eyes are narrowed at the spot where Remy’s hand lingers on my arm.
“Reaper.” “Angel.”
“Your little friends aren’t so vicious anymore,” I tell Thorne as I straighten. “Only with you…” He trails off, his brow furrowed as he watches the shadow cling to me.
“She’s a fine illusion,” he concedes. “But I prefer the original over the imitation.”
“Of course.” He flashes his teeth in a predatory smile. “But she won’t be yours forever.”
“Call her ‘pet’ one more time, and it will be the last word you ever speak,” Thorne warns, his voice barely above a whisper.
“Who did this to you?” he grinds out the words.
“I’ll fucking kill him,” he spits the words.
The God of Death drops to his knees before me.
Apathy is the only weapon I have against their attacks. Somehow, I know it would be a thousand times worse if I let them all see how much they’ve broken me.
To truly cleanse myself of this guilt, I’d have to open up the vault and face every single monster I locked away inside my mental prison.
“You thought you could hurt what’s mine?” Thorne’s voice tugs at the dark recesses of my mind, pushing me to fight through the fog clouding my thoughts. “You thought you could touch her?”
His beautiful lips twist into a grimace as his gaze drops. “I don’t trust myself. If I hurt you… I think it would destroy me.”
“I don’t want to let go,” he admits, his voice rough. “What if this was just a dream?” “Do you dream of me often?” “Every night.”
His gaze finds mine, a thousand emotions swirling there. “You’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”
He rises to leave, and his companions follow suit. When they reach the door, he turns back, sparing me a brief glance. “My lady.” He inclines his head in my direction, ignoring the others.
“You truly are very beautiful.” Dampness coats her eyes as they rake over my face, scanning each small feature. “So like your father.”
Omg who's her dad ???
“I noticed you were squinting, and I thought I’d make it easier for you to ogle me,” he says innocently. “I believe thoughtfulness is the opposite of impolite.” My hands move to my hips as my voice rises several octaves. “I wasn’t ogling you.” “There’s that lying tongue I adore so much,” he says wistfully, his lips curving at the edges.
“I’m not frightened of the violence inside of you. There’s no crime you could commit that would turn me away.”
“You’re hurt.” Every ounce of humor has vanished from his tone as his body goes rigid.
“You’re so strong, Ivy.” His breath coasts over my stomach, the heat of it sparking goosebumps. “You take so much, and yet none of it breaks you.”
“Gods,” he breathes, squeezing his eyes shut. “You’re going to give me a heart-attack someday.”
“You’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen,” he breathes.
“Shut your godsdamned mouth,” Thorne snarls, his face inches from Nolan’s. “Say her name again and it will be the last thing you do.”
Tears land on my cheeks, and it takes me a few moments to realize they aren’t mine. “Stay with me, Angel,” he begs, his tender fingers wiping the wetness from my face.
