Becoming the Dark Prince (Stalking Jack the Ripper, #3.5)

by Kerri Maniscalco

I really hated how hard he tried to charm the girl I adored. Right in front of me.

my father called me a monster.

That gnawing worry mixed with the discomfiting knowledge of my Romanian ancestors was enough to plant seeds of fear—that somewhere lurking beneath my cool exterior, a beast was waiting, hoping to devour the gentleman I pretended to be.

I desired a nice visit with two of my favorite constellations—Ursa Minor and Cygnus.

when my attention fastened on what she wore. Midnight stockings showed off her legs, and her low-cut, red-and-black striped corset was sprinkled with just the right number of sequins to draw the eye strategically to her curves. I swallowed hard and cursed under my breath. She was dressed like one of the Moonlight Carnival performers, and she was a vision.

Omg wait, he saw her?

I wanted to snap the stays and run my… nine hundred and ninety-eight

Lol

I longed to touch her. First her mind, then her heart, and, finally, her body. I wished to own every inch of space between us and fill it with each emotion I’d ever suppressed or pretended away. I wanted to strip my soul bare for only her to see and then do the same with my clothing, giving her everything I had of me. Scars and all.

Missing pieces clicked into place. She wasn’t falling for the ringmaster; she was making it look that way.

Somehow our evening dancing beneath the stars and snow was more meaningful than sharing her bed.

I stared at the knife in Audrey Rose’s leg, imagining how it’d feel to slash his throat open with it. I’d never wished for anyone’s blood to be on my hands before, but, as I clutched the girl I loved, her lifeblood emptying onto me and the floor, I prayed for the chance to return the favor on him tenfold. I would gut him while he still breathed and feed him his innards. Jack the Ripper would tremble at my ruthlessness, the brutality in which I carved him open and laid him bare.

I glanced up as Anishaa, the fire-eater, tossed a length of rope to Mephisto, and Houdini used his talents to secure Andreas. Distractions.

Memories of losing my mother, watching the life leave her once vibrant features, assaulted me now. I’d been too young, too inexperienced to save her then. I would not let Death unjustly steal someone I loved again.

“Mephisto!”

“Get Dr. Wadsworth. Now!”

“You stay here with me, Wadsworth.” I clutched her hand. “I will follow you beyond death and drag you back if I must.”

Dr. Wadsworth and I had much practice with reattaching limbs and digits thanks to our secret work,

What have they been doing?

If Audrey Rose died… it would take little effort to set the beast inside me free.

Turning down the offer to join their secretive ranks might have been a hasty decision. One I still couldn’t bring myself to regret.

“You brave, foolish soul.” I fought the burning in my eyes. “You should have let the knife get me.” If she died… I swear I’ll take the knife Andreas used and I’ll slam it through his cursed heart.

“And after you stab him, then what?” Dr. Wadsworth asked,

“Would you honor her sacrifice by getting yourself locked away like a dog? Do you think that would make her happy? I didn’t think you were such a fool, boy.”

I fixed my gaze on Liza’s uninjured hand and raised my brows.

“I didn’t think that was your finger,” I said. “It was just beginning to show signs of rigor mortis. You hadn’t been missing long enough for it to set in.”

What really? She's okay?

“That you’re a villain and a liar. Same as me.”

“I fight against my innate selfishness because I love her. I want to be better not just for her, but also for me. I want to be the sort of man who earns her trust and love and then works to keep it by growing into an even better person.”

I love him

Her breathing was steadily becoming more even.

“Tell me about the body in the crate.”

“I cut her. Just like the others.” “And the crate?” I asked, watching him closely. He was lying.

Andreas didn’t murder the person found in the crate, which meant we had a larger issue to consider.

“I never should have made that bargain with her, knowing that she was in love with you. I should have been decent and helped her anyway, without strings.”

“I’d teach her sleight of hand and grant access to the performers, so she might discover whether or not the murderer was one of mine.” He held a hand out and buffed his nails against his chest. “I also might have sweetened the deal by promising to sever Liza and Houdini. Another deplorable manipulation, but I justified it by the overall good it would do. Liza needed to go back home to her family; this carnival life is not for her. As much as I respect Houdini, I didn’t want to watch her throw her whole life away.”

“Of course, I did. And it didn’t hurt that I desperately wanted to kiss her. I behaved poorly. I won’t repeat that act again.”

He took his mask off and tossed it back into the room. Without it, I saw he was much closer to my age. Maybe only a few months older.

“For what it’s worth, I am sorry for any grievance I’ve caused you, Mr. Cresswell. While your delivery needs vast improvement,” he said, his grin sliding back into place, “I appreciate your candor. If you ever require my help in the future, know I’d like to offer it.”

I had little doubt that an American Ripper was stalking the streets of New York this very moment.

“The price of love doesn’t come cheaply,” she said. “But the cost is worth it.”

She needed to be rid of me—I was like a slow-moving toxin, corrupting her slowly over time. Leaving was the most unselfish action I’d ever taken, and it felt miserable.

Aw poor dude

I made it as far as the docks before I realized what an idiot I was. Love was noble. But it was also a fighter. It didn’t give up and run away. It didn’t surrender to a pompous jackass in sequined suits with abysmal morals. I’d be the worst sort of partner if I didn’t fight back against someone like that. Telling Wadsworth how much I loved her wasn’t selfish at all. Quite the opposite. The officer waved a hand in front of my face. “The precinct is just down—” “I have an urgent matter to tend to,” I said, not at all sorry for cutting him off. “I’ll meet you at the morgue in two hours.”

I wound the body of the dragon around the top portion of the cane. Then I added two rubies where the eyes were located. My ode to my favorite dragon in our Romanian home—Henri. I sketched a stiletto blade at the opposite end, then turned the notepad back around. “Can you craft it so pushing the ruby eye will release a hidden blade?”

“Our work will always be important to each of us. But you have my heart wholly, Wadsworth. No matter what. The only way that will be taken is in death. And even then, I will fight with every piece of me to hold your love near. Now and forevermore.”

“I can only imagine the sweet taste of joy it would bring, destroying that which tried destroying me. Every day I fight to keep that monster caged. It would be far too easy to succumb to those desires and slaughter everyone who irked me.”

“I want you. I want to give you pleasure, both mentally and physically all day and every night for the rest of our lives. I want to be the reason you smile.” I watched as a slight flush crept up her neck, pleased. She longed for that too, it seemed. “I want to spend hours and years of my life figuring out ways of making you happy. I want you to feel the same way about me. Not because I’ve demanded it of you, but because every piece of you longs for me. I want our passion to ignite the world around us, making even the stars jealous.”

I will not become a monster for you. The kind of love I crave isn’t cruel or possessive. Do not expect me to act either way. I will never beg or use subversive tactics to win your heart. I will earn it because you choose to give it to me of your own free will, or I won’t have it at all. I will never manipulate you. No one should. And if they do? They aren’t worth your time.”

I ran my thumb over her lower lip,

Ummmm i feel like i shouldn't be here

She told me one of the hardest parts of her condition was the permanence of the pain—how it chipped away at her mood gradually.

This...

“I had no idea you could sing so… loudly. Tell me,” she teased, “which alley cat gave you lessons as a kitten?”

If Audrey was real i would definitely have a crush on her

“I’ve been thinking about what we talked about in Romania. About…” I rubbed a hand through my hair. “About whether or not you’d like to begin a formal courtship.” She became very still. My heart slowed. “Are you asking permission to write to my father?” “Yes.” I met her gaze unflinchingly. “I’d like to formally and publicly court you. I’d like to be yours officially, if you’d accept me.”

“Of course, I accept you, Thomas!” She brought my hand to her lips and kissed it, her smile growing. “After everything that happened on the Etruria… I was…” she exhaled. “I wasn’t sure if you’d still want to court me. And then when you didn’t say anything after… I thought—I’d hoped you’d ask after we’d discussed Mephistopheles. When days passed and you didn’t bring it up, I didn’t think you wanted to.”

“I still choose you, Audrey Rose.” A tear slipped down her cheek. I gently brushed it away. “Would you be all right if I sent your father a letter also requesting a betrothal?”

Dear Daci, I wish to ask for Audrey Rose’s hand and fear putting a foot in my mouth instead. The taste of leather soles doesn’t suit me. You know what I think of fools, and I’m the worst sort. Please help. Your massively intelligent yet moronic brother, Thomas