Grave (Dark Kingdom, #3)

by Shantel Tessier

I’m an addict to many things. None of which are good.

She’s gorgeous. I’ve never seen anything like her before. So colorful. So real. I find myself leaning toward her. My hips pushing into the counter.

“April.” She gives him a smile and shakes his hand. It just became my favorite month of the year.

“Grave isn’t one of those guys who hides his feelings. He feels more than anyone I know, and when I got here last night, I could tell he cares about you.”

finish the water and turn to face her. She has a big smile on her face. Her eyes are lit up by the bright lights, and she looks gorgeous as always. But the way she’s looking at me is with pride. I’ve never seen someone feel that toward me. It feels better than any fight I’ve ever won and any high I’ve ever had.

Jasmine was right. I wanted him to want me. I wanted him to love me like I do him, but I can’t compete with someone like Lucy. She gives him something I never will. Acceptance.

My mother always told me—you will get your heart broken, baby. It is inevitable. Part of life. It’s how you handle it that either makes you a woman or a child. I didn’t want to be the bigger person. I didn’t want to put myself out there again to him. But he did something that no one has ever done before—listened to me. And it felt good. So here we are.

“I’m gonna have this baby, Grave. But I won’t raise him or her in a world where their father is always high.”

I’ve always had a death wish, but for once I have something to live for.

“I’m afraid you won’t love me sober.”

“I’m going to spend the rest of my life proving to you that I love you.”