Total pages in book: 168
Estimated words: 160578 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 803(@200wpm)___ 642(@250wpm)___ 535(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 160578 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 803(@200wpm)___ 642(@250wpm)___ 535(@300wpm)
As soon as her breathing levels out and her body turns limp, I roll out from beneath the covers, snatching a cigarette from my packet and lighting the end. Three deep inhales later, and I finally have the courage to see her for who she is.
Sprawled out in a mess of blood and sex, she was made for me. With her blonde hair knotted in the ribbon of her bow and blood-stained lips, she is a thing of fucking beauty. Of Madness. I don’t deserve her.
Pulling open my bedside drawer, I take out the box of first aid shit. I tear open the wipes and clean the weeping wound. Every second is a battle as death stains the only girl I’ve ever considered living for. A tug-of-war of character. What one side wants, the other wants more.
I lay a range of butterfly stitches over the wound, circling it once more with my thumb and taking another hit of nicotine.
“So close.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
luna
“Luna…” He intrudes my thoughts. Clean shaven, deep-blue eyes, and a hollowness to his soul that can only be found from someone like him.
I hated him a lot throughout my life. More than I do Priest right now.
If he hadn’t left me this morning, I wouldn’t have called my mom in a panic. She wouldn’t be here right now, with my two dads, sitting with me in my living room like it’s a damn therapy session.
“Yes?” My lashes hit my cheekbones every time I blink, but I keep my focus on the clock in front of me.
“Stay on the clock, Luna. It reminds you that you’re still here.”
“I’m doing that,” I grumble, images of last night still fresh on my mind. Why’d he leave me there anyway? And if he didn’t care, why’d he fucking butterfly-stitch me up in my sleep? A storm of confusion is all he ever is.
“How long?” the voice asks, and my focus moves from the boring clock.
He’s aged since I last saw him, which wasn’t often. Being a Brother of Kiznitch, Killian Cornelii was the mastermind behind all mind trickery in Midnight Mayhem. Not as good as my mother, which is why it always confused me why he was here and why he stared at me with the same kind of hatred I’d seen from his wife.
“How long, what?” I keep my tone level, but my fingers flex in my palm.
“What was the last thing you remember?”
Is he insane? Actually, I already know he is.
I push up from my sofa. “I shouldn’t have called you.” I turn to look over my shoulder to where my mom stands with both of my fathers. “I was annoyed with myself for slipping again.”
“This is not good…” Killian murmurs from behind me. “We shouldn’t have her here. It’s too dangerous.”
“Shut up, Cornelii.” Dad turns to Mom, and I see the silent argument between them. “Why the fuck did you bring him? He can’t do anything that you can’t do, and he’s too close.”
“Close?” Killian’s voice is louder now. He clucks his tongue. “That’s one way of putting it. She needs to be away from this place, and all of them. None of it, or us, can help her.”
Darkness forms around Father when he draws in close, burying his hand in his pocket. “Leave, Killian. We won’t make this mistake again.” He doesn’t answer when he leaves, the door slamming behind him.
“What the fuck was that?” My eyes bounce off all three of them, my throat swelling. “No, seriously, what was that? I’d not seen him since—I can’t even remember!” My hands are flailing around the room. “I call Mom for girl advice, and I open the door to all of you, plus the psycho Cornelii!” I finally blink, a single tear escaping.
“Luna,” Dad whispers, his hand coming to my arm. He catches the tear with his thumb, and my legs shake beneath me.
“I’ve always done as I was told. I belong here, with all of them. Because I fucked the Devil incarnate out of pure stupidity doesn’t warrant this!”
“Look, baby, we need to talk.” Mom’s steps are careful, but it’s too late, I don’t want to hear whatever they all have to say.
I step out of Dad’s touch, the betrayal too raw. “No. I don’t want to hear it. You’ve never been honest with me. I never needed much from any of you growing up but being kept in the dark made me who I am today.” I straighten my shoulders, swiping at the tears. “I shouldn’t have called. I’m sorry.”
“Luna,” my mom snaps. “We are your parents and there is not a single person walking this earth who loves you more than us.”
“Lilith, that’s not fucking helping,” Father says, stepping between us. With the mountain of him in front of me, the same darkness that has always trailed him caresses me in ways none of them physically could.