That jealous spark turned into a raging inferno.I will torture him in the lake over and over again.
As I readied myself to fly straight into him, I stumbled.
Anna, instead of fighting his embrace, seemed to fall into it.
Unseen, I had a front row seat to an unfolding catastrophe.
The other man, tall and lanky, stepped close to Anna. "We picked you up some more gesso."
The first man, as ugly as some of my imps, stepped backward but continued holding her hands.
I'm going to chop those off first, and then I'll slice off your dick, you fucking shit.
"That's great, Ryan, but you won't need to do that any longer." Her dimples popped. "I can see again!"
Something heavy slid into my stomach at that smile. All these years, I'd thought that smile was only for me. But no. I just watched her kiss another man right in front of me without any sort of shame or concern.
She's just a fucking slut.The building anger fueled my ether, and I wanted to level everything and everyone. Like a fool, I'd thought I'd fallen in love, that she'd loved me in return.
But no. She'd been using me. And what was worse? That I'dbelievedit.
"What? Oh my God," Jason gushed, grabbing her around the waist and twirling her around the room. "It's a miracle."
Her laugh tinkled and I wanted to blast Jason into a million pieces of ash and piss on the pile.
"Put me down," she giggled. "There's someone I want you to meet."
I sneered.Never again. I willneverfall for your pretended innocence and fake love.She'd mentioned living with roommates, and I'd assumed they werefemaleroommates.
But no, it was obvious from that disgusting kiss Anna was more than these boys'roommate.I knew a threesome when I saw it.
The irony in this scene didn't escape me. How many trysts had I engaged in over the years with no thought or care for propriety? I'd fucked anything and everything I'd wanted, knowing it was just sex and never anything more. Love was an elusive memory and a weakness.
Then I'd gone and fallen in love like a fucking nitwit.
Anna is just as corrupt as I am. How did I not see this?
But I knew why I'd been blinded by my emotions.
All the time I'd spent on Earth had weakened my power. And addled my brains.
Disgust for her, for those men, and for myself welled inside of me and I couldn't take it anymore.
As her stare roved the room, searching for me, I blinked to my realm before I did something stupid, petty, and reprehensible.
Because if I'd stayed one moment longer, I would destroy the entire world.
Chapter 20
Lucian Elysium
Present Day
Iappearedinmythrone room and collapsed to my knees. A crushing weight twisted my chest. My heart had never known such agony, such betrayal.I have been such a bloody fool. How did I not see what a manipulative little—
"My Prince," said a deep voice full of concern. "What's wrong?" Malachi rushed toward me, drawing black armor around his body as his gaze swept behind me, searching the fortress for foes.
Lava bubbled and hissed in the floor cut outs, and the smell of sulfur—of home—permeated the air.
