“Doesn’t hurt that she’s fucking beautiful.” Rome surprises me with that comment, and though it’s spoken like a harsh insult it warms me in a way.
I knew it. I knew he thought I was pretty.
The pretentious fucker.
“So…I put my life in literal hellacious danger to traitorously feed you the son of Satan’s secrets…and you give me…” A dramatic pause lingers for so long the three idiots finally pick up on insinuation.
“Oh, uh, I don’t know. A way out of your shitty life? How about that?” Rome spits those words at me, and Avian turns on him. In under half a second, his fist is thrust into Rome’s gut, and the Hell Cunt doubles over with a satisfying grunt.
“She’s a lady. Speak to her as such,” Avian growls, his arm still flexed hard. Meanwhile, my panties have never been wetter.He’s adorably sweet and protectively aggressive?Is there anything more a high-classladysuch as myself could ever ask for?
“My life isn’t shitty.” My chin lifts high with all the pride a shifter like myself will always hold. And maybe a little higher because that’s just how much confidence I’ve been raised to carry.
“It ain’t pretty though, is it, beautiful?” Roman’s words are like a stab to the chest, and the pain that I feel there is all-consuming.
Because he’s right.
I don’t want the path I’m following.
I’ve known these guys for all of ten minutes, and the challenge they’re offering me is exactly what my father trained me for. I’m meant for battle and adventure. Danger and mystery.
I just want—I want more.
My arms lower casually to my sides. I relax my shoulders, my spine and my neck. They watch me in apprehensive silence. They know too much about me. They’ve done their homework and they seem to know what I’m capable of and what I want and don’t want in life.
They know I don’t want what have. Why does it sting to realize they seem to know that more than even I do.
I… I want a life they’re trying to give me.
A slow sigh crawls up my throat and it feels like a weight is pulled right off of me with the simple exhale and acceptance of it all.
“Lead the way, boys,” I whisper with the smallest smile touching my lips.
All three of them look as stunned as I feel in this moment.
Zilo lifts his big hand and gestures to the vagueness of the dark night set out ahead of us.
And then I follow these three beautiful strangers into the unknown.
But will they still want me when they know all of my secrets…
Four
The Kingdom of Hell
“Is there a hell hole somewhere?A pit? A handbasket perhaps?” I’ve trailed along in silence for so long I just can’t take it anymore, and the word vomit spews from my lips with all the things I’ve been thinking for at least an hour.
The attractive lines of Zilo’s muscular back deepen, and he turns to me with a disturbed glare in his pale green eyes.
“What the f—what are you talking about a basket?” he growls.
“Hell. How will we be getting to hell?” I blink at him, but it’s Romey who makes the first comment. Or sneer, I should say.
“You think you get to hell in a handbasket? You’re a fucking beautiful mess, aren’t you?” That carving smile of his is nasty in a way. Cruelty stings his words like that smirk kisses his lips. Even if he says the most lovely thing, it’s stained in abuse. I don’t know what hurt him, but he seems adamant to return the favor to every single person who so much as looks his way.
“Once we’re far enough away from all civilization, I’ll be our maker,” Avian explains, not noticing Rome’s dark demeanor one bit. I know he’s blind, but…he must feel it right? Does he know how much his friend hurts?
Do any of them even remotely care about each other in that way? Or is the plan to overthrow a ruler just a job to them, just as High Hell is a job to them? Are their relationships a job to them?
