I pressed my forehead to his chest, feeling the rapid pulse beneath his skin.
“I love you,” I whispered again. “I’m so fucking sorry. I broke myself, too. I just…I know you’re angry, I know you’re…hurting. But you can’t keep doing this. Please. Let your sister go. This has never been her burden to bear, and you know it.”
His breath hitched.
His eyes softened again, dangerous but vulnerable. He leaned down, and I kissed him deeper, my hands clutching at him, trying to hold onto the part of him that loved me, that could be reasoned with before it was too late.
For a heartbeat, he let me. For a heartbeat, it was us.
“I can’t.”
A sharp pain exploded at the back of my skull. It was blinding. My vision went white at the edges, and small black dots danced into view, until my body crumpled and my consciousness slipped away.
“You’re a fool, Sunshine. Only the truth will show you any true light.”
The sound of chains was prettier than church bells.
I leaned against the bars, my cigarette burning low between my fingers, watching him stir. Shiloh came to slowly, his head lolling from side to side, and his thick lashes twitched against his cheeks as though he were trying to cling to whatever dream he’d been dragged from. I let him have those few precious seconds. Let him believe he was anywhere but here.
With me.
The moment his eyes cracked open, the illusion died.
He blinked in the dim light, confusion giving way to panic. He was caged, cramped against another body.
Her body.
Isn’t this what you wanted?
Xanthy was curled beside him on the dirty floor, her wrists bound in front of her, her blonde hair tangled over her face like a veil. She was breathing shallow, aware of the world despite its haze. She remained still.
Smart girl.
Shiloh wasn’t smart.
He scrambled back until his spine hit the cold bars, rattling them with the desperation of a cornered animal. I let the metal sing under the force of his panic. His head whipped around, blue eyes wide and frantic. Then he saw me.
I smiled, slow and lazy. The way a wolf smiled when it knew the rabbit had nowhere left to run.
“Morning, Sunshine.” My voice carried easily in the hollow space, smoke curling from my lips as I tilted my head. “Sleep well? Dreams of sweet sex and chasing rabbits?”
Shiloh’s chest rose hard, like he was trying to swallow air that wasn’t there. “What the fuck—” His voice cracked. “Where the fuck?—”
“You’re in my house now.” I tapped the cigarette against the bar, the ash floating down between us while I blew the smoke he knew into his face. “Which makes you this…my toy box and you my toy. Isn’t that right, baby boy?”
Xanthy flinched at the pet name, but didn’t answer. I didn’t need her to. I didn’t fucking care.
Shiloh’s fists wrapped around the bars, his knuckles white. “Let us out. Now. This isn’t funny, and I’m getting mad.”
I chuckled low in my throat, stepping close enough for him to see the madness in my eyes. “You really think you’re in a position to tell me what to do? No, no, no, naughty boy. You’re here because I put you here. You’re breathing because I want you breathing. And you’ll keep breathing if you play my game. If you entertain me with your tricks.”
Dance, little monkey.
He froze at the word game. His lips parted, wet and trembling, but no sound came.
Good.
Fear was better than defiance. Fear made him pliable. Easy to fuck. Or kill.
