Why would Collins claim me? She must have a plan. She wouldn’t willingly want me—not unless there was a reason.
Unless she does, and I just won everything I’ve wanted, while wrestling with the guilt of losing the only home I’ve ever known.
“I didn’t do anything,” he chokes, smile firmly in place. “It’s what Collins did.”
I shake him. God, I want to snap his neck. “Liar. You had a hand in this—I know it.”
“Really?” He grabs my wrist, pulling me close, just to hyperextend the bone. There’s a snap and I drop him, hand throbbing.Bastard.
Roaring, I swing with my left hand, catching him in the cheek. He falls back, blood dripping from his chin, and he fuckinggrins.
“Didn’t think you had it in you.” He laughs, wiping his face. “Collins told Maeve you two were engaged. As a way to starve off the Bruno proposal.”
“I was working on that,” I snap, crowding the reaper. To his credit, he doesn’t back down.
I spent days winning the clan to my side, reading up on the trials. I was in this stupid gym, working out, toprepare. All for Collins. To protect her.
“Maybe she didn’t feel like having you rescue her?” Standing upright, the blood stains his chest, drawing my attention to the black wings covering the tops of his shoulders and the golden chain around his neck. “The O’Brien women are big on that.”
“They’re also big on letting go of the past,” I say, pointedly looking at the deadhead moth pendant hiding under his shirt.
Killian’s good mood deteriorates. “Do you want to keep Collins safe?”
Stubbornly, I nod, itching to punch the reaper again. “No shit. It’s what I’ve always done.”
“Then play along, Prince. Collins claimed a relationship with you to Maeve in order to avoid a marriage with Bruno. If you don’t go along with it, Maeve might just sign off on the papers to spite all of you.”
My heart seizes.I can’t risk that.“She’s ready to kick me out, regardless. What makes you think she won’t do it now after this shit you did?”
I want to feel guilty—but my mind keeps going back to the real situation I find myself in.
Collins just handed herself to me. For selfish reasons, sure, and she might get me kicked out, but she’s mine.Mine.
The fucker smiles and winks. “Trust me. If you don’t follow along, you risk more than you think.”
Growling, I jab out with my left, but the reaper is ready. He catches my hand, flipping me over his shoulder until I’m lying on the mat, breath trapped in my lungs.
For good measure, he straddles me, black claw-like knife under my chin. Pushing back, I try not to gulp. I’ve seen him gut men with that knife.
“You kept me from Maeve,” he breathes. “Consider this repayment.”
“Fuck.You.”
“Good thing I’m not into brutes.” He digs the knife into my neck, blood scenting the air, pain sharp. “Maeve is mine—onlymine. And you took a spot next to her that should be forme.”
“Can’t help that she prefers loyalty over a rabid dog,dick.”
The knife cuts deeper. “Careful, I can kill loyalty with one quick swipe.”
Jutting out my chin, I smirk. “Go ahead. I’m sure Maeve would really love that.”
Stabbing the knife beside my head, his soulless eyes stare down at me as his pulse jumps in his neck. “If you want to keep Collins—Maevesafe, you’ll go along with this.”
This guy.“Get off of me, you prick.”
He stands, pushing as he goes and I cough against the pain. “While the both of you are scheming to figure out how to get out of this, I know how to make this clan see another fucking day.”
“Oh really? You think you know how to handle Maeve that well? Know what’s best for her—this clan?” I snort. “You were never initiated into the family, reaper. How would you know what to do?”
