Her mind is so damn warped it’s impossible to break. Her body—I get. Her movements—I’ve studied. I understand her instincts better than anyone. I could satisfy the obvious hunger she hides from the world. But she’s made of stone and steel. She needs control. She needs certainty. She thinks she wants love, but I don’t even know if she remembers how to want it anymore.
She used to. I know that.
And I know I fucked up. I pushed her straight into the arms of a monster who devoured her youth. That’s on me. She’s broken because I let her be, but I can’t be the one to put her back together.
Getting this close was a mistake.
I’ll have to pretend she doesn’t undo me. Find a distraction—someone who almost feels like her. Someone like Gen. Someone who can give me distance.
Of course, Aurelia used that distance to destroy herself.
But this time will be different.
This time, I’ll make sure I don’t end up killing the girl I use.
Chapter 14
Aurelia
FLASHBACK
Six years ago
Izip up my knee-high black heeled boots, tugging until the zipper clicks into place. My strapless black dress is snug, hugging tighter than anything I’ve ever worn. Almost as tight as the dresses Papa has me wearing for his meetings. The fabric clings, sleek and smooth against my skin. My legs look longer and carved into something older, sexier than I actually am.
I’ve gone darker with my makeup too—liner smudged into something smoky, my lashes thick, my lips glossed just enough to catch the light, and my straightened hair falling down my back.
Behind me, Genevieve leans over my vanity, painting her lips a perfect red. She borrowed my gold strappy heels and paired them with a navy one-shoulder dress that makes her look… devastating. Polished. Effortless. Next to her, I think I’m trying too hard. I know tonight she’ll draw every eye in the room without even meaning to.
We spritz perfume, swap earrings, snap mirror pictures with soft laughter that almost feels like freedom. Up here, it’s a bubble, the scent of powder, the gleam of gilt frames on the wall, the sound of our muffled giggles. But downstairs, the bubble bursts.
“Let’s go already!” Enzo’s voice cuts through the ceiling with impatience.
“Christ, you two take longer than brides,” Elijah adds.
I roll my eyes and grab my clutch.
The stairs echo beneath us, Genevieve’s heels tapping light staccato while my boots thud heavier against the stone. The foyer glitters with chandelier light, every polished surface reflecting something brighter. Enzo and Elijah stand near the door, dark suits sculpted to their bodies, their presence heavy, the room almost bending around them.
Elijah’s eyes find me first. He doesn’t look away. There’s a flash—hesitation, maybe conflict—but then his gaze settles. The way he looks at me makes the foyer shrink until it’s just us.
“You look great, Ace,” he says, his voice calm and unreadable.
The words hit too hard, and before I can even react, Enzo cuts across like a blade.
“I’ll get you a hoodie. You’re not stepping out like that.”
I swat at him, breezing past. “I’ll be fine, weirdo. I’ve got my big, strong protectors with me.”
Outside, the night air rushes over my bare shoulders. Enzos black Maserati waits in the driveway, headlights spilling across the cobblestone.
I’m about to slip into the back when Elijah’s hand closes firmly around my arm, pulling me just enough that my back hits the cool metal of the car. My breath stalls. His body doesn’t crowd mine, but it’s close enough to feel his heat, close enough to make me forget how to breathe properly.
“We’re testing something tonight. No matter what happens, you do exactly what I say.”
My pulse spikes, irritation flaring to hide it. “Can you relax? It’s my birthday. I’d like to actually have fun for once.”
His mouth curves slightly, but his eyes don’t soften. If anything, they harden, he’s holding something back. He leans in—so close I catch the crisp bite of his cologne, intoxicating and utterly him.
