They’re replicas of Leon and me.
So creepy.
“Only because of the bond, Leon. Only ever because my free will was stolen.” I try to keep my voice level as I urge him to understand that I don’t want this.
He continues to stroke my hair and lets out a contented sigh, not giving any indication he’s heard me. Until, without warning, he picks me up and cradles me against his chest. Nausea washes over me as he treats me like his very own living doll.
Then he starts carrying me over to the bed. Another bolt of panic surges through me.
Fuck, please no,I try to scream, but no words leave my mouth.
There’s a distant clap of thunder as Leon takes a seat on the edge of the bed. He doesn’t let me go, instead settling me so that I’m seated on his lap. “We’ve been over this. You’ve never had free will, Vivian. We are tied by destiny. You can’t escape us.”
He brushes the hair from my face, and his gaze heats as he takes me in, completely at his mercy. I remain frozen, forced to do nothing, even as he grips my hips, adjusting my position. The silk of my dress is sheer, and it’s a flimsy barrier against the hard bulge that presses between my thighs.
A cold sweat breaks out over my body as terror continues to flood me.
Leon’s breath is hot as it fans across my neck. “I’ve missed you so much.”
He drags his nose up the column of my throat.
“Please no. Please stop.” I choke out, and this time the words leave my mouth.
But he only grows harder against me, as if my begging excites him. His hands tighten on my hips, and I snap my mouth shut, as violent shudders start to wrack through my body.
He isn’t going to stop.He’s going to rape me.
Anguish rolls through me, and I try to close my eyes and picture Sin, instead of letting my mind stay here. But before Leon can take things any further, a clap of thunder booms outside, the intensity rattling the window. The scent of ozone lingers in the air, and static clings to my skin, causing it to tingle.
Leon freezes at the sound. His sigh is long-suffering as he lifts me off his lap to settle me on the bed. He stands, putting some distance between us, before sneering at me, “You’re being unreasonable.”
Rather than responding, I curl my knees into my chest, in a feeble attempt to contain my tremors.
He rolls his eyes as he adjusts himself, only to pause and take a deep breath. When he exhales, the gentleman mask is back in place. “I can see the thought of intimacy is very distressing to you.”
Still, I don’t answer. I watch him warily, my body and mind still reeling from their disconnect and what this man just tried to do.
At my silence, Leon gives me a soft smile and comes to kneel before me. Ever so gently, he takes my face in his hands, holding me still so that our eyes meet.
“I hate to see you like this,” he tuts.
Lies.
“I’ll make it better for you, pet. I’m not a monster. I want us to be happy together.”
Wary dread joins my terror as I search his eyes. Because there is no way he is backing down this easily.
His thumbs wipe away my tears. “I won’t force your affection for me. I won’t need to. You’re mine, Vivian. No matter how much you’ve hurt me with your words and actions, you will always be mine. I’ll give you some time to see that.”
He’s using the exact soft words and adoring gaze that he used when I first awakened him in the Mortal Realm – the ones that drew me in. Those initial hours feel like another lifetime now. Because back then, his shift in demeanor probably would have worked. Guilt would have clawed at me, forcing me to second-guess all my own thoughts, until I accepted the reality he was painting.
I know better now. I know there’s a monster lurking just below the surface. But even with that knowledge, my shoulders reluctantly slump. If I can avoid pissing off Leon, then maybe I can use that time to find a way out of this mess.
Seeing me relax, Leon beams. “I’ll only use the leash to ensure you act accordingly for your new role. You cannot be allowed the same liberties I so generously afforded you before. Understood?”
There it is – the catch.
“What do you mean, act accordingly for my new role?” I grit out, barely managing to sound civil.
