Having had enough of his shit, I grab the icepick and thrust it into his eye. His cries are instant, and my beast is far from sated.
“I will end you in a million different ways, Mikah Gordon,” I snarl. “You ruined what could have been and left me in the depths of despair in hopes that I wouldn’t survive, but I did. And now I’m your reckoning.”
Brax
Talia’s rage-filled stare burns with anger, frustration, and a hint of melancholy, detonating with the promise to eviscerate anything in its path.
Awestruck by her beauty in this moment, the rosy flush of her cheeks, highlighting her high cheekbones and pouty, full lips, even as they’re curled in disgust for Mikah.
Talia—my little fox—is gorgeous beyond measure in this moment.
My chest tightens, fists clenching by my side, as unexpected jealousy throttles the walls of my ego. Because how dare she give this level of emotion to anyone outside of me? She can be angry and want revenge. I’d hold the sword at anyone or anything that threatens to harm her. But how dare she look this level of beautiful and effervescent for this pond scum.
I only register he’s speaking to me when Talia’s avenging gaze lands on me.
“You have to promise to keep her safe,” Mikah chokes, blood leaking out of nearly every part of his body.
Talia gave him the full body treatment.
Glaring in disgust, I snap back, “What right do youhave?—”
“You have to promise,” Mikah barks. “Promise me.” He fights, trying to free himself from his bindings.
“Promise me. Promise me. Promise me.” He rattles the command and plea in a mixture of urgency I’ve only seen in the eyes of people who worry about the loved ones they’ve been protecting.
My hackles rise, the protective beast inside trying to claw its way out at the mention of potential threats against Talia.
“Promise me. I did what they said to keep her safe—you have to promise me.”
The desperation caked on his face matches the stench of it oozing from his pores. It’s thick like molasses and moves just as slowly, enveloping Mikah until he becomes feral.
“Promise me. I did what they said to keep her safe—you have to promise me.”
“Enough of this nonsense,” Talia shouts, picking up her bat, positioning herself until she’s ready to aim.
I match her, preparing to swing. She angles her body to swing up, and I prepare to slice downward.
Roaring, she swings with a force that rivals any goddess of war—fierce and wrathful, ready for vengeance.
“I’m finally free… but you should know, Tati—they’re still coming for you,” Mikah mutters, watching his end with the only good eye he has left.
And as if we planned it, Talia’s bat connects with Mikah’s head, and there’s a crunch of bone as blood spews from his mouth before his body jerks towards me, and I raise my sword.
“They’re already on their way. It’s too late,” he warns before I cut through his neck in one decisive swing, cutting through his neck. There’s still a remorseful grimace plastered on his face when his head hits the ground.
I watch as Talia stands, frozen—her gaze affixed to the spot where her dick of an adopted brother’s headless body remains tied. Although now it’s the rope holding his slumping form up.
“I fucking hate you,” she snarls. “I hate everything you and your sick, twisted, warped-in-the-head family have done to my family.”
The need to pull her into my arms and comfort her is strong, but Iknow she needs to be in this moment alone. She needs to purge the eighteen years of torment—even more if you count from the day her parents disappeared.
Not wanting to see her hurt, I move without a second thought, refusing to stop until I’m fisting her hair. Then I yank off the mask, hiding her beautiful face from me. Talia gasps as my lips collide with hers.
At first, she’s unresponsive, but is willingly in my arms. Once she finally succumbs, her lips melt into mine. My grip on her hair tightens when she tries to take charge.
Holding her in place, I slip my tongue into her mouth, and she groans, the sound shooting straight to my dick.
Wanting—noneedingmore, I release her hair and pull back, loving the sight of her blushed cheeks. Before she can say anything, I lean down until my lips are by her ears, “I caught you now, little fox,” I state, lifting her so that her legs wrap around my waist until her pussy is in the perfect spot. “Now I’m going to ensure you understand what it means to be mine.” Then I grind my hips up while holding her, pressing my hard shaft against her clit.
