“It’s time,” I say.
Westley walks closer to the woman's face and pumps himself faster before finishing across her mouth. Once he zips his pants, he takes a step back. “Now it is time.”
More cult members come from the woods to circle around her body, and we all begin chanting. I mouth the words. Words I’ve memorized but never believed. Each one of us is in our black cloak and masks, displaying our ranks. The candles burn brighter the more we chant, and the second the last word is spoken, the wax lights all blow out from an invisible gust of wind.
Now that my job is done, I gather my tools and leave. Her body will be pecked at by the buzzards in the morning. That is, if she makes it that long…
What is the point of all of these killings?The Dark One is a myth, a legend. A story they use to control us. I fully believe the cult uses these ‘sacrifices to the Dark One’ as a scare tactic. Because the being isn’t real even in the slightest. He doesn’t giveus power. He doesn’t come from the ground and take what we have to offer.No.The bodies are always left for the animals to feast on.
The fact that we sacrifice them to a being that doesn’t exist is just what is required of me. I would gladly take them out of this world and call it a day. However, a display is needed to appease the cult, and that’s what I’m here for. For now…
I sigh. This has been a long, taxing night. My hands still feel like they’re covered in her blood. Even when they’re clean.
I need to bury myself in my favorite distraction and get some sleep.
I already know where I’m headed to next. I always do. No matter how many times I tell myself to stay away—I end up right back with her like I don’t have a choice.
Chapter 12
Rory
I’ve been staring at the ceiling for twenty minutes. I haven’t really slept. Every time I closed my eyes, I felt his hands on me again. Sunlight slices through my window, too bright, too cheerful for how I feel. Last night was a whirlwind of emotions, especially since my ex won’t go away.
And yet, I find myself attracted to Ryven even after all these years, but I know he is no fucking good for me. Not to mention, the lie he held onto regarding my brother’s death all these years.
Even through the hatred, I can’t let him go. I don’t think I ever will.
I let out a long sigh and sit on the side of the bed. One boob’s already escaped my tank top. I shove it back with a grunt.Tank tops at night?Guaranteed rogue titty.That’s the rule.
I pull off my shirt and toss it into the clothes basket at the end of the bed. Now I sit, shirtless and still, not willing myself out of the fucking bed. Then, there is a knock on my front door. I look toward the window.Who would be here at seven in the morning?
I groan, fishing out my tank from the hamper and yanking it back on.
“This better be good,” I growl, opening the door. My stomach drops of course it’s him. It’s always him.
Ryven storms in, slams the door, and lifts me like he owns me. Like I belong to him. Like I always have. I slap at his back but that does little to deter him. He pins me to the wall, body crushing mine, mouth stealing the words right off my lips.
“Mmm, wait!” I say out of the side of my mouth, trying to get some air. “Get off of me!” I smack his shoulders.
He grunts and kisses me again—deeper, hungrier. Like he doesn’t even see me. Just the ghost of what we were.
I give in, not because I want to, but because I don’t know how not to. I should fight him. I should shove him off of me and slam the door in his face. But instead I open my mouth for him to explore with his tongue and moan as he pushes himself against me harder.
He grabs me around the throat and squeezes. Then he rests his forehead against mine. “That’s right, Rory. Let me in, baby.Let me get what I came for.” His hard cock glides against my stomach.
His hand tightens around my throat, cutting off my air and for a second everything else goes quiet. No thoughts. No pain. No memories. Just peace.
Then he releases me, and my eyes shoot open. I thought this was finally it. I thought I would finally be free of this hell I live in. But he unleashed me.
Rage pulls me under, and I push at his chest. “Why do you keep stopping?” I rasp. “Just let it end.”
“If I let you go,” he murmurs, “Then what would I have left?”
He lifts me so I can wrap my legs around his waist, and unzips his pants and I know exactly how this is going to end. It always ends like this.
“Free me,” I sob.From this. From you. From everything...
He shoves my shorts aside and drives into me in one brutal motion. Burying his face in my neck, he whispers. “Never.” Like it’s the only truth he believes in. Then he pulls out of me and slams back inside.
