Meanwhile, she was ruined. Her future destroyed. He’d single-handedly set fire to and annihilated every plan and dream she ever had.
And the worst part?
He didn’t care. Nibo had looked her dead in the eye and not blinked or shown any remorse for his actions. That utter lack of regard had shattered her heart.
It had destroyed a part of her that would never heal again.
That was the day she’d learned what true hatred was.
The pain had been more than she could take. To know that no one had ever loved her. That after all this time, she’d allowed herself to be taken in by a pretty face and honeyed, lying tongue. That she’d wasted her love on a heartless bastard …
How could she have been so incredibly stupid? Was she really so desperate for love that she’d allowed herself to become his prey so easily? The pitifulness of it all had been more than she could bear.
Furious, she’d gathered her skirts and moved to leave him. “Then I will marry no one! I denounce even you!”
That was what had gotten her into this fix. Her stubborn tongue and independent fire that had refused to heel for any man.
Even her father.
The moment the “good” Christian pastor had learned of her connection to a loa, and of her determination to avoid her marriage, not only to him, but anyone, he’d become a crazed monster. One bent on her complete and utter destruction. Whatever the cost to both their lives and souls. He’d lied and gone after her with a fanatic zeal that had made no sense.
She’d never understand how people could be so callous toward each other. How one person could set out to destroy another without any regard for them or their family. All that mattered was their own selfish gain. Their own wealth and wants. To hell with the person they were destroying.
Surely there was a special corner of hell reserved for such wretched bastards. A place where all the world would see them for what they were and know them by their lies and deeds, where they would be stripped bare to be eternally mocked for it all.
They were the true whores of Babylon. For they took the hearts of the faithful and crushed them with their cruelty, causing those of faith to doubt the existence of all goodness and kindness in this world and beyond. Removing them from the path of right and the hand of God to pull them toward the darkness.
Forever lost to the cruelty of their actions.
So here she was.
Twice cursed.
Betrayed. And with no hope of anything better.
“Don’t you deserve to be loved?” Adarian’s question hung in the air between them.
Valynda felt more tears stinging her eyes as she stared in the looking glass that reflected her perfect, serene image on the beach. A clear sunny day that was at odds with the storm brewing inside her.
Of course she did. All creatures deserved love. It was a basic right that came with the first breath of life, and yet it seemed to forever elude her. What a tragedy that so many were forced to fight for it. Even more were denied its crucial sustenance. And why?
Because of the brutality of others.
What was wrong with this world that so many were caught up in their own pain that they sought to lash out and inflict their misery upon all they met? How could people be so mean?
Aye, she wanted blood for what had been done to her. Just like they did. It wasn’t fair what had happened. It wasn’t right. She’d never asked to be turned into a monstrosity because of one man’s selfishness.
Surely, she deserved some happiness. Just once.
Something for herself. Was that really so selfish?
Thorn had promised her a body and yet she’d seen the doubt in his eyes whenever he spoke of it. As if he feared his ability to keep his word.
No one had ever once kept their troth to her. Unless their word had been to inflict pain and harm. That promise they’d abided by and then some.
So how could she trust anyone? She’d been lied to the whole of her life.
By everyone. Her mother. Her father.
