Page 12

I thought my home was with Brandon, but I was so wrong. Before that, I hadn’t had a home, not since I was 15. But even then, home stopped being a home when I discovered my father butchering women in the basement.

There was a noise of locks being undone, then the door swung open. Malakar walked in, freshly shaved, wearing a loose shirt and pants. For a moment, I forgot where I was.

Seeing him in the light, looking normal, he was incredibly attractive. I figured that much when I first saw him, but it was too dark that first night.

Then I remembered the ache, and the terror came back. There was a beast within this beautiful man, and it scared me.

“Hello, you’re looking very nice in that dress.” He sat down on the bed and eyed me with wonder. “I imagined you’d look pretty, but fuck, pretty doesn’t even cover it.” Malakar licked his lips and looked at me like I was a juicy steak.

“Why did you put me in this dress? Why am I here?” I spoke softly, not knowing what would set him off.

He only tilted his head, his eyes somewhere else. “Blue suits you. I remember my mother wearing a dress like that. Light blue, with little flowers. She used to sit in the rocking chair and sing to me... before the dark came.”

A coldness drifted over me. “You keep mentioning your mother. Do I remind you of your mother? Is that what this is about?”

His body leaned over me, immense and angry. He put his hand on my throat, choking the breath out of me.

“Don’t ruin this with questions. Don’t make me angry.” The bad Malakar was coming back, and I tried to think of something to say to make him go away, to bring back the nice one.

“I’m sorry, Malakar. I just want to get to know you better. Isn’t that what you want? For me to take an interest in you? I want to be closer to you.” I lifted my hand, it was shaking, but I willed myself to keep going. I placed it on his chest, right over his heart. It was beating wildly, like a caged animal. “I want you to show me who you are, Malakar, I want to know your heart.”

Something inside of him shifted.

I continued to speak softly, carefully choosing my words to keep Malakar from spiraling further into his rage. “I want to understand you, Malakar. I want to know what makes you... you.” I stroked his chest gently, feeling the tense muscles beneath my fingertips.

Something in his expression changed. The anger in his eyes flickered away, replaced by a softer, more vulnerable look. He released his grip on my throat, his hand moving to cup my cheek. His thumb brushed against my skin, almost tenderly.

“You’re so pretty, little bluebird,” he murmured, his voice low and husky. “So much like her. The same eyes, the same hair. You even smell like her.”

I forced a small smile, my heart pounding in my chest. “Is that a good thing, Malakar? Do you like that I remind you of her?”

He nodded, his eyes distant, lost in some memory. “She was beautiful, too. Before the dark took her. Before my father...” He trailed off, his gaze refocusing on me.

I kept my smile in place, even as my stomach churned with dread. “I can be those things for you, Malakar. I can be soft and gentle. I can be whatever you need.”

He leaned in, his breath hot on my face. His lips brushed against mine, softly at first, then more insistent. I didn’t pull away, didn’t fight it. I let him kiss me, even as my skin erupted with revulsion.

His kiss grew more demanding, his tongue forcing its way into my mouth. I gagged slightly but managed to suppress it, not wanting to trigger his anger again. His hands roamed over my body, rough and possessive. He grabbed my breasts, squeezing them hard through the fabric of the dress. I winced at the pain but didn’t protest.

He broke the kiss, his eyes wild and hungry. “Say you’ll never leave me.”

“I’ll never leave you, Malakar,” I repeated, my voice steady despite the terror coursing through me.

His hands moved to the straps of the dress, pushing them down my shoulders. “Now, take this off. I want to see you. All of you.”

I swallowed hard, my hands shaking as I reached for the dress. I slowly pulled it down, exposing my breasts, then my stomach, until it pooled at my waist. I hesitated, looking up at him, my eyes pleading.

“Please, Malakar,” I whispered. “Don’t make me do this.”

His face darkened, and he grabbed my chin, forcing me to look at him. “Take it off.”

I nodded, tears stinging my eyes. I lifted my hips and pulled the dress down, kicking it off my legs. I was completely naked, exposed to his hungry gaze.

He stood up, his eyes raking over my body. “Stand up,” he ordered. “Let me look at you.”

I obeyed, my legs shaking as I stood before him. He circled me, his eyes devouring every inch of my skin. He reached out, his fingers tracing the curve of my breast, the dip of my waist, the flare of my hip.

“You’re perfect,” he murmured. “Just like her. Just like I imagined.”