Page 43 of Moonlit Thorns

Iwatch from across the circle as Preston pushes his way into the fray with Penelope by his side. That idiot is always arriving late. I’d love nothing more than to have him never show up here again, but barring him entry would cause more problems than it’s worth.

Something about Penelope has me glancing over at her several times as the ceremony starts. Normally she wouldn’t command much attention from me. We’ve fucked a few times, but she’s average at best.

It takes me a moment to figure out exactly what is catching my attention. She’s leaning her weight on Preston, almost as though she’s counting on him to keep her standing. That strikes me as strange. Penelope doesn’t usually come to these things messed up, though she can get messy once she’s here.

I turn my attention back to Sid pressing the tip of the knife into Emery’s breast. He loves this shit, so he’s often the one to perform the annual blood ritual. And I know for certain Emery was pleased when he picked her to participate with him.

Blood pools on her breast and Sid leans down and swipes his tongue over the cut, tasting her as part of the ritual.

There’s some type of commotion across the circle, and I glance at Penelope falling until Preston heaves her up into his arms. Her cloak spreads open, revealing her legs, and Preston swings her around, telling the crowd to part so that he can move her out of there.

What the fuck is she thinking about coming here in that state? The three of us will be having words after the rite is complete.

Then, what I just saw registers in my head.

The birthmark above her knee.

Anabelle’s birthmark above the knee.

Panic freezes me for a beat until rage takes hold, setting my blood on fire and unleashing the animal inside me. I turn to Kol. “Take over for me. I have to deal with something.”

“You can’t leave?—”

But I ignore him, leaving the circle and pushing through everyone as their murmurs get louder and louder around me.

Where did that fucker go?

I leave the main room and head down the hall that leads to all the specialty rooms. Because everyone is in the main room, it’s not that hard to locate Preston and Anabelle. They’re in one of the private rooms, and when I whip the door open, Anabelle is passed out on the bed. Her cloak is splayed open, and Preston sits on the side of the bed, hand on her thigh.

The idea of another man tasting her, knowing how sweet she is, brings out the savage beast in me. I don’t think, I just act, tearing inside the room and pulling him away from her by the shoulders.

He stumbles but gains his footing. “What the fuck, Voss?” He pulls his mask off and tosses it on the floor.

Good, tonight is the last time he’ll be using it.

“Don’t what the fuck me, asshole.” I push him, so he stumbles back. “First you bring in someone who isn’t a member here, endangering every one of us.” I push him again. “Then you’ve drugged her, and she can’t even stay conscious?”

“I don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about!” he shouts.

I push him again. This time, his back hits the wall. At this point, it feels a little like playing with my prey before I eat it, and I savor the feeling.

“You know exactly what I’m talking about. I know what you’re into. And I’d bet my fortune on the fact that the woman lying unconscious is not a willing participant.” I bare my teeth at him and practically growl.

“You don’t know shit. Prove it.”

“I don’t need to.” I swing and hit him square in the jaw. Blood bursts from his mouth as his head whips to the side. The bastard doesn’t even try to defend himself as I level hit after hit on him until he slides down the wall.

I stare down at him, and it feels good to watch him bleed. He deserves it for what he’s done.

“Jesus Christ, what the fuck, Ash?” Nero rushes past me to where Preston lies against the wall, barely conscious.

Then Sid and Kol join us, and Kol tells everyone the show is over, and the door closes with a slam. Nero checks Preston’s pulse.

“I left him alive,” I say.

“What the hell happened?” Kol asks.

Sid chuckles. “Told you Preston would eventually reach the end of Ash’s patience.”

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