Page 10 of Burn for Her

“Be careful, Reaper. If I see your weakness, then others do as well.”

“I have none to hide,” he gritted out.

Malachi pressed his weight against Dorian’s back and grabbed a handful of his hair. Pulling by the roots, he managed to tip Dorian’s head back only because Dorian didn’t fight him. Submission was non-negotiable with Malachi. Even the Reaper bowed to him. “Do not let this House fall.”

“Never.”

“Look at me,” Malachi growled against his ear. “Look me in the eyes and swear it.”

Dorian tried to turn his head, but the Mad King wouldn’t allow him to move an inch. It was either deny the king’s request or face his fear and look in the mirror at his king.

Damn you, Dorian silently cursed. But what was the big deal? Vampires used mirrors all the time, and right now, a reflection was the least of his goddamn worries.

“Swear it, Reaper.”

Dorian dragged his gaze across the looking glass and deadlocked on his king’s reflection. “I fucking swear it.”

Malachi released his hold and dropped back down in his chair. “Call Lucian in here before you leave.” The king waved him off and didn’t say another word.

Damnit. Damn the king. Damn the Houses. Damn everything. Dorian stormed out of the room and headed towards the mansion’s front door as he dialed Lucian’s cell.

“Miss me already?”

“The King wants to see you.”

“Shit.” Lucian hung up on him immediately.

Dorian made it to the exit, hand on the doorknob, and he jerked it. It didn’t budge, and there was no mechanism to unlock it. “Let me out!”

He whirled around to find someone to unlock the damn door. “Hey!” Dorian stormed towards the sound of people talking down the hall. “Someone better let me the fuck out of this house!” He caught movement to his right and turned to order whoever it was to get that front motherfucking door unlocked.

Suddenly, he was staring at a six-foot tall, black framed mirror mounted on the wall. The air whooshed out of his lungs. His body locked. The floor dropped out from beneath his feet. A savage beast awoke inside his bones and his vision tunneled.

In a daze, he cautiously came closer to the mirror. Heart pounding, mouthwatering, lungs burning, Dorian pressed his hands against the silvered glass, praying this was some kind of twisted trick Lucian was playing on him.

It wasn’t.

Dorian’s palms hit cold silver and flattened against what was on the other side, completely untouchable.

Staring back at him was the prettiest woman he’d ever seen in his life.

And she was covered in blood.

Chapter 3

Lena grabbed more paper towels and held them to her face as she assessed the damage. “I don’t think I’m missing any teeth.” It was hard to tell though because the mirror she was using was a filthy, cracked mess.

“Let me see.” Bane tipped her face up to the low light and frowned. “I think you’re gonna be okay. All teeth accounted for. But the rest of you is a mess, girl. And you bit your tongue pretty good.”

She spat more blood into the sink. “It’ll heal.” Lena ducked out of Bane’s arms. “I’m good. I want to go back in.”

“No.”

“You don’t get to tell me no.” No one did. She was a solo fighter for a reason. “I want a rematch.”

“He’s not your level, Lena! Jesus Christ woman, you got a death wish or what?”

She licked her busted lip and winced because it hurt like hell. She knew Bane meant well, but she didn’t come to these underground fights for a slap and tickle. She came for the pain, violence, and adrenaline. The rush. The victory.

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