Page 83 of Vengeful Vows

Brambles scratch my skin, and I’m jumping over roots in the woods outside of Declan’s mansion, and my heart feels like it’s been torn from my chest.

I’ve done this. I’ve done all of this. I’ve gotten Declan and his family killed, and now I’m alone and scared.

He’s coming after me because I’m a Burke now, after all, and even though I’m his blood, that won’t save me.

I run and run, panting, my breathing ragged, and I slam into a hard wall of a man. When I wrench away, he’s calling my name.

“Rory?” I gasp as I get a look at his face, but he’s got this wicked, twisted grin on his face.

“Come home, Bree,” he says, and then his mouth opens impossibly wide, his teeth razor sharp, and Niall comes up behind him, with those same sharp teeth, the same too-wide smile.

“Come home, Bree,” Niall repeats, and there’s a stench coming from both of them, a death-stench from all the people Niall has killed, all the lives he’s ruined.

I can’t move, my feet stuck like glue, and as they come toward me, I think of Declan. His wicked smile, the way his blue eyes light up when he laughs.

I close my eyes and wait for the end to come.

I’m startled out of the nightmare by Declan’s hand on my shoulder.

“Bree?” His brows are furrowed, his blue eyes dark with worry. “You were screaming, are you all right?”

I throw my arms around him, trembling, and he holds me as best he can.

I bury my face into his chest and sob.

“Bad dream?” He rubs my back.

I nod, sniffling. “It was about my father.”

Declan stiffens, but when I pull away to look at him, he doesn’t look angry.

“I know it’s hard for you.”

“I didn’t know,” I whisper. “I didn’t know what he’d done to you and your family, Declan, you have to believe me.”

He searches my face. “I believe you, princess. I really do. You’re a good person. Just because you have Murphy blood?—”

“I don’t want to talk about it,” I blurt out, wiping at my face with the heels of my palms. “I don’t ever want to talk about being a Murphy again.”

Declan nods slowly. “All right, baby. Can I get you a glass of water?”

“Please.” I snuggle back under the covers.

Declan goes into the bathroom and fills a glass up with water, bringing it back to me.

I gulp at it greedily. I’ve been neglecting to eat much or hydrate lately because I’ve been so upset, so guilty.

Declan deserves better. He deserves to know what I’ve done.

I open my mouth to tell him, to come clean, but I can’t speak. Nothing comes out. Instead, I lean forward and put the glass on the nightstand before turning to Declan and pressing my mouth to his.

Declan makes a surprised sound in the back of his throat, but he kisses me back, softly, sweetly.

I deepen the kiss, hungry, and he smiles against my mouth.

“Eager, princess?”

“Yes,” I breathe. “I want you to make love to me.”

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