Page 49 of Monstrous Grave

He pauses, hinting at his men to leave the room and give us privacy before ensuring I stare straight into his penetrating eyes.

“Understand, darling devil, that I’ve sought vengeance for us, for the childhood that was stolen from us. I’ve bided my time, waiting for you to fully embrace yourself, while rallying every García I could to help me. It’s the only positive thing about being forced to take over.” He sighs. “It’s too bad that the opportunity arose after he’d already inflicted so much harm upon you.” A hint of regret crosses his eyes. “We haven’t been able to strike back before, but after you and the Valentis destroyed their weaponry that day, the Grimaldis were left vulnerable, distracted. They didn’t even know we were coming.”

A surge of emotions I can’t put into words comes over me. Despite his usual detachment and lack of empathy for others, there’s a part of him that’s always cared about me.

“And the Valentis?” I ask, my voice betraying my emotions.

“Alec and his father are back at our home,” he says, making sure to emphasize the word ‘our’ with a wink. “They’re my gift to you, devil.”

Despite the chaos and turmoil around us, a small smile tugs at the corners of my lips, revenge burning in my heart against those who have wronged me. This time, it’s not Viper—it’s the Valentis and the Grimaldis.

Viper’s gaze shifts to our father on his knees behind us, his eyes glinting with a deadly intensity as he steps forward, fully revealing himself. I observe how our father’s face drains of color, stuttering out incoherent words while seemingly pleading for his life.

“Hello, Daddy,” Viper utters, tilting his head ever so slightly.

At that moment, despite the gravity of the situation, I can’t help but notice how fucking hot Viper looks all murderous. Every line of his face is sharp, accentuated by the flickering shadows cast by the forge. Strands of his light hair fall across his forehead, tousled, adding to his rugged allure, and sweat glistens on his temples, revealing he fought his way inside the Grimaldi mansion.

Viper takes a step toward our father, a knife now in his hand, who stares at him with desperation and fear, pleading for his life, but he won’t get any mercy at all. I witness Viper unleash all the pent-up rage and anguish from years of abuse, each strike of the knife in his hand a symbol of freedom.

“This is for Arcane,” he declares, plunging the blade into our foster father’s stomach, making him cry out in pain like a pathetic human being. “For how badly you treated her. For abandoning her when I was gone.” Another slash, and the knife sinks into his leg. I observe his widened eyes, face paling further. “And this?” Viper’s lips curl into a cruel smirk as he traces our father’s throat, merely trailing it with the blade of the knife delicately above the fragile skin. “This is for me. For all the years of neglect and abuse at your hands.” With a swift motion, he slices from left ear to right.

Blood splatters around the room, painting a vivid picture of our newfound freedom from the clutches of the Grimaldis.

When all is said and done, Viper looks at me, beautifully marked with blood, panting and heaving. Yet, a sense of tranquility comes over him, evident in how his shoulders visibly relax.

“Let’s get out of here,” I mumble, tired of the horrors staining the walls of this damned manor, permeated with memories of tragedy and betrayal.

He looks at me, brushing streaks of blond hair from his eye and managing to smear the blood on his forehead. “What about the drive? The underbelly?” he asks, searching my eyes for answers.

“Fuck that. Fuck them all. They can go to ruins, for all I care,” I mutter, feeling the truth lacing my words.

It’s true. I no longer give a fuck about the truce in this city. Penumbra Crest is tainted with blood and war, a place where people betray each other, and loyalties are scarce. And the people left? I couldn’t care less if they died.

I stopped caring long ago when the thought of revenge took over all occupying thoughts.

“Let’s start with ruining the Valentis,” Viper looks at me with a glint of mischief in his eyes before turning to kiss me.

It’s brutal, raw, and all the things that determine our relationship. Ours has never been a romance of candlelit dinners, gentle and passionate intimate moments. It’s the kind that delves into the deeper edges, where our souls call to each other’s darkness in ways no one would ever understand. The kiss carries poison, cloaked in sweetness to lure prey in before devouring, shared amidst the chaos of emotions and bloodshed.

Destruction looms over us, but oh, it has never felt more bittersweet.

Epilogue

Arcane

The night sky looms ominously overhead, a foreboding shadow casting over the sinister mansion. But unlike all those years ago, I’ve escaped the clutches of the Grimaldis once and for all. Back then, I underestimated the evil of this world. Things have changed.

I have changed.

If someone had told me Kaiden would resurface after years of his supposed death, I’d never believe them. They declared he died in a train wreck shortly after midnight on my twenty-first birthday, the tenth of July. Yet, I should have known better. While they claimed he was dead, no body was ever discovered, despite the media’s relentless pursuit.

That’s the thing about a town where criminals reign—there’s corruption seeping into every crevice.

With our foster father gone and the Valentis soon to follow, chaos looms over Penumbra Crest. It’s no longer my burden. This town has failed me repeatedly, leaving me with little to offer except my allegiance to Viper as we navigate our uncertain future.

With each heartbeat, anticipation thrums through me, heightening my senses as I clench the handle tighter. The knife becomes a comfort as I inhale deeply, waiting for the long-awaited end after years of seeking vengeance.

Agonizing screams from the basement shatter through the silence of the manor, enveloping us all with their horrors. I glance at Viper, his stance relaxed with a concealed smirk betraying his sinister intentions, allowing me to soak in the unfolding scene before us.

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