Page 20 of Monsters we Crave

I squeezed the glass, feeling trapped and overwhelmed. “Why was my family dragged to the chapel? I thought if I went with you, they’d be safe.”

“And they will, so long as they don’t attempt anything heroic. Your father’s face? That was his from his first try. There won’t be a second.”

I swallowed and glanced away from him, knowing he meant that. It was no idle threat or promise. He refilled my glass, and I immediately took another sip, slower this time. Whatever this was had a potent effect. “Is that how it’s going to be? You use my friends and family to keep me under control?”

He laughed lightly. “I don’t need to resort to threats to keep you under control, Korinna. I’m capable of doing that on my own.”

“Then why were they there?”

He took a sip of his drink and glanced down, swirling it within the glass, meeting my eyes again when he took another drink. “How could they miss such an important event in their daughter's life?”

I barely stopped myself from swearing at him. “You can’t be serious.”

“I’m nothing but serious. You’re only doing this once. I will ensure they are present for all of your achievements, even if it’s at gunpoint.” He glanced at my attire, his lips curling into a faint smile. “You look exceptionally beautiful tonight, by the way.”

“So you mentioned.”

He chuckled, unbothered by my retort and less-than-enthused attitude. “Look outside. We're nearing our destination.”

I looked out the window just as the limo smoothly glided onto a secluded road.

Elysium’s noise faded into a distant hum as we drove farther. Not long after, a sign that read Horizon Resort began to glow brighter the closer we drew to it. I’d heard of this place from Nefertari.

The resort was renowned for its exclusivity and was an oasis of opulence and privacy. It cost a small fortune to stay at and was nestled between the mesmerizing expanse of the ocean and the lush, sprawling beauty of the Obsidian Gardens.

The limo eased to a gentle stop at a secluded walkway lined with softly glowing lanterns. This path, I gathered, led directly to the suite reserved for us. I could think of only one thing that would occur once we were inside. The door of the limo slid open, the mechanism controlled by an unseen driver. Aidoneus stepped out first, extending his hand to assist me. As I took it, the reality of my situation pressed upon me once more.

The distant sound of waves crashing against the shore was somewhat soothing. The scent of blooming flowers from the gardens wafted toward us, making the setting even more surreal.

Aidoneus led me up the pathway, his gait unhurried. A surge of nerves threatened to overwhelm me. Reaching the suite's entrance, he used his fingerprint to unlock the door. It granted him access with a soft beep. We were greeted by an intimate setting. Deep red, nearly black, drapes hung from the ceiling, pooling onto the floor. On a table to our left, a chilled bottle of champagne rested in a bucket of ice, two slender glasses placed beside it, waiting to be filled.

I stepped inside and looked around. Aidoneus moved behind me, his fingers lightly brushing the back of my neck, sending shivers down my spine.

“Do you like it?” His voice held a note of amusement, almost as if he already knew the effect that he had on me.

“It's...overwhelming. A lot to take in,” I whispered, my gaze drawn to the king-sized bed in the center of the room. Its covers were a deep black, contrasting against the crimson pillows and white narcissus petals scattered upon it.

He leaned down, his lips grazing my ear.

“Perfect for our first night as an official couple, don't you think?” His words were imbued with an underlying dominance, holding a promise and threat all in one.

I pulled away, needing to put some distance between us, my heart racing. “Was the lavish suite necessary?” I questioned, trying to mask my vulnerability.

He walked to the side table and took his time pouring champagne into the glasses. The liquid bubbled and frothed as he spoke. “I would’ve fucked you at the coffee house bent over the counter. At the chapel on top of the altar. The back of the limo. The location didn’t matter.” He paused and looked over at me. “I don’t need any of this extravagance to fuck you, Visara. It’s what you deserve.”

I shifted uncomfortably at his declaration—the directness of it. “Now you’re concerned about what I deserve?”

“If I wasn’t, things would have gone much differently.”

I held back my next retort, remembering how easily he’d had Dominic, my neighbor, killed.

“Now, enough with the unpleasantries. We don’t need to worry about those right now.” He approached me, holding out one of the glasses.

It wasn’t wise for me to be mixing so many alcohols. My body still felt warm and heady from whatever I’d drank at the chapel. But I was in no state to turn it down, either. As I accepted the glass, our fingers brushed, an electric charge passing between us.

“To us,” he toasted, clinking our glasses together.

His beautiful eyes bore into mine, filled with promises of power, pleasure, and a depth that both intrigued and frightened me. Despite the twisted nature of it all, his allure was undeniable, a magnetic pull that I couldn't resist, no matter how much I tried. As I drank, I felt more of that strange warmth spreading through me, like a subtle awakening of something deep within. The connection between us felt more tangible, a silent thread pulling us closer.

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