Page 17 of Cruel Knots

Hurt and rage swirl inside me, creating a storm that threatens to drown me, but all I can do is stand here and stare into the eyes of a monster.

How can we share the same blood as Mom and Dad? They were the gentlest, kindest souls. How could they give birth to a demon like my brother?

“Don’t cry, sweetheart,” Callum’s voice is deceptively gentle. “You have no idea what you do to me when you cry. I want to make you happy, darling, but you make it so difficult. Trust me, hmm? Everything I’m doing is for us.”

“I don’t want this,” I say in a broken voice as more tears spill from my eyes. “Please, just let me go. I’ll take Dad with me and you’ll never have to see us again.”

Callum closes his eyes as if my words greatly disappoint him.

“Please, Callum. This is wrong. This is all so fucking wrong!” I shout the last sentence. “We’re related! You’re my brother. You shouldn’t be wanting to do this to me.”

“That is exactly why we should be together!” he shouts. “No one’s ever going to be as loyal to you as me. No one’s ever going to love you as much as me. I’ve watched over you since you were a baby. You have no idea how much I want to protect you from the ugliness of this world. You need me, Lucia.”

“Please, Callum. I don’t want this. It’s unnatural. It’s disgusting. You’re my brother,” I plead.

“You’re too foolish for your own good,” he says, brushing his thumb over my cheek. He brings the thumb to his lips and darts his tongue across the tip, tasting my tears. “Even your tears taste so sweet.”

Taking a breath, he fixes me with a cold look. “Go along with my plan or be prepared to lose Dad.”

All the fight inside me dies in the face of that threat. I can never bring myself to be responsible for my father’s death. I’m not my brother!

I lower my head in the face of my crushing defeat.

Callum kisses the top of my head and walks away.

Tears continue to flow down my cheeks and splash onto the floor. I don’t even have the freedom to kill myself. Callum wouldn’t spare Dad if I’m gone.

No matter how desperate I feel, I don’t bother to pray.

The past seven years have shown me prayers don’t work against a devil like my brother. Only another monster can fight against Callum and free me from his clutches.

Wiping my tears, I plaster a smile on my face and walk back into my dad’s bedroom.

“Luc—”

“It’s okay, Dad,” I say, putting on a fake smile. “Don’t worry about Callum. We’ll work things out by ourselves.”

Dad shakes his head as utter gibberish flows from his lips. I know he feels as trapped as me, or maybe worse. He’s a prisoner in his own body.

Moving toward the bed, I sit down on the edge and take his hand in mine. “It’s okay, Dad,” I say in the calmest tone I can muster. “We’ve been through worse. I’m sure we’ll survive this too.”

Dad’s eyes fill with tears.

“It’ll be okay,” I repeat despite knowing I’m lying to him and myself.

Only a monster as insane as my brother can save me.

6

Damien

Shafts of moonlight fall on the densely growing trees that cover the acres of land surrounding Volkov Manor. Situated away from the glitz and glamor of Ashville’s posh downtown areas, my home is a haven of blissful solitude.

My gaze shifts to the windowpane, reflecting the room behind me. I take in my tall, broad physique, accentuated by the dark cashmere sweater and slim-fitting slacks. Unconsciously, I meet my reflection’s eye and immediately, become aware of the long, thick scars slashing across my face.

I wince but the action further twists the scars on my face, reminding me of the night I received these cruel marks on both my skin and heart.

Once upon a time, on a night like this, a monster got his hands on me. Captured and incapacitated by his minions, I’d been nothing but a clay doll that he cut and carved.

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