Page 40 of Velka Manor

“Yeah, I get why you would have done that one. Now, back to explaining the rest.”

“Boo. No fun.” He sticks out his tongue but carries on, turning around so I can see his back, and I notice for the first time my name alongside Dorian’s on his ass.

“Our dear brother has a tiny obsession with marking what he thinks belongs to him. You won’t believe the number of times I woke up to him standing over me with a knife, just staring, not blinking.”

“Seriously?” I ask, a burst of laughter breaking free.

“Dead serious,” he says, twisting his head over his shoulder. “And that’s what I thought I would be when I was younger. Thought my deranged twin wanted to murder me, but no, he just wanted to carve my skin up so I knew I belonged to him.”

He rolls his eyes as he turns back, and I stand, tracing each one of his tattoos on his chest. He shivers at my touch, watching me intently.

“He drunkenly told me once about his craving, let me in on his little secret. I thought about it for hours afterwards. I wasgoing to give in and let him carve me up like a turkey if that’s what he needed, but then, the thought of tattoos came to me. He practised for a while, wanting to be perfect. The first one he gave me was your name.”

He pulls me to him, and I wrap my arms around his waist, leaning my cheek on his chest. His fingers go back to my hair, soothing me like he did in the shower. “That one is my favourite.”

I close my eyes tight, my thoughts swirling, ones I’ve tried not to think about.

“I’m going to lose you,” I whisper, tears falling down my cheeks.

It’s the one thing I’ve dreaded all my life, the thing that has terrified me more than my fucked-up family, and now, it’s happening.

“The fuck you are,” Bastian snaps.

“Do you honestly think there is anything or anyone on this Earth who can take you from us, Octavia?”

Dorian storms into the room and grasps my hair tight, tilting my head up as he looms over me, still in Bastian’s arms.

“Well, Octavia? Do you?” He shakes, rage flashing in his gaze, and it fuels my own as I rip myself from between them.

“It’s not that simple!”

“Of course it’s that simple,” Bastian scoffs, carefree as always, like everything is just a game.

“No, it’s not,” I shout, stamping my foot. “If we go against Grandfather, he could slaughter us. There will be no quick and easy death. I witnessed what he does to people, and calling him the devil would be cruel to the devil. He’s the head of the elders, the leader of this whole fucking bloodline.”

My voice shakes as they try to step towards me, try to pull me into their embrace so they can make me believe we’re not fucked, that everything is okay. I push them away, shaking my head.

“If you go up against him, Dorian, you will lose everything. If by some miracle he decides not to kill us, everything you have worked for in the bloodline…” My throat closes as tears roll down my cheeks. “I won’t be the reason for your downfall. I won’t let our twisted love destroy everything.”

I was foolish thinking I could have them the way I want. I ignored all the consequences outside of this castle. The bloodline will never let us be together; ourgrandfatherwon’t allow it, especially if he has plans for me.

“I’ve been so stupid,” I mutter, the tears rolling faster, my heart shattering.

A foolish girl with toxic dreams would never get her happy ending.

“If loving you causes our downfall, then we will burn the world as we dance in the ashes,” Dorian declares, yanking me towards him and forcing his lips on mine.

My head spins as he kisses me, taking my breath away, making the world turn.

“I fucking love you, Octavia. My world doesn’t make sense when you’re not around. Everything is black and grey, but when you’re with me, it shines in blinding colour. I always wanted to pull you into the dark, but no matter where you go, you shine so fucking bright.”

He breathes harshly against my lips, and I shake in his arms.

“You are ours. Nothing can take you from us, not even you. Don’t make me chain you to me to prove that, because I will.”

He stares deep into my eyes, and I feel the truth in every single word he says. No one can take me from them, and I have to trust them.

He said he loved me.

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