Page 29 of Their Offering

“I’m sorry,” she said, so quietly that it was barely a whisper.

I didn’t know how to respond, so I just nodded and walked down the hall, pulling my arm from her grasp.

That had been the first time she’d taken our father’s side and forced Keir to endure a cruel, unnecessary punishment, but it certainly wasn’t the last. Each time after that, her eyes held less remorse, like her heart had hardened, until one day, she was stone-cold, showing no emotion.

Keir resented her after that. His own protector had given up on him. He hated what our father had turned our mother into.

I understood his fear when it came to Lilly, but what I didn’t understand was why he wanted to punish himself. He wasnotour father. He’d done everything he could to be different from him, yet he was petrified that he’d still somehow turn out like him.

I looked over to find Aiden fast asleep, his chin tucked into the crook of Lilly’s neck.

He was right. If Keir wasn’t going to give her the life she deserved, we would. She was ours now, even if she didn’t realize it. Our sweet, little offering.

Chapter 14

Lillian

I stretched my arms out as I woke. Sunlight poured over me, and I looked around, only to realize I was in bed alone. A bottle of water sat on my nightstand, and my mouth suddenly felt dry. I chugged the entire bottle in seconds.

My bathroom light was on, and I could hear whispers. I let out a breath. Okay, they reallywerehere. I hadn’t imagined the whole thing. I got out of bed and tiptoed to the door, cringing with every step. The soreness in my body was another reminder that last night did indeed happen.

“That asshole is dealt with for now, at least until we find a morepermanentsolution for him.” That wasn’t Aiden or Nicholas, so it must’ve been the other brother. I hadn’t gotten a good look at him, but I still wanted him to touch me the way his brothers had. I quietly laughed at myself for thinking such a crazy thought over someone I hadn’t even met, let alone seen entirely. I had no idea what he looked like.

“Did you hear what she said before passing out? This isn’t the first time. I’m so fucking pissed at the human race. They’re disgusting, and somehowweare the messed-up creatures.” Nicholas sounded so cute when he was angry. I tightened my jaw as he relayed what I had said before drifting off last night. I didn’t remember saying that. Hopefully, they’d leave that one alone.

“I want to burn the whole fucking town—no, the fucking world and bring her home with us.” My heart welled up at Aiden’s words. I knew he meant it. They didn’t even know me, yet they would do anything to protect me.

“Fuck. This is all my fault. We could've been here sooner if I hadn’t insisted on going to Father and convincing him the portal wasn’t open.Fuck.” The unnamed brother kicked the wall, hard, and I nearly jumped. I winced, knowing that it probably left a hole. “Shit.” Yep, he left a hole.

“Keir, we had to.” His name was Keir. Even his name was seductive. “It was the only way to buy us enough time to convince her to come back to Hell with us. She has to come willingly, and there’s no way that stubborn girl will agree right off the bat.” Aiden thought I was stubborn?

“If we take her home, Father will figure it out. He thinks the portal was all a rumor, and we killed all the demons nearby to ensure it stayed that way. He will be furious when he figures out what we did. This is the first one that’s been opened in hundreds of years.” Keir spoke so softly, I could barely hear him. “He’ll be angry, but it’ll be over. It’s not ideal, but there’ll be nothing he can do if he finds her.”

“We can’t let him know. Ever.” Nicholas’s soft voice was sharp. “He’ll kill her if he finds out she opened that portal. You know he will, especiallyonce he figures out who she is. You, of all people, definitely don’t want that happening.” Who I was? Why wouldn’t Keir,of all people, not want that happening? What was going on?

Keir spoke next. “One night with her, and you two are willing to risk his wrath? Was she that good?” His voice was taunting, and though he directed the insult at his brothers, it hit me too.

“Fuck you, Keir. You may not care, or maybe you’re trying to put on some tough-guy front, but she’s ours now. Stop denying yourself the satisfaction of being with her. She’s special to us, but we all know who she is to you. Just give her a chance. There’s something about her. She’s different. I can’t explain it. She feels like…like…”

Home, I thought as I leaned in closer, then fell as the door swung open. I yelped when I hit the floor.

“Shit,” the twins cursed simultaneously as they helped me to my feet. I nearly fell again once I rose and faced Keir. He was dressed in all black, just like the twins.

He was handsome––veryhandsome. He looked different from the twins, but similar enough to be considered family; his facial features were softer. His brown hair was long and curly on top but short on the sides, and he had a neatly trimmed beard that circled his mouth. I’d never been into facial hair, but fuck, I could be for him. His lips were tightly pursed, and I wanted to run my tongue along them. His body was clearly toned, but honestly, as sexy as he was, his eyes were what I couldn’t stop looking into. They were gray,darkgray, like the middle of a storm. They were so dark; they were practically black. There seemed to be movement in them, swirling almost, but I couldn’t be sure. All I knew was I wanted to be close to him.

“Lillian.” Keir bowed his head slightly. He wore a cocky smile, and I couldn’t help but feel like it was because he found my clumsy entrance amusing.

I couldn’t speak, though, and I think Keir knew he rendered me speechless because he chuckled. The sound made me want to close my eyes and savor it. It made my whole body tingle.

His face darkened as he scanned my body, surveying the damage. I was naked, but it didn’t faze me for some reason. He tensed his jaw, and his nostrils flared, so I worked up the courage to roll my eyes and scoff at him.

“What?” he snapped.

“You’re looking at me like you’re bothered by this,” I gestured to my body, “yet you couldn’t be bothered to get off of the wall the other night. Not to mention you’re willing to turn me over to your dad, who mightkillme?” I continued to stare directly into his eyes. The twins shuffled uncomfortably behind him; something told me Keir didn’t get challenged very often.

Before I could blink, Keir’s hand was on my throat, his body pressing mine against the wall. My eyes watered at the pain the impact shot through my body.

“Keir.” I couldn’t tell who spoke, but Keir gave a quick glaring glance to his brothers, and they didn’t protest anymore.

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