Page 104 of Mama Si's Paradise

“Yes, they are. They’re basically the queens of the Evernight Court,” Valentine said, making me flinch.

“They’re fuckingsnacksand baby-makers!” And there’s at leasttwoof them for each brother—how was nobody else freaked out by all of this?How?!

Laughter burst out of Valentine and he brought a hand to his mouth as if to contain it, just as surprised as I was. He was laughing, shoulders shaking though no more sound was coming out of him. For whatever reason, that made me smile for a moment, until I caught myself.

“Right, so,” I said, clearing my throat. “They also told me you’re twenty-four, and you just got your dragon and that you’re probably not going to get…you know,a bride.” Fuck. I stopped and flinched properly as shivers ran down the length of me. That word… “You won’t get one for the first years. They also?—”

“They’re wrong,” he cut me off, and he was most definitely not smiling anymore.

“Well, that’s what they said. I’m no expert on vampire affairs."

“You’remine,Sunshine,” he said, and again, I got those same shivers.

“I’m not?—”

That’s as far as I could get before he was in front of me, those eyespouringdarkness into mine. “Let me repeat that so it gets through that beautiful head of yours—you belong to me. I don’t care who said what or what it was like for my brothers. I don’t care if it has never happened before in the history of this Court—you’re mine.” He gave me a second to let that sink in, and I wasn’t even breathing. “How’s that? Clear enough?” A sneaky smile spread on his lips, and no matter how hot he was, it still pissed me off.

“So, you’re just going toforceme? You’re going tomakeme submit to you?” My voice shook and I hated that I was showing weakness in front of this man—no, thispredator.

“Never,” he said, watching my lips like they were the most sacred thing he’d ever laid eyes on. “I will never force anythingon you that you don’t want. I’m not going to make you submit to me, but I will do everything in my power to make youwantto.”

“I won’t,” I spit, just because he still sounded like he believed his own words.

But the asshole smiled wide. “I think you will, Sunshine. I think you’ll beg me to take you.” Suddenly, his fingers gripped the side of my waist, squeezing my ribs until I couldn’t breathe anymore, his eyes so bloodshot. I was too shocked to move or make a single sound when he growled, “Mine,” like a real beast.

“Back.Off,” I hissed when I found my voice, and I tried to push him back, too.

The problem was, I’d have had a better chance moving a fucking mountain.

“As you wish,” Valentine whispered, finally stepping away and letting me breathe again.

“AndIwill do anything in my power to make it out of here even if it kills me. I will run away even if it costs me my life. I’d rather die than wait to be eaten in this fucking horror house.”

Unfortunately, my words didn’t faze him at all. “Trust me, Sunshine, if there was a way off this Isle without dying, we would be long gone.”

“Notwe. I’m talking about myself.” If he thought I’d take himwithme, he really was fucked up in the head.

“Once the magic of the spell connects with you, it doesn’t let you go anymore. There is no way out. No way,” he said. His every word rang true. My stomach twisted again, and all that delicious food I’d eaten was going to end up on the floor in front of his feet any second now.

Goddamn it, how did I let myself get here?

“Come with me,” Valentine said after a minute, offering me his hand again. “I want to showyou something.”

I walked ahead with my chin up without touching him, praying with all my heart that this nightmare ended soon.

“What’s that?”

The door he led me to opened to a narrow corridor with absolutely no light in it. None.

“It’s okay. Don’t be afraid—it’s just us,” Valentine said, offering me his hand again.

I crossed my arms in front of my chest. “Yes—thatis precisely my problem.” He was here with me, and he seemed to be under the impression that I would trust him, just because he claimed me for himself and promised me that nobody was going to hurt me.

The asshole pulled his lips halfway into his mouth to stop from smiling, and still failed. “Then I promise that I won’t hurt you if you come with me—how’s that?”

“Not good enough. Promise you won’t come near me or touch me at all.”

“I’m afraid I can’t do that,” Valentine said, not bothered in the least.

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