Page 13 of Hell Storm

I was a direct descendant of the honorable soldier who firmly stood his ground during the last battle, before the fall of our people half a millennia ago—General Grant Prescott. Survival was in my DNA.

The thought of it—having to keep the Prescott legacy secret—made my blood boil. A handful of my ancestors evaded capture that day, thanks to Grant’s fast thinking and military training. But over the centuries, several were apprehended and either enslaved or put to death. For those of us who remained, for those of us born into freedom, we learned to survive in the shadows, becoming invisible because it kept us alive.

Kept his mission alive.

“I’m not afraid of you.”

I shocked myself with those words, mostly because they hadn’t been true until now. Before, Roman’s dark soul and hotheaded demeanor had intimidated me, but not anymore.

He leaned closer, and I had a feeling I might have been knocked off my feet had it not been for the table between us. The darkness in his eyes spread—literally and figuratively. Yes, my words had awakened the monster within him. And for some reason, instead of running like I knew I should have, I only wanted to push him further.

“Tell you what. I’m willing to give you another chance. An opportunity to speak to me with the respect I’m owed,” he seethed. “Who knows … it might just save your life.”

Standing to his feet, Roman’s face twisted and contorted right before my eyes. This was, undoubtedly, meant to serve as another threat, but instead, I took it as a challenge.

“Not a chance, dickhead.”

With those words, I leaned forward to brace my hands against the edge of the table. At that moment, I had to acknowledge that my fight or flight mechanism must have beenseverelymalfunctioning. The others must have sensed it too, because they were on their feet quickly. I expected them to surround Roman in case they needed to wrangle him in, but to my surprise, they surroundedme.

Protectedme.

And I wasn’t the only one who took notice of the trio’s formation. Roman did as well.

The distorted features that had begun to emerge slowly shifted. Within seconds, he was, once again, hidden behind the deceptively handsome façade.

I was startled by the sound of sinister laughter billowing from his mouth. It didn’t quite fit his expression, or the heaviness in the room.

“So, you’re takingherside?” he asked. “After all we’ve been through, after all she’s cost us?”

“It isn’t like that,” Julian insisted, inching closer from the left.

He didn’t stop until our arms were pressed against one another’s. Instinctively, my hand twitched toward his, but I refrained from holding it. Perhaps I’d been tempted because I was in need of comfort. Or perhaps, it was just because I suddenly wanted to be in his presence.

“Roman, just … sit. We’ve all got a lot on us right now and—”

“I’d rather not,” he grumbled, cutting Silas off midsentence. “I was never onboard with this—covering for this sow.”

He stared down on me like I was nothing.

Like I waslessthan nothing.

“I’m gone,” was Roman’s final thought before storming out of the dining room. The thunderingboomthat followed, when the front door slammed shut, alerted us all that he’d also left the house.

The remaining princes didn’t say a word as they slowly drifted from the posts they held, blocking me from the treacherous, unpredictable storm by the name of Roman Fairchild.

“I … thank you,” I stammered.

It was on the tip of my tongue to apologize, but then I remembered that wasn’t owed. I’d done nothing wrong.

“Of course,” Silas answered with a nod, passing a concerned glance toward Julian. “He’s likely just headed back to the hotel. I’m sure he’ll return once he’s cooled off.”

That wouldn’t be necessary. He could stay as far away as he wanted.

Levi made his way back to his seat and dropped down into it with a sigh. Of all the reactions I expected him to have to the altercation between Roman and I, a smile certainly wasn’t it. Especially not one directed at me.

His dark gaze studied me for a moment.

“Yes, I think I’m beginning to like you, Corina. I believe you and I will get along famously.”

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