Page 91 of Prized Possession

“Well, if your father says I can’t be with you, and I refuse to follow his instruction, that would cause the power balance to shift. He’d most likely declare war on me for breaking the rules, so I’d have to be sure I’m willing to go to war before I go down that route, and that’s a lot to put our city through just for me to be happy.”

I try to make it sound simple, but it’s really not.

Yes, I’m forbidden from dating Chloe, and I’d start a war if I did—that part is simple, but choosing between my happiness and a war is really not. Of course, I want to be happy, but I’m not sure I can risk the safety and wellbeing of my people for it.

“I had no idea it could start a war,” Chloe says with a gulp, looking a little uncomfortable. “Maybe instead of jumping right into the deep end, we just take each day as it comes, and at the end of my time here, we can see where we are? If you get bored of me before then, we can just end it early.”

I almost laugh out loud at the idea of being bored with her. After just one taste, I knew I’d never get enough of her. The problem isn’t that I think it won’t work between us, it’s that I think it will.

I already see her as mine, and having her in my bed will only make thatmore pronounced. I’m not sure in the end that I’ll be able to give her up, but the idea of pushing her away right now creates a hole in my heart.

I’m starting to see this is a lose-lose situation, so I may as well get some of what I want while I can. If I’m going to burn the world down, I may as well make her mine before everything turns to ash.

“I think we can do that. But first, I need you to do one more thing for me…”

After a few seconds of my silence, she asks, “What?”

“I want to know his name.”

Her eyes widen and she pulls back, shaking her head vigorously. “No. Why?”

“I refuse to live in a world where he’s allowed to draw breath. For all we know, he could be doing what he did to you to other women, and I can’t allow that to happen,” I say, trying to appeal to her caring nature.

Whilst I obviously care about the safety of the women in my city, and taking care of a predator will help with that, but we both know that’s not my real motive.

I want revenge. I want to avenge Chloe, whether she wants me to or not.

“His family is powerful. It won’t be that easy,” she mutters, but I wave her off.

“There’s no family more powerful than mine. Besides, I can always get our ruler, Bree’s permission, if needed. Now, give me his name.” I keep my tone light, but the force I intend for her to hear is there.

“What will you do to him?” she asks, chewing on her bottom lip.

I fix my gaze on her, trying to read her expression. “Do you really want to know?”

She nods. “Honestly, I’ve imagined punishing him in so many ways.” She sounds almost ashamed to admit it, but fuck, if that doesn’t make my cock twitch.

“Well, you tell me exactly what you want me to do to him, and I’ll make it happen. As long as he suffers and is dead at the end of the two days, that’s all that matters to me,” I admit.

Her breath hitches. “Two days?”

“He tortured you for two days, I’m just returning the favour.”

“Okay,” she mumbles, her gaze dropping to the floor, like she’s embarrassed to admit that’s what she wants.

“Do you want to be a part of it? To face him? You can show him that you’re not afraid of him any more, that you’re taking back the control he stole from you.”

She freezes, her eyes flicking up to meet mine, looking like a deer caught in headlights. “Face him? I don’t know if I can.”

“You absolutely don’t have to, but the offer is there if you choose. If not, I’lljust make him suffer in all the ways you’ve imagined. When he takes his last breath, he’ll know he messed with the wrong girl.”

Her lips tip up into a small smile. “Thank you,” she whispers, before leaning over and pressing her lips to mine.

It’s a short, chaste kiss, and it’s over before it really starts, but my heart is pounding in my chest in a way that shows it was more than an innocent peck.

“Anything for you.”

She leans in again, and I squeeze her hand to grab her attention as I pull my head away. Hurt flashes in her eyes, but I know I’m doing the right thing.

---