Page 109 of Tyrant

“You’re not going to marry Des,claimed one.”

Her breathing increases. I can’t believe the words I’m about to say right now. But I can’t stop them from exiting my mouth, mind, and heart.

“Serafina, you’re going to marry me instead.”

Chapter Forty

SERAFINA

Did I just get engaged?

Tyrant lifts me up and carries me right back to his bedroom. At this point I’m not sure my body can honestly handle any more pleasure. My stomach hurts as though I’ve done ten million sit-ups thanks to the endless supply of orgasms. Not to mention my body is achy, tired, and my fucking left nipple is throbbing.

Tyrant opens the towel and lets it fall to the floor. I am once again naked before him. And, yes, if he touches me, tastes me, turns me around and bends me over, I will become soaked for him and he can fuck me into a peaceful death if that’s what he wants.

I am his.

His hands touch my face again. I let out a shaky breath.

“It’s bad,” he whispers. “It’s wrong. You thought you were in danger before? This is a whole new thing, Serafina.”

“I don’t want to be with anyone else,” I manage to say. “I want you, Ty. And you want me.”

“This isn’t normal society. This isn’t a fucking movie.”

“So what happens? Do I live my life unhappy? Forced to be with someone else? What are you going to do? Kill thousands of people trying to calm your rage?”

His right hand moves to my neck. “What I don’t need is any attitude from you right now.”

All of a sudden I feel woozy and my knees bend as though they no longer exist. Tyrant scoops me up with ease and places me down onto the bed. The smell of the sheets is now fresh. Clean.Pure.

“You must be starving right now,” he says. “I’ll get you a hoodie to put on and then I’ll have food delivered. Deep breaths, Serafina. Deep fucking breaths.”

He’s like my meditation guru now.

Deep fucking breaths.

His voice echoes in my head and it calms me. He calms me. He makes me feel so alive. And now…he loves me?

I’ve seen enough darkness around this place so far to know this is not the kind of love most people dream of. This isn’t the kind of love that leads to romantic dates, roses scattered throughout the bedroom. Surprise trips. Great sex all night and sleeping in and ordering breakfast. Sipping coffee, flirting with smiles as we both think of the sex.

This is nothing like that at all. This is dark. This is dangerous. I hate being alone in bed, even for a minute.

Tyrant helps me put on a hoodie and he gives me a bottle of water. He then climbs into bed next to me and holds me. I rest my head on his chest and close my eyes. He uses his phone to order food.

“Ty,” I whisper. “Can you explain it to me?”

“Everything is arranged around here. That’s the only way to ensure protocol and control. You were sent here by Bridgette. To beclaimedand to be married off. That’s your destiny. To stand at Des’s side when he needs a wife as his side. If it’s determined that children would help with any kind of imagery, then you will give birth to his children. That’s how it works for everyone.”

That sounds terrifying and awful.

“Same for you too then,” I whisper. “Everything has been chosen. Right?”

Tyrant doesn’t reply to me.

“Breaking that apart is not smart,” he says. “Yet nothing about your arrival and stay has made much sense.”

“So what happens next?”

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