Page 42 of Sinner's End

“You know?”

I huff. “Yes, Mana.” I try to pull away but he has me firmly in his grasp. “I don’t feel like myself. I’m too happy and shit that would usually bother me simply doesn’t.” I watch him as I speak, his frown deepening with every word. “But I have never felt this carefree and I am going to take advantage of that for tonight.”

“Adreana…”

Taking the opportunity to catch him off guard, I lock my lips to his, kissing him with everything I have. A split-second passes before he kisses me back, devouring me. When he pulls away, I feel slightly lightheaded and weak-kneed but highly aroused. The smirk he wears is something I know used to irritate me but now I find charming.

Another mark against whatever the hell is happening to me right now.

“Come along then, ladies,” Mana says, addressing me and then Eve. “Let’s get fucked up.”

Chapter Nineteen

A Pocketful of Ruin

Lethe

Mana’s plan to seduce the girl who was designed for me is the worst fucking idea I’ve ever heard of. Any other night I might have been able to ignore his ploy. Play the wounded puppy part I’ve come to accept at his side, float through the haze my Maker left over for me and take the next sunrise in my stride.

Tonight, I want to rip his throat out and bathe in his blood before I tear everything in this sin-imbued place apart. I don’t care if I terrify her, and something tells me as I step in front of the three of them—Mana, Adreana, and their spare—that my soulmate won’t mind in the slightest.

She looks up at me with a faint amount of curiosity. “Are you joining us? No tears allowed after the way you cried all over me before,” she admonishes sweetly.

I stare into her eyes, waxen like cerecloth, and shake my head. “You’ll sleep in my bed tonight, my love.”

She blinks at me long and slow, caught up in the dream state that creature put her in. Her hand detaches from Mana’s as she takes a half-step forward. His growl is overridden by her half-smile that goes straight to my cock, but I ignore the pleasures of this mortal form.

Let her take her place as promised. I’ll spend my immortality serving the pits of this hellish overworld if she’s allowed to fulfil her fate.

I pray quietly, knowing her intended destiny without understanding my own, but giving it freely all the same. I don’t receive an answer, nor do I expect one.

Adreana reaches me, her lips grazing the corner of my mouth, gliding along my cheek. “Come with us.Lethe.”

My name on her lips, stunted as though she pulled out the memory from a place long tucked away, leaves me aching.

“I will not share you.” I cup her cheek, rubbing my thumb along her soft skin. Something flares in the depths of her eyes, an awareness maybe. I want more of a reaction from her at my touch, but this isn’t the moan I know, the one my soul screams for, but the barest shade of one.

I promised I’d bring her back from whatever precipice she stands, whatever the cost.

“Not your choice, cupcake.” Kaleb’s meaty hand claps my back and I swear he leaves a mark.

Still cradling her gently, I throw an elbow back, hoping to connect with something important. Kaleb’s yelp tells me I did, and I smile into her eyes.

Fake Adreana smiles back. “I’ll sleep in your bed.”

I wrap my hand around her nape, pulling her into my chest. “Good girl.” I kiss her temple gently as she snuggles happily into my chest, apparently having forgotten Mana and her cohort altogether. The dark-haired man glowers at me. I give him my best reflective grin. “I’m happy to share the spoils. You get that one.” I nod to the girl who manned the bar earlier.

She grins back weakly and spews a week’s wages of tequila all over Mana’s shoes.

He curses as I lift Adreana in my arms, and turn the first corridor I come to, anything to get away from Mana’s mess. Footsteps that don’t belong to me echo mine. I turn my head to find Kaleb flanking me on one side, and Mana’s pale pet on my other.

“I can manage her alone,” I force out, gripping her tighter.

Adreana shuffles against my torso and bites my nipple.

Pain builds in my chest. I swallow it back like a treat, heedless of the tear that rolls down my cheek as she bites and licks and sucks. My cock goes on a rampage, straining againstthe white leather pants Mana dressed me in like his personal fuck toy for tonight’s work. Not that I have any intention of working at Harken, not while Adreana remains in this state.

“You’re such a little macho slut, aren’t you?” Bowen coos, winding his fingers through her hair.

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