Page 109 of Nocturne

“What?” I frown.

“Does he have your loyalty or fear?”

His question immediately shuts me down. Who is talking about? Vir? How does he know? There’s no evidence. The little paperwork the police had after I resurfaced—Vir took care of that. He wouldn’t let it be traced back to him. So how the hell does this man know?

I know he has the resources to dig into my life, but there’s no way he could have anything on that part of it. I made sure of it. That particular closet of mine is filled with the kind of skeletons I swore to keep buried, to take to my grave. And there are no traces of it. Vir made sure of that, as if the forest, the basement, the dungeons—none of it ever existed

“Or both?” he steps closer, and I take an involuntary step back.

“I’m not sure what you’re talking about,” I lie.

It is easy. It's as easy as slipping into the skin I wear. I’ve prepared myself for this conversation for years. But I did not expect to be confronted by a man who is shaping up to be my biggest nightmare. I knew the life I chose when I decided to bury that nasty secret inside me. And I’m well equipped to deal with it if someone wants to know that.

His large hands go to grip me around my waist and pull me flush into his hard body. My eyes widen, and I brace the sudden gesture with my hands splayed over his chest. His heart beats steadily under my palm, and I crane my neck to look at him. This close, it is highly unlikely to keep my mind working.

“I told you not to be a pathetic liar, little siren.” His voice is deceptively calm.

Despite not knowing him completely, my instincts tell me to trust him. For all his surly self and brooding face, Zagan’s presence throws a blanket of security over me. Something I have never felt after Dad’s death. Of course, this could turn out to be the biggest mistake in my life, but I have no other choice but this if I want him off my case. I have to at least be partially honest.

“Please don’t make me relive those days, Zagan.”

I’m not as innocent or naive as people believe me to be. They take one look at me and think I’m a goody-two-shoes with a sunshine personality. But little do they know that I’m a liar, manipulator, killer and even a thief if the need arises. And I know being vulnerable with a shaky voice while I use his name can get him away from this topic, at least for now.

It works. Zagan lets out a sigh and loosens his grip slightly around me.

“I was told you are here for something.”

I nod, “I’m sure Iblis told you about the video Ivy took of illegal human experimentation,”

“And?”

“I was told that you have the power to shut it down.”

He stays silent for a heavy minute, making me rethink my words, wondering if I’ve switched to my native tongue by mistake.

“Why should I?”

Of course, everything is a deal to this criminal. He cannot just be kind enough to help someone who direly needs it.

“I don’t think it's money because you have more than enough. So what do you want in exchange?” I do not feel the confidence that I force into my voice.

If at all, my insides are quivering, and my heart seems to stop for a moment in anticipation of what he will ask.

No.

He doesn’t ask. Hedemands.

A devious glint crosses his eyes, and the grip around me tightens again as he presses me tight against him. His hard muscles flex under me, blazing heat seeping off of his skin as he holds me impossibly close.

“You. You will be mine.”

I close my eyes for a second to allow the traitorous tears to step back. I guessed as much, did I not? Then why did I feel the dread creeping into my body even after preparing for this? Maybebecause I knew I could not survive Zagan. My already battered heart would blow into smithereens under his rough handling, and all I could do would be to watch as he crushed it. But do I have any other choice?

No.

Despite the conversation this morning where he blatantly declared that I was his—rather ridiculously, might I add, I knew he wanted my willingness in it. He told such. He told me that I’d be his, willingly. He does not seem like the man who forces himself on a woman, but he definitely is the devil who will force her hand.

Yes, I can just say chuck it and get away from him. But this is the least I could do for Ivy for everything she does for me. She has been an important pillar in my healing. She was there, not asking for anything. I know she would understand if I backed out, but I cannot be selfish. Not with her.

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