Page 6 of Back In the Shadows

I withdrew my blade, allowing her a brief respite before forcing her to speak. She closed her eyes, steeling herself for what was to come.

“Because I want …”

4

ELLA

A mix of agony and desire twisted my insides, threatening to tear me apart. But I couldn’t deny the truth any longer.

“I want to …” My voice shook with fear. As I gazed at Death, a wave of darkness engulfed me, drowning out all rational thoughts. It was the same darkness that had consumed me as I repeatedly stabbed John’s broken body.

Gritting my teeth before I spoke, I found the courage to share my secret. “I intend to hunt him down like a rabid animal, ripping his secrets from his throat one by one. I will use every method at my disposal, no matter how brutal or cruel, to extract the truth from him. Why did he target your parents? What drove him to that fateful night? But once I have all the answers, I will make him suffer. Slowly and mercilessly, I will carve into his flesh until he feels every ounce of pain and regret. He’ll never know a moment of peace until his final breath escapes his wretched lungs. And then, only then, will justice be served.”

He froze in place, his eyes locked on mine as my words pierced through the air like a sharpened dagger. A shiver traveled down my spine, knowing the weight of what I said and its impact on him.

Abruptly, he placed the candle and knife on the nightstand, positioning himself between my legs with a predatory grace. His tongue grazed along my thigh, then his teeth sank into my flesh with a ferocity that made me writhe in both pleasure and pain. “Tell me more, Ella,” he growled, his hot breath tickling my core as he trailed kisses up my trembling body. “Tell me how you plan to destroy him.”

Every inch of me quivered under the skilled touch of his mouth, my hips arching off the bed in search of release. But he held me firmly in place, his fingers digging into my sensitive skin as I gazed down into his intense stare.

I licked my lips, trying to form the words he wanted to hear … and I needed to say.

“I would slide the knife into his thigh and mangle him so he couldn’t run. When he stumbled to the ground, I would target the areas to inflict the most pain, but not death. Not yet. I would make him suffer just as he made you.” I took a deep breath, my heart and mind racing with the images that bombarded my brain.

“He would scream in agony, writhing on the cold, hard floor. This is payback for everything he’d done to you. Every tear shed, every sleepless night, every moment of fear and uncertainty. He has to pay.”

“Keep going,” Death urged.

“I would laugh at the pain etched on his face, his eyes wide with terror as the knife digs deeper into his flesh. I assume he would try to fight back, to scream at me to stop, but his whimpers would only be pitiful sounds that add to my fury. With each slice of the blade, with each new wound inflicted, it would be harder and harder to resist the urge to end his life completely. And then, just as suddenly as it started, it would be over, and the man will lie motionless on the ground.” I cleared my throat before I continued. “I sometimes wonder though. Will it beenough, and will I feel as though justice has been served? Or will my rage cloud my judgment?”

Honestly, I didn’t know and didn’t care. All that mattered was the knowledge that Sebastian’s parents’ murderer had paid for what he’d done. And maybe, just maybe, my husband could find some peace.

“My queen has arrived,” he said against my core before he climbed over me. He rubbed the tip of his hard cock over my slick pussy, then slowly pushed inside me.

Pleasure shot through me like lightning, splitting the sky as he rocked his hips against me. I wrapped my legs around him, holding his gaze as he stared into the depths of the darkest parts of my soul.

“I want to watch him bleed.” I dug my fingers into Death’s back, teetering on the edge of losing my body and my mind to him.

“Let it consume you, little lamb. It won’t help to fight it. It’s always there. Always clawing at your soul until you no longer recognize yourself. But I have always known who you are.”

His words calmed me as we connected on a physical and emotional level.

“I will protect you even during the darkest moments.” He leaned down and kissed me roughly as if our souls were merging, and he couldn’t risk letting me go.

Death quickly rolled over, and I straddled him. Taking my time, I slid up and down his thick, long shaft and moaned.

“Ride my cock, my little whore.” His fingers wrapped around my throat and tightened until I could no longer breathe. Death slammed into me and massaged my clit with his other hand as he fucked me.

“Once you kill him, I’ll force you to your knees in his blood. My dirty slut will suck me off and milk me dry.”

I clawed at his arm, black dots dancing in front of my vision as my pussy clenched around him. He released me seconds before the orgasm ripped through me. I groaned and then screamed his name as I leaned forward and dug my claws into his chest.

“Goddamn, your cunt is so good.” He lifted me off his dick and sat up, a wicked smile curving his mouth. He climbed off the bed and stood.

“On your knees.”

I quickly obeyed even though my orgasm left me weak. He fisted my hair and jerked my head back. With a quick move, he shoved himself into my mouth until he hit my throat, and I choked around him.

“You’re so beautiful with tears streaming down your cheeks, your mascara running, and my dick between those pretty little lips.” He ran his knuckles down my face.

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