Page 170 of Owned

Valen turned away and his shoulder knocked against the dress form. The shimmering gown wavered and almost toppled before he grabbed it and then pulled his hand away as though he’d been burned.

His expression was tight as he glared at me. “Did you choose this?”

“You know I didn’t,” I snapped back.

I wasn’t going to let him make this my fault.

“She’s not going to listen to us.” Bastian’s eyes were wide, and the uncertainty in them made my chest tighten.

Titus’s grip loosened, and he released me, but his gaze stayed locked on my face. “She’s just as stubborn as we are.”

He had no idea how accurate that statement was.

There was a moment of silence as the three of them looked at me, each of their expressions filled with anger and something that could have been regret—

“If you change your mind…”

Bastian snorted. “She won’t.”

“What can we do?” Titus asked.

I stared back at him in surprise. “What?”

His dark gaze didn’t waver. “What do you need from us?”

Bastian moved forward and Titus passed him one of my hands. He held me in a firm grip and the warmth of his palm burned against my skin. “We can make you forget—”

“Forget?”

Valen came up behind me and his hands fell on my hips.

His breath was hot on my neck. “If you won’t let us help— We can make you forget all of this… just for a while.”

I bit my lip.

I wanted to forget.

I wanted to block this nightmare out.

If only for a little while.

I needed to be strong. I needed to be reminded why I was fighting against this fate that was being forced upon me.

But—

“Be careful,”the grimoire warned.“They’ll ruin everything.”

My mind was a whirlwind of doubt and rage and longing and fear. I wanted to believe that I could do this alone, but—

“Please, Avril,” Valen said.

“Or just tell us to fuck off if that’s what you really want,” Bastian added.

Couldn’t I have both?

I looked at each of them and I felt as though my heart was being torn into three ragged pieces.

“I don’t want you to go,” I said finally.

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