Big mistake.
Presley whimpers, her voice a shattered whisper. “Ry... just go. Please. I didn’t ask you to come... don’t ruin this... again.”
Her words slice deep, but I don’t flinch. Can’t.
“You never had to ask, Princess,” I growl. "It's not a choice. It's my fuckingblood oath."
Then the others slither out of the shadows, rats from the walls, closing in around her.
"Our little kitten doesn’t want to share her milk, Rygaard," one of them snickers. My fists clench so tight my knuckles crack. Don’t say my name.
Not like that.
Not here.
Not now.
I can smell the fear dripping off them, even if they didn’t know it yet.
I step closer, voice cutting like a knife.
"Look me in the eyes, Presley. Tell me you want this life. Tell me you wantthemoverme."
She keeps her gaze locked on the floor. Shaking her head. Silent.
Cowardice. Shame. Pain.
All of it.
"I don’t want you, Ry!" she screams, voice breaking. "I don’t want your fucking help!" It hit me harder than any punch could, but it doesn’t matter.
I can see the chains around her wrists, invisible but real, dragging her down. Chains he’s put there.
I turn my dead eyes on Keifer. "You're already dead," I say calmly. The predator slipping its skin back on.
Then I disappear into the darkness.
Panic breaks across the room.
"Where the fuck did he go, Keif?!"
Keifer’s voice cracks when he answers, his bravado bleeding out. "I don't know. Grab her. Now. He’ll never get her back.She’s mine."
Not for long, mother fucker.
Chapter Forty-Seven
Rygaard
Keifer moves first-sharp and fast, like a lightning strike. The blade of a knife I didn’t see him produce comes in low, aiming for my gut, but I pivot, and grab Keifer’s arm with a practiced twist that brings him in close,
For half a second, our faces are inches apart–breath to breath. I can see the split in his lip, dried blood crusting his teeth. Then the knife slices up, catching me along the ribs.
I grunt and shove Keifer back hard into the wall. It cracks with the force and he laughs–a short, breathy cackle that echoes with something broken inside him.
“You’re slower than you used to be.” His smile is all gums and madness as he utters those cruel words at me.
“Still faster than you think.” I rush him.