Page 103 of Glass and Bone
“You’re crazy. You live in a delusion.” I shake my head. “I tried to love you. I tried, but you fought me every step of the way.” He drops to his knees and slaps me. I shut my eyes against the pain, feeling the skin in my cheek tear against my teeth.
“Stop it!” Theo yells and I hear the sound of flesh hitting bone as he cries out.
“All you had to do was love me.” His voice is softer now as he gets closer on the ground in front of me, kneeling so we are face to face and only inches apart. “I just wanted you to love me.”
“I did! I did.Youruined it, not me.” I flinch as his fingers brush my face. “I tried everything to make you love me, make you see me as more than a body to fuck. I triedeverything. You were the one who constantly hurt me. You were the one who betrayed me. You were the one whodruggedme, Tobias.” My voice softens, pleading. He doesn’t understand. He doesn’t get it.Heis the problem here.
“Oh, my love. We can do this again. We can be better.” His hand cups my cheek and I hate the instinct to rest my face into his palm. His eyes soften, his head tilting. I shake my head instead, dislodging his hand.
“No. You don’t get any more chances.” He clamps his mouth shut. “Just kill me and get it over with.” I lean as far back against the steps as I can and close my eyes, waiting for the strike. But it doesn’t come. Soft hands wipe away my tears and brush against my hips. He pulls me against him, shaking.
“You will never love me while he’s alive.” He whispers before gripping the back of my neck, forcing me to look at him. “You aren’t the problem, Ela. Theo is.” He pushes me onto my stomach as he pulls my dressing robe off and my gown up. I wince out as my ribs press against the floor, my breathing ragged and choppy. My eyes frantically search for Theo as his face is also pressed to the ground. My hands try to push against the marble, to lift me up, but he grabs both of my wrists in one of his hands.
“Tobias–” I warn.
“You are going to watch, brother. You are going to watch me fuckmywife. She’smine.” He growls as he lifts my hips and shoves himself inside me. I cry out at the pain and intensity.
Tobias stills inside me, my sobs echoing off the marble walls. Theo is holding my gaze, fury, pure, unrefined fury living in his blue eyes. His eyes are tinted red from straining against the men who hold him in place on his knees, watching Tobias rape me for the millionth time.
“This is what happens when you fuck around, Ela. This is because of you.” His hand tangles itself in my hair as he lifts my head off the floor and slams it back down. My hands fall to the floor, but I have no fight left. Blood drips out of my mouth staining the white stone, my breathing erratic. I can tell my nose is broken as the pain burns my eyes.
“Tobias, stop this!” Theo screams, fighting against the men gripping his arms with all their strength.
“Theo.” I say, crying out against the sobs in my throat. As Tobias grunts, shoving himself into me with enough force to slide me across the marble.
“How you call for him. How youpleadfor him to save you.” Tobias’s cruel voice sends shivers down my spine as he moans and stiffens. He’s still for a few seconds and then finally pulls out of me. He sits up to right his pants and I try to crawl away, but his nails dig deep into my bare legs as he flips me over and slides me back against him. I reach for any surface to grip, to hurt, to maim, but he restrains me quickly with one hand, the other pressing down on my throat as he leans over me.
“Please, brother, anything. I will do whatever you want.”
“I want nothing from you, besides your head on a spike and your heart in my hands.” He snarls as he crushes my windpipe. I struggle against his weight, knowing this is the end, this is when he kills me. I can’t take a breath, not a single stream of oxygen making its way into my chest. I slice my broken nails through his flesh, drawing blood, but his strength doesn’t falter. He’ll never falter. I don’t struggle anymore; I just stare into his eyes as my arms drop to the floor. His deep blue eyes that are filled with nothing but rage and destruction.
I deserve it.
I did this.
This was all my fault.
If I had just stayed away from Theo, listened to Tobias, none of this would be happening. I just had to keep my mouth shut. I just had to be a dutiful wife and none of this would be happening. Donovan would still bealive. Darkness licks at the edges of my vision and I welcome it. I welcome the relief that this will finally be over, but it doesn’t end.
Tobias hauls me onto my knees, my back pressed against his chest as he wraps his arm around my shoulders to restrain me. His grip releases from my neck and I inhale loudly, getting as much air into my lungs as possible.
Enzo’s voice is still echoing in my head.Don’t fight back. Don’t fight back.But if I do nothing, he’s going to kill Theo. If I do fight back, I will die. So I don’t. I don’t move. I don’t breathe. I just stare and I hate myself for it. But I have to think of Scarlett. She’s out there. Waiting for me.
No.
How can I stand here and do nothing to save an innocent man? A man that I love?
What am I supposed to do? What am I supposed to do?
“Brother, end this.” Theo’s voice is weakening and my heart hurts.
“You arenotmy brother.” I hear the sharp, unsheathing of a blade as I am thrown towards another man, his arms awaiting. His rough fingers clench onto my upper arms, preventing me from stepping away. I throw myself against him, fighting against his hold.
“No, please!” I scream, kicking and hitting against the metal of his armor. I can’t take this. I can’t. Tobias takes the outstretched sword and strides closer to Theo. Theo’s eyes widen in fear as he fixes on me, refusing to look Tobias in the eye.
“You’ll be okay. It’s alright.” He whispers, attempting to reassure me.Me.The person whodoesn’thave a sword to his neck.
“No! No, Theo. We didn’t have time. We didn’t have enough time.” My words are broken, coming out between sobs.
