Page 109 of The Depraved Prince
“No,” I state simply.
He puts his finger on the trigger, daring me, and I’m about to snap this boy’s gun in half.
I sigh heavily. “She will be safe. I love your sister more than life. More than me. More than anything. I won’t hurt her. But she’s mine to take. Not yours. I’ll have her call you when she wakes if that makes you feel better.”
“I just got her back,” he murmurs sadly.
He regrets leaving her behind when she was a child. But I don’t give a fuck.
She’s mine.
“I know…” My throat rolls. “But so did I,” I reply with no remorse. A tear falls out of Nash’s eye. I’ve had enough of all these emotions. I’ve met my limit of chaos for the night.
“Nash,” I growl.
“Yes?”
“Do not tell a fucking soul about our kind. If you do, andI will fucking know if you do,I will kill you myself, and you will never see your sister again,” I promise him as I hold his sleeping little sister in my arms tighter. I bring her sleeping body closer to my chest and walk out with my little bride.
“Where are you taking her? Are you going to hurt her? Kill her? Turn her into a vampire?!” He racks his gun again and points it at me. I stop walking and turn to him. He places his finger on the trigger, and I reach out and lower his gun.
“I don’t care that you’re pointing the gun at me, but don’t you dare point it while I have your sister in my arms!” I snarl protectively. He complies, but his stern gaze never wavers. He drops the weapon to the floor after putting it on safety. Cooper stirs and limps toward Nash, licking his hand. Millie’s dog looks at me with a softened glance.
He’s finally warmed up to me.
“If those were my plans, and if weapons could kill me, I’d grab that gun of yours and shoot myself. I’d rather die than have one thought of harming her cross my mind. I love Millie with all that I am. I’m keeping her, and you’re going to let me. No one can keep me from her anymore. Not even herself.”
39
MILLIE
I swearif I get knocked out by a vampire one more time, I’m going to lose my shit.
Thankfully, this time, I know exactly where I am. I recognize that stained glass color anywhere. Even in dim lighting where the candles stay infinitely burning, I know I’m back in Drago’s Cathedral. The smell of wood, mint, and the man I love to fight surrounds me like a warm fall blanket.
I’m alive. Protected. Safe.
“Hayden. Is it you? Is it really you?” I grumble through the darkness.
“It’s me, my little Bambi. Wake up now. I need you to wake up, baby. Can you do that for me?”
His voice slips into my ears, reminding me I crave him as much as he craves me. I’ve tried to block him out since I came back to Texas, but he’s there imprinted in my blood and soul like a virus. I want to be sick with his obsession. Because now, I fear I’m obsessed with him, too.
Although my twisted heart desires Hayden, there’s uncertainty.
I groan when the inflammation and soreness in my neck remind me of Cole’s mouthful. My best friend is my dad’s killer,and he tried to kill me. The betrayal is sickening. The trust issues I already have heightened. But Hayden. Hayden…is my nightmare-turned-lover. Dark passion intertwined with thrill. The man who loves me dangerously yet gently.
I sit up on his bed and lick my lips. I rub my eyes and realize I’m in a black satin dress. He likes to dress me in his favorite color. Black.
Those familiar cold, callous hands tilt my chin up.
“There’s my Bambi girl. I missed those honey eyes on me,” he tells me with a clenched jaw. His dashing smile, which masks the pain he holds within his spirit, isn’t there. The morbid humor he likes to throw at me is nowhere to be found. His tone is agonized. His pulled-in dark brows and eyes are crimson like a fire, pushing me into a storm of regret.
“I fucking missed you. Don’t ever make me experience what that word feels like again, Millie. I won’t be able to live another fucking second if I do,” he growls. His fingers drop from my chin. He sits next to me instead and glues his eyes to me.
“Some things are a bit fuzzy,” I truthfully say as I rub my neck.
“You’re back in Montana…with me.” He takes my hand in his. He grabs something from his pocket. It’s the same massive ruby engagement ring I threw at him. He grabs my ring finger and places it back on.
