“You’re never taking this off,” he murmurs.
I stare at it, and it shines back at me. This must be worth a fortune.
“How long have I been out?” I raise a brow and tilt my head to face my handsome vampire captor.
“Too long.” He kisses my forehead.
“How long?”
“Twelve hours.”
I shift uncomfortably.
“Hayden. Is my father really dead?” I croak out, doing my best to avoid choking up. Fuck. Grief hits me like a stab to the heart.
He leans over me and kisses my lips this time. He clenches his jaw and nods. He stops pressing his lips against mine and instead rubs my cheekbones with his thumb. “Yes.”
“Is Cole really the one responsible for killing him?”
He nods again. “Yes.”
“I need to get out of here, Hayden. I can’t forgive you for everything that’s happened to me. I…” I place my feet on the floor, ready to stand, but Hayden grabs my hips and forces me back down on the bed beside him.
“Stop it! No more running. No more fighting me. Let me fucking love you!” he shouts. “I’m not letting you go. I will do everything in my power to help you grieve your father but don’t make me live one more moment without you. I love you. And you love me. I can feel it.” He cups my face, and I look into his darkened, wide eyes.
I shiver.
He’s been showing me unconditional love and devotion this entire time, and I run from it because I’m scared he’ll eventually leave.Everyone leaves. But not Hayden.
“I love…you,” I whisper with a heavy breath. My tone almost breaks, but I swallow the shakiness back down. “I’m sorry. I love you, Hayden.”
“I know you do. You run from me, but then you want me to follow. You fight me, but then you want me to hold you tighter. You’re my little Bambi girl. I know your soul calls to mine even when you think it doesn’t. And I’ll gladly burn the whole world for you to understand that I love you, and you’re only mine to look at. I’ll burn it all with a smile on my face just so you’ll know you can never outrun me.”
A tear escapes my eye.
“I don’t want to run anymore,” I concede.
“We’ll see about that…” he jokes and kisses my lips. I move against him and enjoy every second he devours me with his mouth. He tastes like he always does. Sexy. Rough. With a hint of cigarettes. His tongue spins with mine in a passionate dance before he lets me go. I grip his thick thighs tightly once more, practically digging into his skin over his jeans.
“I want to show you what I do to those who hurt the only person I fucking care about.” He breaks the kiss, and his words hold a cruel, vindictive tone.
“What do you mean?” I ask breathlessly. “I don’t want to go anywhere. I want to stay in bed kissing you until I forget my own name. Help me forget.”
He smirks as a lock of hair falls over his face. His eyes turn from blue to bright red. He stands, intertwines his hand with mine, and pulls me up.
“Let’s go. I have a surprise for you.”
I’ve never beento this part of the Cathedral before. Hayden holds me like I’m his property as four of his guards walk us to wherever he’s taking me. He stops when we reach two massive, tall and wide double black doors with the family crest in the middle. A terrifying, detailed bat with a snake wrapped around it.
“Where are we?” I ask Hayden as I hold his arm tighter. He looks over his shoulder and smiles at me with those drop-dead stunning aqua eyes. He returns me with silence, then his teeth sharpen, and he’s in full-on Drago vampire mode.
The doors split in half once Hayden pushes them open—the wood creaks and echoes amongst the tall Victorian walls. I gaspas I take in the mesmerizing scenery. It looks like a throne room. He holds my two hands with one of his behind his waist. I take in the painted murals on the ceiling. Beautiful and elegant.
Hayden lets me go, leaving me with his guards. Finally, after his massive, tall frame sways to the side, I see what he wants to show me. My body goes rigid, and a wave of anger hits my chest. I ball my fists, and a rock in my constricted throat is born.
Cole is helpless, with his hands tied behind his back. Black tears roll down his cheeks as he struggles to stand but the guards keep him restrained on his knees. He kneels in front of what looks like a chair made of crystals—red, blue, green, and magenta diamonds sparkle.
Hayden smiles like he’s having the time of his life, and Cole’s suffering is his favorite form of entertainment.