Page 68 of The Depraved Prince
“I’m a prince. The Depraved Prince. No one dares to fuck with me. And I will be king soon.”
I shift uncomfortably.
“Do you want something happening to your dad? To your mother…to Nash? Don’t make me breathe that little co-worker of yours’s name.” He trembles with wrath and possessiveness. Even when he’s in his vampire mode, he’s still hypnotizingly beautiful. “I’ll kill anyone who tries to take you from me. I don’t care who they are. I think I’ve proved that to you since the night we met.”
I freeze at his vicious words. When he mentions Cole, it’s like venom taints the air, making it hard to breathe. It’s like just the thought of Cole makes him want to lose his shit.
With watery eyes and a strangled whisper, I force my words to spill out. “You’re insane.”
He smirks devilishly at my insult.
“That’s the point.”
Is this what he’s come to? The man who saved me from meeting my demise multiple times just to keep me chained to his world selfishly like a prisoner? Is staying here in this Cathedral to keep my parents, my brothers, and my mother alive…my only option?
What do I say?
He’s threatening to kill the ones I love if I don’t choose him.
I care for him. I do. But this is depravity and immoral.
“If you try to leave me again, I will drag you back here and make sure to hold you tighter than before,” he promises me darkly and cruelly. Another shiver kisses every organ inside me like electrocution.
He caresses my palm with his hand, soft, heavenly, and warm. His touch is the complete opposite of his dark soul and malice promises.
“You could have anyone else, Hayden.Anyone. You need to be with another vampire to match your ways of living. I can’t be what you need. I don’t want to be a vampire. I don’t want to live forever.”
“You want me though, don’t you?” He places his palm on my chest and smiles dashingly. “Your heart skips a beat every time I touch you.I can hear it. Your brown eyes shine brighter whenever you look at me.I can see it. You already confessed that I’ve altered your soul.I can feel it.,” he tells me in a rough, deep, lustrous murmur.
He’s right. But this is all so wrong. It doesn’t change anything. It doesn’t change that he’s a monster; his actions tell me he’s far more scary than the devil.
I can’t speak anymore. I don’t think he will listen to reasoning tonight…or ever. I can’t deny that I’m attracted to him. But I still want a life of freedom. I want to go back to my life before I met him.
He removes his hand from my chest and carries me to his bed. He lays me down gently and hovers over me, careful not to crush me with his body weight. He settles in between my legs, and I’m tempted to push him away, but I refuse. I don’t want to piss him off. And another part of me is addicted to the thrill he inflicts. My body yells the truth when my words deceive me.
“I promise you...you will have everything you could ever want or need. I have all the money and resources in the world to spoil you with. Do you want to go to the moon? It’s done. You want me to buy hundreds of houses and the rarest of diamonds for you to wear? Consider it bought. Do you want me to be faithful to you until the end of time? I’ll be hopelessly devoted to you, MillieFlores.” His hair falls across his face, and I’m tempted to push it away. He’s going to get what he wants like he always does.
“Say something,” he pleads with wide, curious eyes, looking vehemently from my own, searching vigorously for a response. He cups my face, brushing his thumb in small circles on my cheek.
I’m still as my mind runs in about ten different directions.
It’s the people pleaser in me.
I don’t care that I’m hurting. I don’t care that people beat me down until I can’t feel anymore. I don’t care if they just take and take from me. I just want them to be happy, even if they cause me pain. I refuse to let this dark world take the light from me. I don’t want to become the monster they want me to be. I don’t want to match their darkness.
I don’t want to break. I won’t let anyone break me.
I need to make sure everyone is okay…even if that means I drown.
“Do you want me to burn the world and everyone you love in it, Millie?”
I shake my head.
“Good girl,” he breathes against my neck as he presses his mouth on the side of my neck. I feel the sharpness of his fangs. I’m already preparing for him to feed from me.
“Do you understand that there’s nothing in this world that will stop me from having you? Not even yourself?” Dark adoration laces his hungry tone.
I nod.
