Page 39 of Vow to Corrupt You
“Why are you saying that? How can you know what he’s like?” I bristle with frustration and defensiveness. I don’t want her words to be true. I want to see the light at the end of the terrifying pitch-black tunnel.
“Because that’s what he does!” Gianna rises to her feet, her hand running through her hair. “God, I didn’t want to tell you this to scare you more, but I’ve asked here and there. He had a girlfriend…” A labored exhale leaves her lungs.
I allow her room to talk. Besides, I’m too scared to hear what she’s about to say.
“Supposedly, she was a lot like you. Appearance and attitude-wise. Innocent.” Her eyes dart between mine with trouble. “She committed suicide. He pushed her to do so.”
My heart lurches. My hands clasp on my mouth, shaking.
“He’s a psycho, Serena. A psycho.”
“What do you mean, he pushed her? Like physically or mentally pushed?” I barely manage to muster.
Gianna paces around the living room, nervously sucking in her cheek. “For some reason, he’s obsessed with innocence, destroying it. Supposedly, he likes to break innocent women.”
Suddenly, all the dark vows Nikos has made to me echo in my mind.
I vow to corrupt you until you fit my own darkness, to bend you until you’re molded into what I desire, to break you down until you can no longer tell where you end, and I begin.
Because you will come undone for me, splinter into pieces, and shatter the last remnants of your innocence until not one ounce is left uncorrupt. When your sanity lies in ruins, and your darkness matches mine.
Gianna stops, her frowned gaze lands on me. “Why would it be any different with you?”
Harsh truth... Why would it be any different with me?
CHAPTER 19
Serena
I can barely focus on the lectures; Gianna’s words mingling with Nikos’s vows keep blending in my mind. Thankfully, it’s just the first day back at the university, and the sessions are mostly introductory. During the breaks between the classes, Chiara won’t stop rambling about her vacation in Norway, and about Aric and their mind-blowing sex.
Why is it that every time she mentions or alludes to the sex they had, that the memories of all the intimate moments with Nikos flood my mind, causing heat to pool between my thighs?
“Imagine if I married Aric, and then we would be attending all those events together.” Chiara’s face lights up at the idea. She squeezes her notebook against her beige sweater.
I haven’t told her any details about the Gods Society or the Olympus Club as it is all a secret that only the members are allowed to discuss, but I mentioned that Nikos introduced me to the society, how exclusive it is, and minor stuff like that.
“You’d want to marry him?” I turn to look at her as we walk through the halls of the university.
It is so good to be back here. For a moment, I forget how my life has changed over the course of just a few days and being here makes me feel ordinary again—mundane.
“Are you kidding?” Her brow shoots sky-high. “I mean, who wouldn’t want to marry Aric Vold? Have you seen him?”
The smile on her face won’t leave; even if she tried to wipe it off, I’m sure she couldn’t. Whenever she speaks or even thinks of her boyfriend, she grins like a fool, her cheeks flush pink, and her eyes shine like diamonds. I am jealous—just a tad bit. I wish I had married for love and could experience those same feelings with someone I chose and feel immensely attracted to.
“He’s like a Viking,” she continues, unbothered by my lack of response. “So tall, muscular, strong. So huge.” She giggles, grazing her teeth over her bottom lip.
I feel a sense of amusement, but also happiness at the way she’s floating on cloud nine now. She seems so radiant. So bright. So madly in love.
So unlike me now.
“And you know I have a thing for Vikings.” She opens the door and we enter the campus quad.
“Serena!”
Chiara and I turn in unison toward the left. A familiar face emerges from behind a grayish column.
“Raffaele.” A hesitant smile twitches at my lips, though it disappears as soon as it appears. Even when Nikos isn’t around, I’m now scared to talk to any male. No matter if it’s just an innocent talk with a friend from the same course.
