Page 12 of Break Her Heart
August’s gaze remained locked on me. The chains binding him seemed insignificant—nothing more than a slight inconvenience to a creature like him. His smile curled at the edges, sharp and hungry. “Good. But you will marry me first.”
I stared at him, willing the words to twist into a joke. A bluff. I had hoped I imagined the first time he said he wanted to marry me, but here it was again—real, undeniable.
“You’re insane,” I said, the disgust curling sharp in my throat. “You think you can chain me to you like this? After everything?” My fists clenched as I tried to keep myself calm. I took a step back, needing space I wasn’t allowed.
“You knew I was insane from the moment we met,” he cooed. “And yet here you are.”
“Why would you even want to marry me?” I forced myself to meet his eyes, even though looking at him felt like staring into something wild and dangerous. “I can help you without being your wife.”
August’s eyes flickered, something feral flashing in their depths. “Because I’ve said it before. Even though I’d love nothing more than to kill you right now for what you’ve done.” He leaned forward, the chains groaning in protest. “You’re mine, Winnie. The blood that runs through your veins is mine. Every hair on your head is mine. Every word that comes out of your pretty little mouth is mine. Youbelongto me.”
“I am not yours.” My words trembled, but the defiance in them remained. My heart pounded so hard it felt like it might tear itself free from my chest.
August’s smile deepened, all sharpness and cruelty. “You marry me, or no deal.”
My mind reeled, struggling to wrap itself around it.
I stared at him—at the vampire chained in front of me, smiling like he already owned me. Like this was inevitable.
You marry me, or no deal.
The weight of it pressed down, suffocating. I thought of Papa, of Mama, of the coven hiding in their homes, waiting for a world that might never come. I thought of Adar, still bleeding from the wounds I couldn’t heal.
And I thought of myself—what little of me was still left.
Could I really do this? Could I give myself to him?
A hundred memories crashed through me at once. August’s hands wrapped around my wrists. August’s laugh breaking against the darkness. The way he’d smiled at me before I’d betrayed him. The way he’d begged me to trust him.
The way he’d looked at me after I thought I killed Carrow.
Anger flared in my chest. He wasn’t supposed to have this power over me. He wasn’t supposed to be the one to offer mesalvation—or damnation. I could say no. I could spit in his face. I could walk away right now and take my chances in a world that wanted me dead.
But if I did… Carrow would win.
I dug my nails into my palms so hard I felt the skin break.
You have to be strong,I told myself.You have to be stronger than your fear.
Slowly, I lifted my gaze to his. His smile deepened—as if he’d known all along what my answer would be. That made me hate him even more. And yet I still couldn’t seem to stop him. Even after everything.
But it wasn’t just about him.
It was about the coven. About Papa. About the life we had fought so hard to preserve. If I didn’t do this, I would be turning my back on all of it. And I couldn’t.
I forced the word out. “Fine.”
The chains rattled slightly as August leaned forward, his red eyes gleaming. “Louder.”
I bared my teeth in something that wasn’t quite a smile. “I said fine,” I snapped. “But don’t ever think for a second you own me.”
Something flew past me, striking August’s stomach.
I turned to see Adar barreling toward him. He held another piece of a broken chair leg, fury in his eyes. “I will not let this happen!”
I stepped in front of him, practically falling into August’s lap as I used my body as a shield. “Adar, no!”
He stopped inches from us, the wood nearly in my neck. A piece of wood stuck out of his stomach, yet August burst into laughter.
