Page 46 of Fallen Saint

To my surprise, Saint doesn’t let me go. But no matter how good it feels, I slowly untangle myself from his arms and gradually pry open my eyes. Dried blood cakes my eyelashes, causing my vision to blur. Alek and Saint both gasp when they see me.

“Zoey did this to you, didn’t she?” It’s Alek who speaks. I’m surprised he knows it’s her, but who else would do this?

I meet Saint’s wide eyes as he shakes his head slowly. It’s evident everyone can see Zoey for what she is, bar him. I wish I could save him this heartache, but I can’t. With vengeance running through my veins, I nod, my heart breaking with his.

Alek roars, startling me because if I didn’t know any better, I’d say he cares about me. “She must be punished,” he snarls, staring down at me and Saint. “Look what she’s done to you.”

When he curls his lip in disgust, I wonder if maybe I’ve been looking at this the wrong way. Has Zoey just done me a favor? If Alek no longer finds me desirable, will he let me go?

“Saint, find your sister and leave her downstairs. I will tell Igor to expect her.”

When Saint closes his eyes for the briefest of moments, appearing to say a prayer for Zoey, I wonder who Igor is. But more importantly, what’s downstairs.

Alek also notices Saint’s reaction. “If this is too personal for you, I will get someone else to find her.”

Saint lifts his chin slowly, deadpanning Alek. The room turns violent. “Thisispersonal. Just not for the reasons you think.”

I gulp because the tension is thick as Saint has openly expressed to Alek that reason is…me. There is no doubt about it. What is he doing? But when he comes to a slow stand, it seems he doesn’t care anymore. “I’ll find her,” he promises, unflinching, as Alek stares him down.

There is no question who the alpha is when Alek eventually averts his gaze. “Good.”

“Come.” Saint offers me his hand, which I look at confused. “I will help clean you up.”

Is he trying to get us killed? When I hesitate, he nods, promising me it’s okay. The gun at his hip assures it.

“That’s not necessary.” Alek finds his balls as he slaps Saint’s hand away. “I will take her to see Nikita. She will fix her hair. I’ll have you looking like yourselfagain.” His demeanor changes as he peers down at me.

I don’t understand any of this. Why is he being so nice to me?

“I will accompany you,” Saint says when he reads my confusion.

“No, that’s not needed. I will take Willow myself. After you deliver Zoey to Igor, I imagine you’ll need some time to yourself. Take the day off. Go get laid,” he adds with spite, digging into his pocket and producing a few crisp bills.

I’m assuming that’s to pay for whatever woman Alek has lined up for Saint.

But Saint shakes his head. “I don’t need the day off. Nor do I need to get laid,” he adds heatedly.

“Suit yourself.” Alek has regained control, and I know this will end ugly if I don’t get Saint away from him. Which is why I come to a slow stand.

“Thank you, Alek. I would like to see Nikita.” I presume she’s a hairdresser.

Alek’s smug grin, although sickening, is rewarding because he doesn’t seem to see through my lies, which will work in my favor down the line.

“Excellent.” He claps his hands together, practically beating on his chest like a gorilla in the wild. “You might want to wash your face first, and in the closet are some scarves you can use to cover your hair.”

My hair—or lack thereof—is the least of my concerns, but Zoey achieved what she wanted as my ravaged hair is a clear eyesore for Alek. He can’t have his property looking less than perfect. But when I look at Saint, I feel more than perfect—I feel complete.

I hope he can read why I agreed to go. And it has nothing to do with wanting to fix the mess his sister made.

And he does.

“Very well. If you don’t need me, I’ll go find Zoey.” He gives me one last look before he turns on his heel and leaves me alone with the devil.

Alek sighs, liberating his lungs with victory, but if he thinks he’s won this battle, then he doesn’t realize that sooner or later, Saint and I will win the war.

Each day takes me further and further away from who I once was. And now, staring at my reflection in the mirror with my hair cut short, I can almost believe this stranger to be someone other than me.

Nikita didn’t bat an eyelash when she saw me. She’s probably seen this before when Alek is involved. There wasn’t much she could do to save my hair, so she styled it into a short pixie cut with long bangs. She also added some blonde highlights.

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