Page 60 of Santiago's Conquest (Four Dark Horsemen 1)

I’ll be the one to put an end to their infatuation, snapping their necks one by one until no one willing to take her away from me is left.

As I’ve discovered after meeting her, I’m a possessive monster who doesn’t like anyone seeing, let alone touching, what belongs to me.

“Ahí, está ella,” my sister whispers gently, stepping away toward Remi, who hugs her closer, giving her a soft kiss on the top of her head.

Since he lost his family, mine became his, and I know there will never be anything between them.

Because if there ever was… it would put an end to our friendship.

“My bride,” I announce to the guys, and the air swirls with different energy, tensions prickling it tight as they realize they’ll have to accept her tonight into their circle with no going back.

Briseis’s cheeks flush as she pushes the veil back, her magnificent eyes colored with confusion and… hope, to my astonishment. She steps closer to me and takes a deep breath before asking, “Can I talk to you?”

“We’re gonna wait inside. I’ll tell Father Paul to prepare,” Florian says, and everyone moves to the church, allowing us privacy, and I stay silent, wanting her to spill whatever the fuck made her hope.

“Jimena told me that if you say you didn’t kill my family, it means you didn’t.”

My brows rise at this, not how I imagined this conversation going, and a smile tips the corner of my mouth. “You shouldn’t trust everything strangers tell you.” She blinks in surprise and shivers a little when the harsh wind swooshes over us, blowing her hair forward. “If that’s all….”

“Please don’t make me marry you.” She licks her plump lips; the poor flesh has been bitten on a few times, judging by the marks, and it displeases me. She shouldn’t abuse what belongs to me. Only my teeth can sink into her skin. “If you didn’t kill my family, it means you wouldn’t kill my father either. Please, Santiago. I promise not to go to the police. Dad won’t either. He did something to upset you, and I’m even inclined to believe you had your reasons to—”

Not interested in whatever other bullshit she has to say, I pull her toward me and wrap my hands around her waist, her raspy breath rocking between us, and tip her chin so I have her undivided attention. “I didn’t kill your family.”

She exhales in relief, her knees wobbling as she fists the lapels of my suit, hope shining fucking brightly on her face now.

Ah, too bad I have to crush it.

“Tonight, I wanted to kidnap you and kill your father.” She freezes, her eyes widening, and she tries to push out of my arms, but I don’t let her. “However, with the massacre waiting for me, I found the opportunity to leverage it in my favor.”

“You’re...”

“A despicable human, I know. But you forgot about that after just one reassurance from Jimena.” I lean closer, pressing us even closer so she has no illusions left. “I’m a monster with no redeeming qualities. I’ve killed a lot of people and will kill even more. Nothing but darkness resides in my soul, so never forget that once you enter my kingdom. I’m not a prince charming.”

She trembles in my arms, such deep despair crossing her features that for the first time, I want to put her above my plan, not hurt this innocent creature who has some naivety left.

Never really been exposed to the harsh reality this world possesses, the kind you never forget.

My angel in the darkness who came to the devil, and he ended up clipping her wings.

She dreams about going back to heaven, yet I’ll never be able to free her from my darkness.

“I always keep my word, darling. You’re free to go if you don’t want to marry me.” My words hang in the air before she snatches her arm, and I let her, moving backward as her shaking hands pick up her skirt. She walks past me to the church, her head held high, and inwardly I applaud her.

That’s right.

My future bride doesn’t bow her head to anyone.

When we reach the double doors, she puts her foot forward, but before she steps inside, she looks over her shoulder, firing my way. “I hate you, Santiago.”

Bien.

Because her love will destroy both of us.

Briseis

A raspy breath of distress slips past my lips when my hold on the bouquet in my hands tightens, the roses’ thorns digging into my skin and probably drawing blood.

The priest’s booming voice echoes through the space of the church, his smile so bright I wonder if it hurts his face.

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