Page 79 of Slay Me

Realization dawns on me. He needed my permission to contract me to him. “Were you ever going to let me go? When my time was up? And don’t lie to me, Dante.”

He sighs, giving me all the answer I need. “I would have found a way to keep you with me, Liv. Even if it meant making you hate me to do so.”

I feel like the butt of a joke that everyone else was in on even though I know that’s foolish and should be the least of my concerns. Ernesto sent men after me, here. And while Bracken caught them—what if, next time, he doesn’t?

“Please forgive me, Liv. I never meant to hurt you.” Dante falls to his knees in front of me, hands gripping my hips. “I tried so hard to fight it, to deny what I felt for you because I knew it would only serve to put you in more danger. Lying to you was necessary because, had you known—”

“I would have run,” I interrupt. “As fast and as far as I could because the idea of belonging to another man after what Ernesto put me through would have terrified me to no end.” I swallow hard and stare down at him.

This powerful man who kneels for me.

Who apologizes for lying to me even though he steals lives unapologetically.

“If you want to leave, I will take you to the House of Fire and Fluorite myself. I have friends there. They will see to it you are safe while you figure out where you want to go next.”

To say his words shock me is an understatement. I gape down at him though his gaze is firmly on the floor. Shoulders slumped, he looks utterly and completely defeated.

The flesh of his arms shimmers with power, shining scales that appear and disappear within the span of a heartbeat. He shudders.

“You’re letting me go?”

“I will not keep you against your will.” The words cause him great pain to speak, evidenced by the way he spits them out, his dragon pushing against him.

“What about my contract?”

“Terminated the moment I touched your skin,” he replies. “If you choose to be free, I will do my damndest to let you go.” He tips his face up to mine. “But if you stay, I will love you with everything that I am. I will set fire to your enemies and slaughter anyone who dares touch you. Until the day I draw my last breath.”

In his eyes, I see a future where all I saw before was a cage. I see a life of happiness, of being loved in a way I only ever dreamed of before.

And even as angry as I am, as much as I want to hate him for lying to me, I feel nothing but hope when I stare down at him. Is it possible that every horrible thing I have suffered through was necessary because it brought me here?

Swallowing hard, I kneel in front of him. “Do not ever lie to me again, Dante. If I stay, it’s to be your equal. And that means you do not shield me from the truth, do you understand?”

His answering smile is blinding. “Anything for you, mate.”

Chapter26

Dante

Watching Liv perform hits differently tonight, knowing that she is mine. I’m unable to tear my gaze from her as she soars above the crowd, dancing to a song that is little more than background noise to my beating heart.

She’s so fucking elegant.

So pure.

“Boss.”

I glance over my shoulder as Bracken approaches, mouth set in a tight line. “What is it?”

“You’re going to need to see this.”

The gryffin soars in and catches Liv before carrying her to the floor where the basilisk slithers, waiting to attack. It’s a performance I’ve seen dozens of times since they first performed it, and yet I still hate the way the creature eyes her. Which is what makes this a perfect time to leave.

I turn and follow him down the metal stairs and through the performers’ portion of the tent. Fiona glances in my direction but quickly averts her eyes and continues sharpening the blades in her hands.

Killian stands at the entrance to the apartments. Adrenaline sings in my veins. “What happened?”

“Someone tossed Liv’s apartment.”

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