Page 40 of Dove

Maddox’s eyes pierced me in place as he continued to cage me to the bed. “Yes.”

Yes. Yes to both. He’d brought my father down. Why? It didn’t really matter whatever reasons he gave himself to do it.

“And Chad? Did he disappear because of you?”

“Yes.” There was no hint of regret in his voice. No softening of his harsh tone. He wasn’t asking for my forgiveness or trying to make me understand why. He was telling me he’d done it and he’d do it again. He killed like taking a life was meaningless.

“Rodney?” My voice shook as I stared at his impassive face. At his deep soulless eyes. This time he just nodded his head.

We stared at each other for a beat before panic seized my chest. I pushed and shoved at him. Trying to get him off. Trying to get away. I struggled and grunted. Called him a psychopath. A monster as I pushed and pushed. I clawed and yelled, blood staining my nails as I ripped at the skin on his neck.

Desperation. Rage. Shock. Longing, all twisted in my gut. At him. At me. At what we were. What I wanted us to be even when I shouldn’t.

But he didn’t move. He pressed his strength into me until I had nothing left. Until I collapsed back onto the bed, panting as he pinned me with his gaze.

“Why would you do that?” My voice was raw from all the screaming I’d done. My limbs trembled in exhaustion. “Why would you kill them?”

“For you.” My heart knocked in my chest so hard I thought my ribs would break. My fingers curled into fists where I was gripping his shirt. “Because they hurt you. Because I love you.”

He pushed one hand off the bed to stroke my cheek. He was gentle as he brushed my sweaty hair from my face. He traced the lines of my features. Slowly across my brows and eyes, cupping my cheeks before brushing my lower lip. Finally, settling a possessive hand on my throat. I could feel my pulse pumping forcefully against his palm.

He touched me like he was memorizing every inch of me. It was adoring. Worshiping. It was intoxicating to be looked at that way. As if his world revolved around me. As if the sun didn’t need to rise as long as I did.

I couldn’t get trapped in it. Couldn’t allow his obsession to consume me.

“That isn’t love.” I whispered my words disappearing into the darkness.

Maddox’s fingers tightened briefly around my throat as his expression hardened. I could see the rage in his clenched jaw. His lips pressed together, turning white as he tried to control himself. When he spoke, his tone was harsh. Digging into my skin like a knife.

“It might not be the pretty love you read about, but it is love. It’s the only way I know how to love you. I’ll destroy whoever hurts you. I’ll kill anyone that touches you. I’ll do everything to push away that darkness that makes you doubt how important your life is. I’ll conquer your demons until the only one left is me. You might not like it, but you’ll learn to understand it. Because as much as you’re mine. I’m yours. And I’ll always stand between you and this world.”

My eyes stung as he pushed off the bed, leaving me with only his declaration. The bedroom door slammed shut as I curled to my side, bringing my knees to my chest.

His feelings for me were animalistic. It went to the basic instincts that modern humans pushed away. The need to protect your mate. To bond with them for life.

It wasn’t normal today, but it had been at some point. When had society decided it was wrong to feel that strongly for another person? Because everyone else would see it that way. They would see him, us, as crazy.

Maybe they were right. It was obsession, not love. And obsession couldn’t last. It would burn out. It would leave me a broken, ruined mess. It would destroy any light I still had left in me.

I hated myself because I wanted it. For however long it lasted, I wanted to be Maddox’s to ruin. I wanted to live in his obsession. Let it wash over me. Burn me. Mark me forever.

I couldn’t.

I had to get out. I’d been trapped in this cage for so long it was starting to feel like home.

21

Maddox

“Thank you.” Kincaid whispered as she fidgeted with the hem of her dress. It was purple and tight, clinging to her luscious body from her collarbone to where it stopped an inch above her knee. It wasn’t modest but didn’t show more than she was comfortable with.

Gold thread was woven into the fabric, giving her the appearance of a goddess. Her hair was pulled up, drawing my eyes to the blue veins that ran through her skin. I was already planning what I would do with that neck tonight. It was too creamy. I needed to mark her.

“You’re welcome.” I said as I grasped one of her hands and brought it to my lips. She gasped as I gently bit the pulse at her wrist.

She’d been acting anxious all day, so I decided to take her to dinner. Things hadn’t exactly settled down with the Gallos, but it was calm enough that I felt comfortable with Kincaid leaving the house if I was by her side. Tristan, Henry, Bash, and a few other guards followed behind us.

When she’d asked about her father, I knew she had figured out the rest. I felt no need to hide from what I’d done. I didn’t regret it. They deserved what they’d gotten, even if they hadn’t; it wouldn’t matter to me.

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