Page 26 of Deadly Sacrifice

“Don’t thank me,” he says, turning and opening the front door. “Just let me watch over you until my mind settles.”

With our hands locked together, I lead Creed into the house and down the long hall until we get to my bedroom. My hand trembles when I reach for the door, so Creed opens it for me instead. He walks in first, turning the lights on and scanning the space. Once he’s sure my room is empty, he takes my hand again and guides me to my bed, pulling the covers back for me without a word.

I think sleep might elude me tonight, but I don’t say anything as I try to get comfortable. I turn to one side, facing the wall, and then a couple minutes later, turn the other way, facing Creed. He’s sitting on the edge of Annie’s bed, watching me with raised brows. When I flop over onto my back with a huff, he laughs softly, saying, “Alright, scoot. I’m coming in.”

My cheeks flame immediately, unsure how sharing the twin bed will work out, but I don’t argue as I scoot closer to the wall.

Creed turns the lights off on his way, and the rustle of fabric as he removes his jeans has my blush hitting inferno levels. A moment later, he slides under the covers and right up beside me, leaving not even an inch of space between us. He’s flat on his back, one arm behind his head, as we both stare up at the ceiling.

“I’m sorry about tonight,” he whispers. “I’m glad I found you and got you back home, but I hate that you went through something like that in the first place.”

I shift to my side again, facing him, though I can’t see much in the dark room. My heart is pounding with residual fear, but I do my best to choke out the words, “I was in a car crash a few years ago. I almost died. Haven’t been in a car since until… until someone tossed me in that trunk tonight. And all those memories slammed back into me with painful finality... I was sure I wouldn’t survive it a second time.” I pause to inhale a shuddering breath. “Do you think whoever it was knew about that? About my fears?” Even saying those words gives me chills, but I try not to show my discomfort.

Creed turns on his side so we’re mirroring each other. I can just make out his sharp jaw in the faint moonlight streaming in through the window. “I won’t let it happen again, alright?” he says instead of answering my question.

My brows furrow. Part of me wants to point out that unless he’s always around, he’d have no way to prevent another attack. But for tonight, at least, I allow his promise to sink in and soothe my racing heart. “How’d you find me out there?” I ask after a moment of drowsy silence.

He reaches out and tucks some hair behind my ear. “Luck, I suppose. Right place, right time. I heard you screaming and came running.”

“What were you doing so far in the woods in the first place?”

This time, he doesn’t answer the question. Creed leans in and presses a sweet kiss to my forehead, murmuring, “You’ve had a rough night, Ember. Get some sleep. We’ll talk about it in the morning.”

Despite my rampant questions, the weight of the past few hours wins out, and I do end up falling asleep. Creed’s warmth beside me keeps me relaxed, makes me feel safe, and I nod right off into darkness.

But when I wake the next morning, it’s to an empty, cold bed.

15

Creed

I wait for her outside of class. I don’t usually show up so early, and it’s seriously testing my sanity, but for a good cause, I’ll survive. And getting under Prudence’s skin is the only cause that matters.

The Elders couldn’t have chosen a more fitting initiation task this year. Learning all her ticks and secrets will be a thrill. Fucking her into a stupor will be my reward for the work I’m putting in. And destroying her when it’s all over will be the cherry on top of a delicious fucking sundae.

I had my eyes set on her from day one. She’s bright, drawing the eye to her wild hair and soft beauty. But there’s a look in her eyes that threatens danger should you get too close. Like an ember; alluring and unassuming, yet give it some air and it can take off into a raging fire.

I smirk as she turns the corner, head down while she walks to class. She doesn’t even see me. And she won’t. She’ll never see who I truly am until I’ve suffocated all her air and ensured she can’t be a danger to the Celestials or my future anymore.

For now, playing the nice boy and getting her panties wet is the only side of me she’ll experience. It’s a long game that I’m playing, one that doesn’t sit well with me or my dick. When I got into bed with her the other night, I didn’t even try anything. Not even first base, for fuck’s sake. And then I left before she woke so I wouldn’t be tempted to do something about my morning wood.

See? I’m a gentleman through and through.

That thought almost makes me snort out a truly unbecoming laugh, but then I focus on Prudence once more, and my mind is right back to the game.

As she nears, I push off from the wall and step into her path. “Hey, Ember,” I drawl, licking my lips as my eyes trail down her body and back up. She wears the ugliest shit, but I have a feeling she’s got a banging body beneath everything.

Prudence pauses, smiling softly, and barely meeting my eye. “Hi, Creed.” She tries to sidestep me, but I move with her. Rolling her eyes, she props a hand on her hip. “You’re going to make me late to class. Move it,” she scolds me, though I detect a hint of teasing in her voice.

I tut at her, reaching forward and twirling a copper lock of hair between my fingers. “Someone woke up with a fire in her veins this morning,” I muse with an easy smile. She arches a brow, not budging, so I shrug, dropping her hair and stepping closer. “I’d like to take you out,” I say, reveling in the hidden meaning of that statement. Sure, yeah, I’ll wine and dine her, and then hopefully dine on her, but in a few months, taking her out will mean something much different.

Her brows creep up on her forehead as she waits for me to say more. I don’t. Not yet. I just watch her while she studies me, relishing in the heat of her hazel eyes on my skin. In another world, she may have been the one. I thought so, at least, the first day we met. But unfortunately for her, that’s not a possibility in the world I live in.

My parents pledged my heart and soul to a group of rich fucks long before I was born. But then they died, and I was transferred from house to house, and even got stuck in an institution, until The Elders decided what the hell to do with me. Their answer was to send me into the home of one of the leaders.

Because of that, I was raised to give myself to one thing and stab everyone else in the back. I’ll get my pick of the female members whenever I’m ready to marry, create my heir, and continue the haughty line of generations of rich pricks. Until then, I can fuck whoever I want. And damn it all to hell, for some reason, I want her.

Prudence Cate Sexton never stood much of a chance.

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