Page 22 of Love & Violence

I stare at him intently, trying to figure out what he knows and what he doesn’t.

“Haven’t you taken enough from us already? First my mother and now Ari.”

I can see the anger brewing inside him.

I need to try to get through to him before he snaps. If I can just get him to see the truth, maybe I’ll survive long enough to save my mate. Before I can decide what to say to Domenico, another man rushes into the room.

“Dom, stop.” He breathes harshly. “You need to stop.”

“What?” He snarls at the man.

“She can feel his pain. You’re killing your sister.”

“What? That can’t be true!” he says in disbelief.

“Only true fated mates can feel each other’s pain,” I say lowly. “Have you ever heard the saying, ‘died of a broken heart’? That holds more truth for mated shifters than anyone else.”

“My father was fine when my mother died,” he challenges.

“Did he ever tell you why he hates my father? That they loved the same woman and that she chose my father above him.” My chest heaves with the effort of talking. “Your mother wasn’t his fated mate, just someone he mated. And when she finally found her true mate, who wasn’t your father, and she asked to leave, he killed her.”

“No. That can’t be true,” Domenico says and shakes his head. “I would have known.”

“And what of your fated mate? Would your father chain her up beside me to torture her for something that wasn’t her doing? For the perceived sins of her father?”

“Stop going on about shit you don’t know anything about!” Domenico roars.

“I know if your father finds out that Rylee is your mate, she will join me within the hour,” I seethe. “How will you ever keep my sister alive if you can’t even look after your own!”

I pull against the ropes holding me in place, but I’m growing weaker from the loss of blood. I want nothing more than to kick the shit out of Dom right now. Both men stare at me in shock. My wrists hurt and I’m sure he must have hit a vital artery with his blade. I can feel death coming to steal me away.

I wish I could better protect Aryanna and that I was somehow a better mate, a stronger one. That she wouldn’t have to go through all this. I hope she’s able to get away from these people and live the life she deserves. The life I never got the chance to give her.

I should have rejected her the moment I knew who she was and saved her this pain.

“At least send my body back to my family. Don’t let them think I’m coming back someday. Give them some closure.”

The darkness draws me back under.

****

Aryanna

The pain is getting unbearable and seems to move to different parts of my body. All I can do is lay on my bed and try to breathe through it. I’ve got a knife under my pillow and am waiting for the sensation of losing my soul. That will be when I know to take my own life and follow my mate into the afterworld.

“Aryanna.”

The pain makes my head feel hazy, and I can’t concentrate.

“Aryanna, it’s me, Isabel. What the hell is going on?”

“They have my mate and are torturing him. I am feeling his pain, and when he dies, I will go with him.”

Isabel shakes me. “Aryanna, get up.”

I shake my head. There was no way I’d be able to stand.

“I can’t. The blood is rushing through my veins and slowly leaving my body.”

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