Page 37 of The Darkest Prince

Bastian sneers at Luca then grabs my arm. “Let’s go, D. I need some fucking air.”

We exit the ballroom and head toward the back of the house until we reach the veranda that wraps across the back of the property. Dozens of people are sitting at tables, drinking and smoking. I ignore anyone who looks familiar and bolt across the pavers, seeking out the grassy spot at the cliff’s edge.

This is where Bash and I go when we need to leave the house. When we first became Salvatores, we felt suffocated all the time. Arlo was always trying to teach us new things.

How to become men. How to handle our finances. How to shoot a gun and how to fight. He even taught me how to kill without getting caught.

My adoptive father understood my dark desires and helped me to embrace them. But there were moments in our childhood when we wanted to run. We wanted to return to Bel Air, where we lived with our parents.

Our parents were laid back and let us do pretty much anything we wanted. But not Arlo. There were rules from day one.

He had schedules for each of us to follow. Specific tasks we had to complete each week. We are better men because of him, but it felt like torture back then.

I’m shocked to find Alex standing at the cliff’s edge, the black dress blowing in the wind across the backs of her legs. She’s kicked off her heels and standing barefoot in the grass. Her back is to us, long curls draped over her shoulder. Even from behind, she takes my fucking breath away.

I glance at Bastian. He nods, and we each take a side, sandwiching her between us.

Bash leans into her ear. “Are you lost, Cherry?”

She startles at the deep rumble of his voice, throwing her hand over her heart as she turns to look at him. “No. I’m right where I want to be.”

His hand slides onto her hip. “What’s wrong?”

She studies each of our faces before taking a deep breath. “Luca.”

“What did he do?”

“He’s acting like his old self.” Her eyes leave his and land on the water moving slowly in the bay. “It was all a game to him, I guess.”

“That’s how he’s wired, baby.” Bastian pulls her closer. “You’ll get used to it.”

“I don’t want to get used to him.” Frown marks line her delicate features. “I hate him. I should have seen right through his lies. He’s been too nice to me.”

Bastian curls his arm around her, and I watch this rare display of affection. He wants this to work with her. And I need both of them back in my life. I’m sick of not havingthem.

His lips brush hers, and I expect her to step back after not looking at either of us since Luca sank his teeth into her. To her credit, we backed off, thinking this was for the best. That Luca should be with her so our family can get into The Founders Society.

Bastian fists her curls in his palm, parting her lips with his tongue. She opens up for him, their tongues tangling in harmony. It’s a sweet kiss at first, but once they get used to each other, Bash is more aggressive. He kisses her the way he sucks my cock. Like he’s desperate for more and doesn’t want to come up for air.

I’m so fucking jealous.

He rarely kisses women and refuses to kiss me. But maybe this is what he needed for us to get back on track. We only have tonight, and then we won’t even think about sex.

On Skull Island, our minds and bodies will be so battered, our father says we’ll come home changed. The same men who leave for the island return as someone else. That’s the whole point. To train us how to become weapons.

As their mouths separate, Alex is breathing hard.

So is Bash.

He cradles the side of her face and stares into her eyes. “That was some kiss, Cherry.”

She smiles. “I’ll say.”

Alex turns her head to look at me. I can’t tell what she’s thinking, but her eyes settle on my mouth. Does she want me to kiss her, too?

I’m not ready for that.

I need to fuck her before I think about any other human connection with her. Bash isn’t wired like Luca and me. He doesn’t get repulsed by the thought of skin-on-skin contact.

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