Page 64 of Cursed Beasts

“What did you do?” I asked, confused at what the hell had happened.

“I didn’t think I could do it, but my wolf is like a truth detector.” He ran his hand through his hair. “He can sense when you are lying. And you were lying about your magic.”

“I don’t have magic,” I snapped at him.

“You lied,” he countered, standing up. “My wolf doesn’t lie!”

“Why do you think I need you?” I stood up as well, pushing back my chair.

“Is this how you reel me in?” He sneered.

“Reel you into what?” I threw my hands up. “What could be my master plan? That I want to get out of here too?! That I would curse you again!? What could be worse than the hell you’ve been living?”

“Come on, Belladonna.” His dark laugh gave me chills. Long gone was the protective and flirty guy. In his place was his beast. “Your family is nothing but conniving, two-faced scum who think the world owes them something. I guess the apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree.”

I slapped him across the face. The echo was loud, but the silence afterwards made me feel like we were frozen in time as I tried to hold back the tears that threatened to fall.

His face was flushed with anger, and I expected him to shift into his wolf, but he just stared at me. I couldn’t fall apart in front of him. They couldn’t see me weak. I knew it was a matter of time before something happened.

I walked away before I could let my emotions get the best of me. This hate they had for my family would never allow us to work together. They would always think I was trying to screw them over. Tears spilled down my cheeks when I felt a hand jerk me back.

I wasn’t expecting him to attack, and it was stupid of me to think he wouldn’t hurt me. Throwing my hands up to protect my face, I waited for a hit, but nothing came. Opening my eyes, Lucien’s face had a mix of horror and anger.

“Did you think I was going to hit you?” he snapped.

I didn’t know what to say. This entire situation felt like it was getting out of hand. He let go of me, turning around to walk away, but he looked back at me. I had been ignoring that pull I had felt from the beginning, but now it felt likeIwas getting reeled in.

“I’m not like them,” I said, even though I knew it wouldn’t matter. “I could never do magic. My family tried multiple ways to jump start it or unlock it or do anything that could lead me to get just a small fraction of magic. They sent me away for a year when I was sixteen, telling me I couldn’t come home unless I could do something.”

The tears fell freely at this point.

Lucien looked conflicted at my admission or my tears.

“I want to break this curse so I can finally be free, away from the pressure, away from the constant scrutiny, and away from the man who I was—”

“You’re not going back to them?”

“No, Lucien, if I can break this curse, I will leave,” I shuddered. “I have no home to go back to.”

He moved quickly, making me flinch, my hand immediately going to the knives I had on my thigh. He cupped my face, looking down at me conflicted before he leaned down so our foreheads could touch. I laid my hands on top of his, whatever I had been feeling intensified.

I closed my eyes, feeling peaceful, feeling warmth and… safe.

“I don’t have magic. The rush of magic yesterday was the first time I felt it within me. I’ve never been able to cast anything on my own or do anything simple like make tinctures. I’m a disappointment, an outcast and the only reason they kept me around was to produce babies or I’m positive they would have killed me already.”

“Kit Kat.” Lucien sounded like he was in pain.

He pulled away to look me in the eyes. The anger on his face had slowly faded and in its wake was something I couldn’t decipher.

Goddess, he was so handsome.

I thought I was dreaming when his lips brushed against mine before he kissed me. Something inside of me snapped. I kissed him back with everything I had in me. I sucked on his lips before he opened his mouth, caressing his tongue against mine. I groaned, threading my hands through his blonde hair.

Lucien grabbed my ass before he picked me up. I wrapped my legs around his waist, pushing me up against the wall, pressing his big body against my own. I was putty in his hands as he kissed me senseless. It was sensual, unrushed, and the sexiest kiss I had ever received. If you asked me what my name was, I wouldn’t have been able to tell you.

The clock chimed, making us both freeze before we kissed one last time. He rested his forehead against mine.

“Qu’est-ce que tu me fais?” he whispered.

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