Page 87 of Sweetheart: Part One

I hated him more than words could describe.

Shaking violently, I hugged myself, still forced on my knees before him.

Somehow, the worst thing of all, was that before he left, he issued no command not to destroy the book he’d just replaced.

I’d give them what Alastor stole.

I waited beside Love’s bed on my knees, hands folded on my lap.

Bymychoice.

It was the most valuable thing I had to offer, and it had to be enough.

It had worked the first time. Lovehadgotten close to me, and it was the closest I’d ever been to him for a few brilliant moments.

To him, Ihadto become more than just a tool to manage Ebony. But he wouldn’t hand me a chance to get to know him if I didn’t push, and the Sweetheart contract was the only leverage I had.

And Love had to fall for me. He would make the final decision that would decide my fate—whether or not the Crimson Fury pack would make the trade for me.

Love was the one, in the end, who chose my fate.

LOVE

The sight that met me in my room stole my breath.

Vex knelt at my bedside. She wore a sheer robe, and beneath it was golden lace that wove up the curves and dips of her body.

I’d seen it before, and still, it lost no power.

Her hands were tucked into her lap and her head was bowed. Her wavy silver-brown hair tumbled around her shoulders, reaching to her mid-back, and the peach streak at the front was infinitely more attractive; rebellion tamed as it fluttered before the lace of a woman kneeling at my bedside, awaiting my orders.

Fuck me.

I couldn’t do this again.

I’d told hernotto come.

“What are you doing?” I asked, sitting on the side of my bed, avoiding looking at her.

“I’m your Sweetheart.” She didn’t move when she spoke, head bowed, neck open to me. “It’s my job to offer you balance.”

I shut my eyes for a moment. “Look at me, Vex.”

It was worse, that when she met my eyes I could see the fear in them, as if she knew exactly what I was going to say.

“I don’t want you.”

I had to.

She didn’t understand that it was for her protection that I had to.

Vex held her head high, not dropping from my gaze even when I could see how wounded she was at that. “You signed me,” she said, far too evenly.

“For my pack. Not for me.”

She looked like she was bracing to say something frightening. “It’s my job to make that determination. Not…” She swallowed, and it was an effort not to follow the movement down her throat. “Not yours.”

I raised an eyebrow. “I’m pack lead. If I don’t want you around, you’ll leave.”

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