Page 94 of Sweetheart: Part One

He could never hurt me again.

That, if anything, was a lie, for the world coming into focus around me.

Fuck…

It wasVexbeneath me, eyes wide as I pinned her to the bed by her wrists, a snarl on my lips.

Fuck.

Stop this…

She isn’t your enemy.I tried to scream that at my body, but it wouldn’t listen, adrenaline scoring my system like a virus, not letting go.

She let out a whimper, and I realised my grip had tightened. The sound broke through the haze. My flaring aura died, my fingers unwinding.

Too slow. It took an age to drag my weight from her, to end up back on my ass, far enough away that I wasn’t a threat.

She scrambled back, primal fear in her eyes as she clutched her throat, staring at me like I was a monster.

And I was.

I didn’t process leaving, but I’d backed halfway across the room before I realised it.

I tried to open my mouth to say… something. But there were no words good enough, so instead I turned and fled.

VEX

I didn’t move for an age, clutching my knees to my chest and trying so desperately to process what had happened.

Every time I woke with Drake, it was to find his arms around me, holding me tight. This morning I’d woken without. I’d missed them. These nights meant so much, the ones I wasn’t curled up on Rook’s bed or kneeling silently for Love.

So I’d shuffled over to Drake and wove my arms around his waist.

Cycling through that moment over and over, my heart rate wouldn’t calm. I’d just wanted… I hugged myself tighter. I’d just wanted to feel him close, like he wanted from me every morning. My breath caught in my chest as my mind flashed past what had just happened.

Drake above me, gripping my wrists deadly tight. His aura was enough to drown the room, edged with rage and terror.

Hot tears leaked down my cheeks from pure shock.

He’d been someone else…

I couldn’t move. For the smallest moment, I’d believed that he was going to attack me, his fury taking me back to my childhood—to cupping my ears with my hands and whispering songs to myself until the auras were gone. Then waiting an age longer, terrified of what I’d find when I finally dared creep out. I always took too long, leaving her alone without me.

But thatwasn’tDrake.

I knew monsters, and he was the farthest from one I’d ever met.

Swallowing back more tears, I wiped my eyes on my sleeve.

I had to find him.

It had nothing to do with Alastor’s commands—with my mission to ensure they fell for me. I wasn’t looking for him because Ihadto. I was looking for him because I wanted to.

The horror on his face was burned into my mind, and I wouldn’t let fear win this time.

Never again would it paralyse me so that someone I loved was alone.

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