Chapter 41.-1
Nyx
As soon as he touched me, the game was over. I could lie when my back was turned, when I could
avoid looking him in the eyes. But once he touched me, I just wanted to fall apart.
He pulled me up against his body until my back was plastered against him. “It’s not fine until you’re no longer worried about what your father will do to you. It’s not fine until you can talk to someone about what happened. It’s not fine until I can touch every inch of your body without you flinching. You weren’t fine then. You’re not fine now, but you’ll damn well be more than fine in the future. I’m
going to make sure of it.”
“I’m not your mate, Rhyson. I’m never going to be your mate. I’m just the whore you knocked up,
remember?”
He went still and pain flashed through his eyes
“No.” His voice broke on the word. “You’re not allowed to wear that name. Not from them. Not from me.” His jaw clenched, eyes burning. “I will tear the tongue from every wolf who’s ever said it. I’ll make an example out of them.”
I shoved at his chest and spun on him. “Will you be starting with yourself, then?”
He didn’t hesitate, didn’t even blink.
“If that’s the price.” He stepped closer, lowering himself until he was eye level with me, vulnerable in a way a king had no right to be. “Then yes. I’ll bleed for it. I’ll let you carve it out yourself if it means you look at me without hate for even one second.”
My breath caught.
He meant it. Goddess help us both, he meant it. The truth sat naked in his eyes, he would kneel, would suffer, would mutilate himself if it bought him absolution. Even now, even when the truth about his brother hovered just out of reach, even when everything else should matter more.
“I have far better uses for your tongue than removing it, Rhyson.” I snarled, grabbing his face and dragging him down.
He kissed me like a man drowning. Like a sinner praying. Like someone who knew he didn’t deserve this mercy and would take it anyway because it might be the last warm thing he ever touched. His hands shook where they hovered, as if he was afraid to claim too much, afraid I’d
vanish if he held too tight.
Every lie I’d told myself cracked apart.
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Chapter 41 1
I told myself he hadn’t hurt me that badly. That I could keep him distant. That this-us-was
temporary.
But he was already inside me. Burrowed under my skin. A king forged from guilt and devotion, willing to burn his own crown to keep me warm.
I couldn’t love him. I couldn’t.
There was no space for him beside me in the future I saw. Once we descended this mountain, the world would come rushing back. His responsibilities. His packs. His enemies.
And if he killed my father, the wolves would rise.
My father was beloved. Rhyson was new blood, sharp and feared but not yet rooted. The alphas
would challenge him. He would slaughter them. When challenges failed, assassination attempts
would come. Blades in the dark. Betrayal. Blood. Gore.
Six months. A year.
Rhyson would die.
And when he did, it would be because he chose me.
I couldn’t let that happen. If the packs were ever going to change, if the alphas were ever going to be held accountable, then it would only start with Rhyson.
But tonight, I had him. For tonight, I could pretend that he was mine. Pretend that I could keep him.
“Nyx,” he growled heavily and then turned, slamming me into the wall. Pain ricocheted through me, but it was dull against the pleasure of his body against mine and the anticipation of what the night would bring. He ripped my shirt over my head, murmuring his appreciation as he filled his hands
with my breasts.
“I never get to fucking take my time with you. We’re always in a hurry.”
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