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As my knuckles grow sore and bloody, I finally glance at Aurora. Her eyes are wide, filled with lust and fascination. She licks her lips, and all I want to do is taste her right now.

“Never thought something so psychotically insane could be so beautiful,” she says, her voice a mix of awe and hunger. At that moment, all my anger turns to desire, and I stride over to her.

“Beautiful?” I snort, the word is foreign in my mouth. “You’re fucked up.”

“Maybe I am,” she admits, and there’s something so vulnerable in her confession.

I place my bloody hands on each side of her face, feeling the warmth of her skin beneath my fingertips. For a second, I hesitate, unsure if I deserve this. But then she leans in as if to say go ahead, take me, and our lips meet freely, fierce and hungry. It’s a kiss that says we’re both damaged goods, and maybe, just maybe, we can find solace in each other’s darkness.

When we finally pull apart, gasping for air, I leave my mark on her—bloody handprints that mar her pale skin like ink on a blank canvas. The sight sends a shiver down my spine, and I know we’ve crossed into something deeper and darker than we ever intended.

“Are you scared?” I ask, my voice low and dangerous.

“Of you?” She smirks, her eyes glinting with defiance. “Not anymore.”

“Good,” I say, my heart pounding in my chest. “Because I’m just getting started.”

Chapter Thirty

Aurora Henry

“Fine,” I spit out, slamming my fist on the table. “One more pop-up signing and that’s it. No more promoting this goddamn book.”

It isn’t fair. I only wrote the thing to exorcise my demons, but of course, it had to go and become my biggest hit and best-selling book. Figures.

“Death and destruction really do sell,” I mutter under my breath, trying to make sense of it all. It’s been two days since I watched Felix beat a man’s head in, little pieces of brain stuck to his knuckles like sick confetti. And yet, I don’t feel scared of it. Why?

“Darling, are you sure about this?” Felix’s deep voice rumbles next to me, his dark eyes filled with concern. The tattoos on his arms flex as he leans in closer, and I can’t help but trace the scar at the base of his throat with my eyes.

“Y-yeah,” I stammer, trying to regain my composure. “I gotta do it. Just one more time, then I’m done with the book.”

“Alright,” he agrees, a hint of reluctance in his tone.

I sigh, feeling a strange mix of comfort and uneasiness. His love for violence and control scares me, but at the same time, I know he’s obsessed with protecting me from harm.

“Fuck this suit,” I mutter under my breath as I adjust the tight collar around my neck. The pantsuit is suffocating, constricting me like a damn snake. My fingers fumble with the buttons, cursing myself for agreeing to this bullshit signing.

“Darling, do you need help?” Felix’s voice is low and seductive, his hands hovering near my waist.

“Thanks, but no,” I snap, not wanting to show any weakness. “Can you drive me to the damn thing?”

“Of course,” he replies, unfazed by my harsh tone. He knows I’m tense and anxious about the book signing.

I haven’t driven since I was nineteen. Fucking city life makes it easier to catch trains and buses rather than deal with the hellish traffic. Now, I have to rely on Felix or taxis to get around. His place is twenty minutes from the city, close enough but far enough to give some semblance of privacy.

“Let’s go then.” I grab my purse and shove my phone into my blazer’s pocket

“Sure thing, darling.” Felix smirks, opening the door for me. I slide into the passenger seat, hating how good it feels to let someone else take control.

“Drive fast, will you? I wanna get this shit over with.” I sigh, leaning back in the seat as Felix starts the engine. His fingers grip the wheel with ease.

“Whatever you want, Aurora,” he says, pressing down onthe gas pedal. The car lurches forward, and I can feel the engine’s power humming beneath me.

“Shit,” I whisper, feeling both excited and terrified by the speed. Felix glances at me, his dark eyes probing my thoughts.

“Are you scared?” he asks, his voice barely audible over the engine’s roar.

“Of you? Hell no.” I smirk, trying to play it cool. But this book signing, hell yes, leaving it unsaid.