Page 97

Story: Feral Beauty

Once she got her feet back under her, she lowered her head, glaring at her ex from beneath her lashes, chest heaving. “What do you want from me?”

Alistair retrieved the dagger from the floor, holding it in front of him. “I need but one soul to finish my project. Since you brought your lover with you, I’ll give you a choice. Trade his life for yours. Stab him with the blade, complete the incantation, and you may live out your days at my side.”

Liam exhaled a slow breath. So that was Alistair’s game? Damn, but the male was twisted. And to think his Bride had spent decades with this psychopath.

“You’re mad,” Vivian growled through clenched teeth.

Alistair’s soulless eyes darkened with menace. “I realize now why you didn’t love me. It was because of him. I remember how you used to throw yourself at him at the club. And yet he left you. He’ll never love you as I do. With your lover out of the way, we can start over. Kill him, and I’ll give you all the things he cannot. All the things you were so desperate to have, money, power, station. Sacrifice him and stay with me, the one who stood by your side. Who worshiped you, protected you. Stay with me and live like a queen.” Again, he extended the dagger to her.

“No.” She shook her head.

“It wasn’t easy, you know. Sacrificing the woman I love. You’ll never appreciate the depths of my pain until you’ve experienced the same.”

She lifted her chin. “You may as well kill me now because I won’t do it.”

Alistair huffed a sigh of annoyance. “There were times I used to enjoy your defiance.” The palm of his free hand glowed, sparks arcing between his fingertips. “This isn’t one of those times.” He thrust out his arm, and streaks of blue energy crackled over Vivian’s skin. “No,” she cried out, falling to the floor once more. Her body seized as though electrocuted.

“Stop. Let her go,” Liam shouted, pulling at his restraints. His shoulder popped, muscles tearing. He felt none of it, focused on Vivian. “I swear when I get out of here, I’ll rip your fucking arms off and shove them up your ass.”

Alistair squeezed his hand into a fist, and the crackling energy ceased. Again, he grabbed Vivian’s hair and wrenched her to her feet. Her slim body quaked. She met the male’s glare and spit in his face.

The mage thrust her away from him, snarling, “You were more than willing to sacrificemein order to gain your independence. Surely, it can’t be so difficult to sacrifice another.” He swiped her spittle from his cheek then gestured to Liam. “Go on now. Plunge this blade into your lover’s chest, just as you did mine. Show him what a selfish, deceitful bitch you are.”

“I’ll see you in hell first.” She lunged. Hands poised to claw the male’s eyes out.

Alistair swung, driving his fist into her injured cheek. She cried out, her slim body hitting the ground. Again, the mage’s palms glowed blue. Vivian screamed, writhing.

“Stop. Stop. Damn you,” Liam bellowed until his throat felt raw and tears burned his eyes. Helplessness raged like a fire inside of him. He could do nothing, chained, useless, a failure. He was a worthless low-born bastard who was unworthy of the trust Vivian had shown him.

Again, Alistair dragged her from the floor. This time he forced the dagger into her clenched fist. “Do it, or I’ll remind you of just how painful our little sessions used to be. When I’m done, I’ll gut your lover in front of you, then strap you to the table and let you take his place.” He grabbed her shoulder and shoved her to the altar.

Weakened, she crashed into the stone, hips colliding with the edge. With the dagger clasped in her palm, she laid her head on Liam’s chest, panting.

Resignation settled in Liam’s bones. He refused to see her suffer even one more second. Not for his sorry ass. “Viv, honey. Look at me.”

She rocked her forehead against his chest, shoulders shaking as she wept. “No. Don’t even think it,” she choked out.

He firmed his voice, demanding, “Look at me.”

Slowly, she raised her head. Tears tracked down her cheeks. Her expression anguished, she grated in a broken tone, “Don’t.”

“You understand what you need to do.”

“I can’t.” Her bloody lip quivered. “Don’t ask me to do this.”

“Don’t ask me to watch him torture you. No matter how this goes down, the result will be the same. We both know he’s not letting me walk out of here. Least this way, you’ll have a chance.”

Alistair snorted, and Liam ignored him.

Much as it pained him, Liam had to convince her. He hardened his heart, growling, “Come on, Vivian. I thought you were stronger than this. Now stop sniveling, wipe the snot off your face, and get on with it. You’re the Black Widow. Time to man up.”

She wiped the tears from her cheeks, seeming to compose herself. Then those icy walls of hers made an appearance, her face sliding into an emotionless mask. She took a deep breath. “You’re right.”

“That a girl.” He’d done a lot of bad shit over the years. If he left this world protecting his Bride, there were worse ways to go.

“There’s no need for both of us to die here.” She stroked the center of his chest.

His heart thumped, then sped at a faster pace, matching his mate’s. Just as she’d wanted. He felt it. Felt everything. Longing for what they would never have. Regret for all the time they’d lost. Guilt for the lies he’d told her. Grateful for her love. The torrent of his emotions split him wide open.