Page 75 of A Kiss From Death (Oath of Vengeance #1)

“ M ore!” Hade grunts from above me. I’m panting like a dog in heat, squirming under his hard body pinning me down.

“Do you have to be so rough?” I force out between harsh breaths.

“You like it when I’m rough,” he says, his tone low.

He’s right…I do, but goddamn, I don’t know how much more my weak body can take.

I feel like I’ve been run through by a horse.

And not just any horse—the biggest, baddest horse you could find, then double it.

He’s just so…big. I honestly don’t know why I thought I could handle him.

Leave it to my giant ego to bite off more than she can take.

“Maybe I don’t want you to be rough right now?”

“Where’s the fun in that?” he quips back, lightning fast as he presses down harder into my body.

I think I’m going to have a rash on my back from his body grinding into mine for the past hour. He’s a beast, truly. It’s unfair how he never tires while I’m lying like a ragdoll under him. If there are any gods out there, I’m begging for mercy.

“Think you can take more?” Hade grunts from above me. The ends of his long dark curls are soaked with sweat, and his skin sparkles with a light sheen. Damn him for looking so sexy right now.

“You’re just so…big!” I wheeze out while shoving my body into his. Smirking down at me, he applies more pressure, which has me screaming. “Fuck, Hade!” My body tenses under him until it’s too much to take.

“Mercy!” I scream, tapping his shoulder desperately. Hade lets out a satisfied moan before sliding off my body and falling next to me in a pile of limp limbs.

Breathlessly, he sighs. “That was?—”

“Awful,” I reply, cutting him off.

He chuckles, his deep, rumbly tenor making my insides flip. “I was going to say exhilarating, but I guess I wasn’t the one who just got their ass beat in sparring.”

His face is so smug, I want to wipe his shit-eating grin from existence. The more I stare at him, though, with how the sun makes his beautifully sculpted body glow, other thoughts start to circle my mind, and none of them originate from my brain…

Why does he have to be so captivating? He’s like an addiction. I’m okay being hooked on this drug for the rest of my life, though. I will avoid all interventions held in my honor. I plan to ride this addiction to the grave.

Dragging myself up to sit, I rest my elbows on my knees, attempting to catch my breath after putting my body through the ringer for the past hour. Hade has never been one to go easy on me, and I’m grateful for that. He knows it will only hinder instead of help me.

Don’t get me wrong, I would rather not collect the bruises and aching limbs, but each time we spar, I get a little stronger and learn a new technique that could potentially save my life. It’s a fair trade off.

Do I wish my body was being pushed to its limits under different circumstances? I mean, a girl has needs, but honestly, no. I cherish the time I get to spend in the sand, letting the darkness flow through my limbs, purging the toxins beneath my skin.

It feels good to hold my own against him. It feels good to take back power over my life. It feels good to feel again.

Sometimes, we talk while we spar, giving each other tips or praises, and other times, we talk with only our bodies. No words, just silence and our pain being forced from our beings with each jab or punch we make.

Healing the hurt, that’s what we do.

Hade knocks his shoulder into mine. “You did good today.”

“That’s not what I would call it, but I’ll take the compliment all the same. I’m a greedy bitch, it seems.”

“You should be proud of yourself,” he responds earnestly.

“You held your own, even had me pinned a few times. I wasn’t making it easy on you.

I’ve been training my entire life, and I’m easily double your size.

” He says the last part with a smirk, and I slam my shoulder into his, knocking him off balance.

I laugh and go to help him up, but he grabs my wrist and pulls me down onto him, our chests crashing together in the sand.

Time slows for a second as I study the man under me who only weeks ago was a stranger. An enemy. Now, he’s carved his name into my heart with a branding iron, burning me thoroughly in the process. But nothing worth having in life is ever painless.

I like the pain he’s brought. It compliments my own.

Catching his glimmering eyes, I smirk down at him and playfully flick the tip of his nose.

He laughs, a deep, toe curling sound that has my insides purring.

He lashes out, grasping the side of my neck, slightly pressing into the side of my throat.

His thumb indents right above my pulse point, where a steady beat calls back to him.

Smiling to himself, he whispers under his breath, “Alive.”

“Alive,” I breathe back, throwing him a wink in return.

As he licks his lips, his eyes slightly darken. The light one turns an ashy gray, the black one almost disappearing completely. His hand travels from my neck over to my lips, dragging his thumb across them, making the lower one pop out.

Licking my lips, I lean down, slowly hovering my mouth directly above his, sharing breath.

His hand travels to the back of my neck, slightly tightening.

I throw him a wicked look, leaning in the rest of the way until our lips are barely pressed together.

His smile falters when he feels the pressure of something cold and sharp against his throat.

Pressing my dagger lightly against his skin, I shoot him another wink. “What was it you told me before? Never underestimate an opponent?”

He grumbles to himself, but he can’t hold back the smile that replaces his grouchy tendencies. “The fight was over,” he mumbles, lifting his hand to envelope mine wrapped around the dagger pressed to him.

I innocently bat my eyelashes at him. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“I seem to recall you were the one yelling ‘mercy’ and begging for it to be over.”

Raising an eyebrow at him, I pretend to ponder his words. “Hmmm, nope. I don’t recall saying that.”

“Then you said I was the strongest male in Lunaria, and you could never compete against my giant muscles and striking features that steal your breath away every time you look at me.”

I gasp dramatically, followed by a small giggle. “I most definitely never said that. ”

Quicker than I expected, he rips the dagger from my hand, launching it across the sand before flipping us over so he’s straddling me. Gripping my face in both his hands, he forcefully crashes his lips to mine in a pleasant surprise.

Pulling away just as fast, he smiles down at me, and my heart warms with the taste of him lingering on my lips, adding to my addiction. I can’t help the blush that creeps up my throat. This man never ceases to make my body react to him.

“I’m taking you out tonight,” he states abruptly.

I look up at him, confused, but he shoots me a look that says don’t ask questions, just go with it . I nod, which satisfies him as he drags me up to stand.

“I have some business to tend to first, so I’ll come grab you after dinner. Winston will escort you in my absence.”

“Des, I think I might be having a panic attack,” I huff while throwing yet another pair of pants in a pile on my bed. It’s slowly growing over her body as she reads Theo’s journal. “Are you even listening to me?” I whine.

Snapping the journal shut, she gives me the stink eye. “You seem to be breathing just fine, sparkles, and you’re digging into my hopeless romantic reading time.”

Closing my eyes, I grip my throat, pretending to choke, and she huffs loudly in response.

“I’m.” Cough. “Not.” Cough. “Fine.” Peeling one eye open, I spot an unimpressed Des glaring at me.

“I need your help,” I plead. “That’s what friends do.

They help each other when they are in need instead of snooping in private journals. ”

Rolling her eyes, she pins be with a glare. “I did help you. Five times, to be exact, and you shot down every outfit I picked for you. You’re impossible to please. ”

Wincing, I try to come up with a reasonable response. “They—they just didn’t feel… right ,” I drag out while nervously nibbling my nails.

“You’re overthinking it,” she says plainly. “You are the main accessory, not the clothes. They are just there to enhance you.” Pausing, she asks, “What exactly were his words again?”

“He said, ‘I’m taking you out tonight.’” I do my best to impersonate his deep voice. “And then he mentioned he would grab me after dinner.”

“Well, that’s not much to go off. We’ll have to work on his communication skills for the future. He’s not taking you to dinner, so I’m sure what he has planned is more casual.”

“Casual,” I repeat.

Looking through the growing pile of clothes on my bed, the five outfits Des picked out included, she drags her arm out, scooping the clothes up and throwing them off the edge onto the floor.

Clapping her hands together, she sighs. “You’re right. None of those were it.”

I can’t help the laugh that explodes from my throat at the ridiculousness of this whole thing. Des joins in on my laughter and playfully bumps her shoulder into mine. “I’m overthinking it, aren’t I?”

“Maybe,” she says in a high pitched tone. “But…that just means you care…a lot,” she adds.

I do. I care a lot, for some reason unbeknownst to me. This feels important, like a change in the tides between me and Hade. We’ve spent plenty of time together in the library or sparring in the Bubble, but this feels different.

“Butter me up and call me a biscuit! I have the perfect idea!” Des shouts so loud, it feels like talons dragging down my insides. Covering my ears, I shoot her wide eyes, urging her to explain herself while protecting my ears from further hearing loss .

Shoving herself into my armoire, she practically disappears into the clothes as she rummages around in the back. Clothes go flying as she digs for the perfect piece. I narrowly dodge a shoe she blindly hucks over her shoulder, and it bangs loudly against the wall behind me.

“Watch it,” I warn, but there’s no malice behind my tone.

“No time!” she shouts back, but it’s muffled by all the clothes swallowing her body. “C’mon, I know you’re in here,” she mumbles to herself. “Holy Aunt Susan, I found it!” she screeches excitedly while backpedaling out of the chaos she created.

Huffing and with reddened cheeks, she shoves her arms out in front of her, presenting me her treasure.

“What…” I stare in both disbelief and shock. I don’t understand how this could be possible.

“Theo’s leather jacket!” Des confirms with a smile.

“I don’t understand?”

“I didn’t need his entire jacket to make your dress for the ball since it was so oversized.

I knew I could just chop some off the bottom and still have plenty left over for you to keep.

I cropped it so it will fit your frame now and maybe added a few things to give it character.

” Shrugging, she adds, “I honestly totally forgot about it until now, or I would have given it to you sooner.”

Rushing forward, I throw my body into hers, enveloping her in a giant hug. She chirps excitedly in my arms like a bird, loving the attention, as always.

Stepping back, I take the jacket and look it over, rubbing the soft leather between my fingers. “I love it, Des. It’s perfect, thank you!”

It truly is a work of art, and getting to keep a part of Theo makes it even more special. I was okay with her cutting his jacket to make a beautiful dress for me, but now, I realize how much I’ve missed having it .

With the bottom trimmed, it falls perfectly at my hips, with little black diamonds sewn across the hem.

Des’ signature flare, I’ve decided. The sleeves are cuffed and sewn in place, more black diamonds rimming the edges.

She’s lined the inside with a black fleece that goes all the way up to the collar folded at the top.

It’s finished off with a dagger made of diamonds sewn down the center of the back, in honor of the dagger I wear around my neck.

Sliding it on, I look at my reflection in the mirror while spinning, devouring every inch. It fits perfectly and allows me to move around without feeling restricted.

“I just knew it!” Des beams beside me. “This is definitely what you’re wearing.”

Sifting through the piles of clothes scattered throughout the room, she pulls out a pair of black flare pants to pair with the jacket, a simple white tank, and black boots.

After getting dressed, she twists back my front two curls, joining them in the back and tying them off.

We both decide against any makeup, comfortable with my natural features and freckles.

Just when I finish getting ready, a knock sounds on my door, and my nerves decide to make an appearance. Striding over, I open the door and come face to face with a very casual looking, but still just as handsome, Hade.

“ Ready? ”