Page 21 of Blood and Thorns

Fear almost had an aura, an intensity that radiated. Arabella held a faint tremor, her eyes facing forward and refusing to look at me. Fear was good, important. It meant she wasn’t a fool who’d offered herself up to me on a silverplatter. But someone who was loyal enough to risk herself, even if that loyalty wasn’t deserved.

The doors opened, and I stepped out, and after only a second of hesitation, she joined me. Her eyes burned into my back, and I knew she was curious as to why I’d re-attached my mask.

The only time I didn’t wear it in public was when I was fighting. I didn’t care that people saw my scars; I’d come to use them to my advantage, a reminder that beneath the suits I’d survived more than what most could. To not fuck with me.

The mask was nothing more than a symbol of my power.

Of the Beast that I’d been unceremoniously named.

The familiar scent of perfume assaulted my nose almost immediately, those in attendance knowing not to let their gaze linger for too long. There were hushed whispers as I strode across the carpet, and quiet murmurs as people stepped out of my way.

I found Caden and Graves arguing quietly by the door, Miles, the doorman on duty standing patiently to the side. Again, he was just for show, because Caden was by far more dangerous.

Everything looked a certain way. Played a part. Power wasn’t just about being the boss. You had to look right and react expectantly. Otherwise, those beneath you believed they could overthrow you, when in reality they would never be in the same league. Miles looked the part, his height only an inch shy of my six foot five, and his arms were thicker, making him unnecessarily bulky. Not great if he needed to cross his arms, but perfect for standing around and looking strong.

Grave’s eyes widened when he realised I was there, sweat coating his brow.

“Detective. You were warned last time that if you stepped foot on my territory again, you wouldn’t be walking away.”

“My badge lets me go wherever the hell I want!” he snapped, but the fire in his voice was all bark, no bite. He could posture all he liked, but underneath that badge and bravado he feared me like the rest of them. “Ara, get over here. We’re leaving.”

Arabella tensed beside me but didn’t make a move.Good girl.

“Who let you in?” I asked, keeping my voice dangerously low.

I first met Graves six years ago when he was part of the task force trying to take me down. At the time I specialised in pills before moving to cocaine because I could make it cleaner, cheaper, and even sell it at a premium to pharmaceutical companies wanting anaesthetic. Off the record, of course.

Graves was young, reckless, and dumb enough to start popping the same pills he was supposed to be nicking me for. Last I’d heard, they’d kicked him off the task force, disgraced, demoted, and barely clinging to a badge. The only reason I hadn’t made him vanish was because he never got close enough to make anything stick.

Detective Graves was a pain in my arse, but if he disappeared it would’ve drawn more attention to me. So, I let him live. A mistake I’d happily rectify.

“Arabella’s mine,” he answered instead, gnashing his teeth together.

I shook my head, noticing the way his pupils were blown. Seemed he was still out partying too hard. “Not anymore,” I said.

Rage coloured his cheeks. “That’s it, take my sloppy seconds,” he taunted, but I didn’t rise to the bait. Grave’sattention shifted to Arabella. “You turned me down for him?” he spat at her. “If you come with me now, I’ll forgive you.”

I smirked beneath my mask when she simply lifted her chin and remained silent. There was strength in her spine, in the way she’d just faced me with defiance, and now how she responded to Grave’s venom. It called to the darker side of me, rousing my demons who wanted to taunt that little spark until I eventually ruined her.

Grave’s hand snapped out, snagging her wrist in an iron grip.

I moved before anyone else, my large palm cuffing the back of his neck. “Last warning,” I whispered, dropping my voice. “Touch what’s mine again, and I’ll slit your throat in front of the entire room.”

I released him as abruptly as I’d grabbed him, causing him to stagger slightly to the side. Grave’s face glowed crimson, his eyes darting around for help that didn’t exist.

After a moment he leaned in, voice low and trembling with fury. “Enjoy her while you can, because a storm’s coming,” he hissed, lips curling into a twisted grin. “And when it hits, and you’ve lost everything, your status, your money and empire—it’ll be my cuffs locking around your wrists.”

Chapter 12

Arabella

Everything moved as if in slow motion, the bouncer grabbing Gabriel and the collective gasps from those close enough to witness the conversation. Even the look Gabriel shot me, so full of malice and retribution, held such a weight that my muscles automatically tensed as if preparing to be struck.

“Remember who you belong to,” Gabriel snarled as he was escorted out.

I waited a breath, my lungs struggling to take in enough air before I finally turned to face Sebastian, only to find him looking down at me with an empty expression. Seemingly so unaffected by Gabriel’s words, while I was here trying not to have a full-on breakdown.

I swallowed, finding myself unable to look away from his gaze.