Page 67 of Blood and Thorns (Twisted Ever After #1)

Arabella

“So let me get this straight,” the inspector began, tapping his pen repeatedly on the cold, metal table. “You have no idea who Miss Laurent is?”

I remained silent, my body heavy and my bones aching. I didn’t even know my bones could ache. Or my eyelids.

“She’s a big name here in France. She’s been on our radar for quite some time, but she’s smart.

Playing the rich socialite but never directly being connected to the heroin trade.

So imagine my surprise when we get a tip that she’s holding some Enchanted Dust in her own home.

Laurent doesn’t make mistakes like that. ”

Again, I remained silent. Debating whether it would be rude to just take a little nap here, or would that just make my situation a thousand times worse?

“Okay, tell me about a,”–he looked down at his notes–“Sebastian Devereaux. Now, that’s a name I haven’t seen in a long time.” He glanced up, face tightening when I didn’t react. Turning to his partner, he spat something in French before returning his attention to me. “He almost killed Laurent.”

“He did nothing but defend himself,” I said calmly, pressing my fingers to the cool table. My body shook slightly, goosebumps prickling my skin. “If Margot was already on your radar, then you’d know how dangerous she is. I’m sure you saw the amount of manpower she’d hired.”

The inspector’s eyes brightened, as if he’d caught me out. “What happened this morning, mademoiselle Grey?”

I swallowed, returning to my comforting silence. If only to piss him off.

His shoulders tightened, and if I wasn’t so tired I would have done a victory dance. “ Mademoiselle , if you refuse to co-operate with our investigation. Then you’ll only–”

“I think that’s enough.” Alexander burst through the door, escorted by one of the uniformed officers.

The inspector stood, knuckles white as he gripped the table’s edge. “This interview isn’t over.”

“Oh, but it is.” Alexander snapped his fingers, and the officer beside him relayed something in French.

The inspector’s face turned red in response, a muscle feathering in his jaw.

“You’ve been interrogating a traumatised woman, one who’s been kidnapped and clearly harmed,” Alexander continued, helping me gently to my feet with a tut. “Look at her, she’s still covered in blood.” Removing his jacket, he draped it over my shoulders.

“She received the appropriate medical attention.”

“Come on, Ara, let’s get you out of this cesspool.” Alexander held out his arm, and I took it as he escorted me out of the building to a waiting car. He let me enter first, sliding into the seat beside me. “Did you say anything?” he asked, adjusting his cuffs.

I turned to face him, my hands still crusted in his son’s blood which now gripped the edge of his jacket. “Say what, exactly?”

Alexander’s lips pursed for a moment before he reached for a button on the door. “Please head to the airport.” He released the button, and the car began to move.

“Airport? Is that where Sebastian is?”

“No, he’s not.” Alexander’s attention was direct, almost uncomfortable.

“You need to understand, this is the last time I will offer you your freedom. After today, my nephew will never let you go. He doesn’t believe in love the way your fairytales describe it.

His love is cruel, twisted… born from a trauma that will never heal. ”

“I don’t–”

“You’re an obsession that almost got him and my son killed. You would do well to leave before it gets any worse. For both your sakes.”

I was so tired, but anger seemed to give me that much needed energy. So I clung to it like a lifeline. “You’re such an arsehole.”

His brows drew together. “Excuse me?”

“It was Margot that almost got them killed, not me.” Frustration made my words sharp. “So you can stop with the blame. I can see you’re trying to push me away.”

“Hmm,” he hummed, but there was an edge to it. “This is your last chance to run. Everything I promised still stands, a new life, anywhere you choose. But after this, the offer disappears. So make the decision.”

“Oh, so it’s my decision, and not yours?” I sat rigid, the silk of this fucking dress clinging to me like a second skin I didn’t want. “How generous of you.”

His eyes narrowed on mine, nostrils flaring as he waited.

“I think you’re wrong.”

He blinked, seemingly surprised with my response. “How so?”

“I understand you love him, in whichever way you define love to be. Whether that’s because of blood, or just a sense of duty. ”

“I’m just saying that sometimes it doesn’t matter how much you love them, or how much you try to help. They just can’t be fixed.”

“That’s because he’s not broken.” I made sure to keep eye contact, for him to see the conviction behind my words.

“I–”

“No, it’s my turn to speak,” I interrupted.

Alexander’s upper lip twitched.

“I’m in love with Sebastian. I can’t tell you if it’s some fairytale kind of love, or if that even exists.

To be honest, I don’t exactly know when it happened, but it did.

I love him for who he is, and not who you think he should be.

So take me to him, now , or I won’t be held responsible for my actions. ”

Alexander gave me a long look, then finally smiled. But there was no happiness behind the emotion, just resignation. “His love comes at a cost. I only hope you’re willing to pay it.”

I ignored the grumpy-looking officer standing at the door, Alexander dealing with him when he went to stop me from entering.

My hand shook as I pushed my way inside, the obnoxious beeping sending repetitive jolts through my chest. Caden lay on his back on the bed, eyes closed and looking pale.

Bas turned from where he was standing over his cousin, and everything just stopped.

The beeping became nothing but white noise as I dragged my eyes over every inch of him, my lungs aching as if I’d held my breath.

Bruises decorated his chest, barely seen beneath the tattoos except for one right in the centre.

A sharp whistle forced my attention to the side where Langdon stood with a grin. He signed something with his hands, which made Sebastian smirk, and I simply burst into tears.

“I thought you were dead,” I cried.

Langdon crossed the room faster than Sebastian, pulling me into his arms before he winced. I stepped back, realising he had just a single bruise, one that covered half of his chest.

I didn’t get long to look before Sebastian pulled me against him, his thumb coming up to brush the tears from my cheek. “It takes more than a bullet to get Langdon down,” he commented, the deep timbre of his voice washing over me.

“He was shot.” I tried to free myself from his arms, but he simply tightened them. “ You were shot.”

“It’s called Kevlar,” Alexander explained, stepping inside the room with a stern expression. “Sebastian’s simply bruised, but considering Langdon was hit at such close range he’s sustained a few broken ribs.”

“Which means he’ll be fine,” Sebastian whispered against my ear, and Langdon gave me two thumbs up.

“What about Caden?” I asked, managing to turn towards the bed. “Is he going to be okay?”

“My son was just unlucky enough to be shot in the shoulder where he wasn’t protected. The surgery was a success, and he’ll gain full function. Apparently, he survived the initial blood loss because of you, so I suppose you have my gratitude.”

He said it with such stiffness that I laughed.

“What of our situation. Have you dealt with it?” Sebastian asked his uncle.

Alexander rolled his eyes. “Of course it’s been dealt with. Who do you think I am? Your weapons have mysteriously disappeared, as well as any evidence that put you as the aggressor.”

“How many of our men were arrested?”

“Only one. The others followed protocol and managed to escape.” Alexander raised a single brow. “He’s an ex Royal Marine so he knows not to speak. And if he does, well, he’ll just be dealt with in exactly the same way as Margot. With a suspicious, and no way related to us, death.”

A sharp ring sounded through the room, and Alexander pulled out his phone to snap at the person on the other line.

Sebastian moved us to the corner, using his back to block the room from view. “You came back,” he whispered, almost reverently.

I reached up to cup his jaw, my nails scratching through his unkept beard. “You came for me first.”

“Always,” he grumbled, his lips brushing against mine in the most gentle caress that had my toes curling. “Belle, tu es ma lumière dans l'obscurité. Tu seras toujours la mienne.”

Reaching up, I deepened the kiss, having control for a split second before Sebastian devoured me like the merciless monster he was, and I didn’t want it to stop. He was the man who travelled across the sea, stood in front of a bullet, and faced the woman who haunted his past. All for me.

He may be the Beast.

But he was mine.

“Okay, wrap this up. As soon as Caden’s stable, we’re all returning to the UK and away from this godforsaken place,” Alexander tutted, shooting us a look of disgust. “God bless the king.”