Page 24

Story: Vow of Vengeance

CHAPTER 24

Haze

With a cobblestone digging into my kneecap, my heart in my throat, and my stomach in my ass, I stare up at her, and I beg, plead with the gods of fate that brought us here today to make her say that one little word.

“What do you say?” I ask.

She stares down at me, deep in thought. Finally, she says one little word.

But it’s not the one I want to hear.

“Why?” She blinks. Twice.

“Why, what?” I say.

“Why do you want to marry me?” she asks.

She’s the first thing I think about when I wake up. The final thing on my mind as I drift off to sleep. I love the way she feels, smells, sounds, and tastes. She’s beautiful and strong and intelligent and kind.

“I need you. I want you. I’m obsessed with you.” I rack my mind, thinking of what she might want to hear, what words I can say to convince her. “I’ll take care of you. Protect you. Spoil you. You’ll want for nothing.”

I wait, and my breath tightens my chest.

“And—I’ll try not to be—grumpy.”

Her blue eyes sparkle. “And I can call you my little sunny bunny?”

“Never.” I can see she’s softening… That dirty four-letter word, hope, burns bright in my chest. This time, I don’t fear it. I lean into the feeling. “Please, say yes.”

She doesn’t say anything back. She only stares down at me, biting her lower lip.

“The wedding that’s set up in the ballroom, that’s for us. When Gian and I planned this trip, I thought, why not get married while we’re here? I mean—if you agreed, of course. But why wait? This castle is a part of your past—I thought there’s no better place to start your future.” I grab her hands in mine. “Our future.”

Finally, she slips the ring on her finger.

Yes!

My heart races with excitement as a beautiful smile comes to her lips. The weight of the moment dissolves in the air. She put the ring on her finger. This is it. She’s going to promise to be mine.

Then she speaks and her words pierce through me like icicles.

“I'll wear the ring,” she says. Her eyes meet mine. “But that's all I can promise you.”

My world shatters into a million pieces in an instant. All my hopes crumbling. My chest tightens, and I struggle to catch my breath. “What?”

“I’m so sorry,” she says with a shake of her head. “I need some time. I don’t take the decision lightly.”

I stand, grabbing her hands in mine. “What do I need to do to convince you?” I plead, my voice barely above a whisper.

"I love the ring. I love…” her words trail away and her blue eyes turn away from me. “I love the ring, and I just need time to think."

“Right.” I feel like a fool, standing there with nothing but the promise of her wearing a ring that holds no actual meaning. I drop her hands.

It's all my fault.

I took her from her home and her family and forced her into this life with me.

And now I’m left feeling ashamed and broken that she won’t commit to me? What did I expect? My mind fills with fear and self-doubt.

Will she ever want to marry me?

Without her, I have nothing.

Before her, that wasn’t true, but now, the Bachmans won’t be enough for me; I know this. Will she ask to leave? Will she want to return to her family?

“Haze. I’m sorry I can’t give you a better answer right now.” Sensing me spiraling, she touches my shoulder, drawing back my attention. “But I didn’t say no. I said I need time.”

She needs time.

How do I give her the one thing she wants when I want to be with her every waking second? I run a hand through my hair. If time is what she needs, I should leave for a few days at least.

I don’t think I can take being here with her and not being all over her.

Finally, I nod. “You’re right. Time. Of course.” I pull her close and kiss her. Then, I let her go.

She smiles weakly. “I’ve got to go talk to Freya. I need to fill her in and let her know?—”

She doesn’t rub salt into the wound. We both know she’s going to cancel the wedding Gian and I had set up. She doesn’t have to say it.

I watch her walk away, admiring her strength.

I need to get out of here. I can’t be around her. I’d throw her over my shoulder and drag her to a priest, forcing her to marry me against her will. Instead, I know where I need to go and what I need to do. I leave her a note, telling her I’ll be gone for a few days to see my family.

I’m halfway in the back seat of the car that will take me to the airport when she comes running out of the castle, her long dark hair flowing behind her. “Wait!” she calls. I straighten up, standing by the car to wait for her.

Has she changed her mind?

She grabs my arm, pulling me in. “Take me with you. I want to meet your family.”

“No.” I shake my head. “It’s not safe for you there. Stay here.”

She stares up at me. “Is this because I said no to your proposal for now? Is that why you’re not taking me?”

I’m not sure what to say, so I say, “No.”

“Is this like some kind of break?” Her brow furrows at me.

“I don’t do breaks.” I sweep in to kiss her lips. “Not with you.”

“Good.” She wraps her arms around my neck. “I am a little behind on schoolwork with this last-minute trip and all. Think I can talk Gian into some more tutoring help?”

My heart pulls toward her. I want to stay. I want to be the one teaching her French. Practicing our French kissing…

As if reading my mind, she stands on her tiptoes, stretching up toward me for more kisses.

Fucking. Adorable. How can I leave?

I pull her in tight.

She wants space. I want her. The need to control her bubbles up with heat and ferocity, like lava from an erupting volcano. I can’t make her marry me. I can only wait for her decision.

But I can punish her.

“Don’t touch yourself while I’m gone,” I say. “That pussy belongs to me.”

“Seriously?” Exasperated with me, her arms drop from my neck. “When you say things like that—these are the things you say that have me questioning you?—”

“Question me all you want. This is who I am.” I cut off her words, grabbing her pussy.

She gasps as I squeeze her in my palm. “Stop.”

But I don’t, instead, holding her. “Mine,” I say. “Got that?” I kiss her again, this time harder, swiping my tongue against hers. She melts against me, momentarily giving in to my kiss. Too soon, she pulls away.

She turns on her heel, leaving me without saying goodbye.

I want to pull her back, argue with her, hold her, anything.

I can’t. I have a plane to catch.

And she needs time.

I let her go.

The flight to New York turns my stomach in knots. Not only am I doing something that will put me on seriously thin ice with Liam, but I’m facing my mom for the first time since I left. And meeting my brother for the first time.