Page 20 of Within Shadows

Knox

Her eyes are so wide it’s almost comical.

Watching her skirt sway as she got to her knees nearly had me folding to the ground behind her.

I can’t decide if I want to watch her prance around in her costume or see it ripped to pieces on my bedroom floor.

I notice red welts and scrapes covering her arms and even her face, and I stop, frowning as I look her over.

“We need to get those cleaned up. Did you crawl through a thornbush?” I shake my head, and her fight slips as she gives me a dumbfounded expression.

“You chased me through the woods, I was running for my life. Why do you care if I’m hurt? You’re just going to kill me.” Her voice breaks and a piece of my heart follows it. I grip both of her upper arms and pull her against my chest until she has to crane her head back to stare up at my mask.

“The things I plan to do with you will have your heart racing, but you’ll beg for more.

But to kill you, Thalia? Never. No one will ever hurt you again, and the only pain I’ll give you is the kind you enjoy, baby.

” I push my forehead against hers, but Maeve tries to shrink away from me, and irritation puts me on edge.

“So you’ll just let me go right now if I say no?” The hopefulness in her words almost makes me consider it. Almost.

“Let me be clear, I won’t fuck you until you beg me to.

And you will. But no matter what, you belong to me.

” Leaning closer, I push my mask against her throat as I take a long, deep breath.

“You smell fucking delicious,” I groan, and she tenses.

Before I can pull away, Maeve makes her move.

Nails scrape against my throat and jaw, catching beneath the mask as she rips it from my face.

While I was distracted, losing myself in her, she was plotting.

My hair tumbles from where it was pinned back by the mask, and I sigh, leaning back to stare down at her.

Call it divine intervention, or my karma, the clouds part and moonlight shines down where we stand in a break between the trees.

The expression on her face morphs from curious triumph to betrayal.

“No,” she whimpers, lip trembling as she slackens in my grip. I wrap my arms around her as she shakes her head, her fists pounding against my sides as tears stream down her face, smudging her makeup even more.

“Get away from me! You’re fucked in the head, Garrett!

” she cries, weakly trying to push away from me.

Even through the depth of her hurt, I can feel the way her body relaxes.

Trusting the face she knows behind the mask.

After the shock slowly wears off, her crying slows, and Maeve finally speaks as I pull back.

“Which is it? Knox, or Garrett?” she asks, staring at me with so much intensity that all I want to do is kiss and hold her.

“Which do you prefer?” I ask, tilting my head. I keep one arm wrapped securely around her as I reach up to pull a stray piece of hair from where it’s stuck to her cheek.

“Neither. I don’t know who you are.” Her chest jerks with a hiccup, and I groan.

“Fuck, that is adorable.” I drop my forehead to hers, and she stiffens.

“Let's get you home and washed up, then I’ll answer your questions.” I suggest, trying to turn her and guide us out of the woods.

Maeve plants her feet angrily and slams an elbow into my ribs.

I grunt against the sharp pain but don’t loosen my hold on her.

“I’m not going anywhere with you.”

“Yes, you are. These woods aren’t safe.”

“You’re the most dangerous creature out here,” she says stubbornly. Before I can say anything, a soft howl comes from behind us in the distance. Maeve sucks in a sharp breath and leans harder into my side before she realizes it.

“Argue it all you want, but you feel safe with me. Trust your instincts.” I kiss the top of her head, and she jerks away but slowly lets me lead her to the edge of the woods.

“My instincts,” she scoffs, “ were screaming that you’re dangerous the first time I met you.

You’re just like him. ” She spits the words with so much venom I almost pull away from her.

Without saying his name, I know exactly who she means.

I yank both of us to a stop and lean down into her face, not bothering to hide my anger.

Maeve doesn’t flinch, but her eyes widen at the sudden movement.

“I am nothing like him. Oliver likes to break pretty things, and you are breakable, Maeve. But never by my hand. I will spend my life protecting you and reminding you just how brave you are. I want to treasure and worship you with every breath I take.” I reach forward to grip her chin, and Maeve tries to turn away, but I can see the war behind her eyes.

Her trust is broken, but I plan to back up my words with action.

Looping my arm around her waist, I continue through the woods until we make it to the edge of the trees and I pull my mask back into place.

Maeve is biting her lip, eyes darting around as she tries to plan an escape.

If only she wasn't so obvious. She’s stopped fighting me and is completely distracted with her thoughts. It’s cute.

“You need a poker face, muse.” Maeve turns her face towards me, but I lean down and flip her over my shoulder and pin my arm across her thighs to hold her. She grips the back of my jacket with a squeal of panic, desperately trying to right herself.

“You prick! Put me down!” Her demands are drowned out by the noisy speakers we pass, jammed between stacks of hay bales to hide them.

A group passes us, laughing as they watch Maeve kick her feet and struggle.

They don’t even hear her plea for help, and I jostle her, bringing my free hand down onto her ass with a solid smack.

She jerks and lets out a huff as I quickly make our way back to my car.

“Begging for help didn’t get you anywhere, did it?

I’m not as heartless as they are. I actually enjoy when you beg.

” I keep my voice low so that only she can hear me as I massage the tender skin on her ass.

When I stop next to my car, I let her slide back down my chest but jerk my knee forward to pin her against the vehicle between her thighs.

Maeve opens her mouth wide, planning to rip me a new one or scream, and I push my mask up.

Before she can say a word, my mouth slams to hers, and I push my tongue against hers.

I grip both of her hips as I press against her, nearing losing control with the taste of her on my lips. Maeve softens in my hold before catching herself, and a sharp pain is followed by the taste of copper. We pull apart, both of us breathing hard as I swipe my bleeding tongue over my lips.

“My blood on your pretty lips is going to snap what little control I have left, muse. Get in the car and stop fighting me.” I grip the front of her dress and pull her to me while I open the door behind her. Defiance is bright in her expression, and her eyes flick towards the haunted house.

“You want to try and run?” Maeve swipes the back of her hand across her mouth, smearing my blood across her cheek, and my cock strains against my pants.

Thank fuck I’m not wearing jeans this time.

I still adjust myself, making sure her eyes follow the movement.

Maeve swallows hard before her gaze snaps back to me, and I smirk at her.

“If you run, you won’t get far. And when I catch you, because I fucking will, I’m going to fuck that pouty look off your face,” I warn her.

Maeve shifts, rubbing her thighs together, and I nearly laugh in triumph.

She is just as twisted as I am. She backs up a step, slowly lowering herself into the car without taking her eyes off of me, and I’m a little disappointed that she’s cooperating.

“That’s my girl.” I start to close the door.

Her boot slams into the door, knocking it into my knees and forcing me to stagger back a step as she darts from the car.

Sneaky little minx. I slam the door shut and turn, following after her as she sprints straight for the house.

Maeve ducks and weaves between the growing crowd without stopping to ask for help, and I snort, shaking my head as I follow.

She glances back over her shoulder as she approaches the line, and I make a show of slipping my mask down and wave at her.

Instead of waiting in line, she shoves past, nearly knocking over the poor guy taking tickets.

I stroll up to them and dig into my pocket, reaching for my cash until I hear him on his little radio.

“Some crazy bitch just shoved through the line; security is dealing with the drunk frat boys. Can anybody get their hands on her, please?” he huffs, obviously irritated. I grit my teeth as he looks up at me.

“Do you have your scare actor’s badge?” he asks. My blood is pumping already, and hearing him degrade her has my jaw ticking, but I manage to keep my hands from snapping his neck by sheer will.

“Nope, but I can run in and grab her for you,” I spit the words, and he frowns, looking over my shoulder at the crowd that’s growing more irritated with every moment that passes.

“Make it quick. We had some morons already trashing the place. I don’t have time to deal with some crazy chick right now.” He waves me off.

Humming to myself, I step through the door before he can change his mind and kick it closed behind me. The house is dark, with specks of blue and green lights, too many fog machines, and more awful eerie music that pumps from hidden speakers.

“Alright muse, time to play,” I call out, earning myself a man dressed as some type of crazy doctor that leaps out with a bonesaw.

“My new test subject!” he yells, trying to scare me.

When I just stare blankly at him, my bored expression hidden behind the mask as I walk away with my hands in my pockets, his shoulders sag. I do love to disappoint strangers.

A creak comes from the floor above me, and I stop at the bottom of the stairs.

Amongst the shadows, I catch a glimpse of white sneakers that sprint past with a startled shriek as they’re chased by a woman wielding a chainsaw.

Now that’s interesting , I think with a snicker.

Ahead of me, a door creaks, and I walk closer until I’m glancing down a set of very rickety basement stairs with a single flashing bulb at the bottom.

“Cliché,” I mutter. Just as I start to turn away, I hear a voice call out from somewhere below.

“Don’t fucking touch me.” Of course, Maeve is in the creepy basement. I quickly jog down the steps and peer through the darkness, my vision limited more so from the mask. I see the flash of something reflective by the far wall, and huddled in the dark is Maeve.

A man looms over her, a fake knife in his hand as he laughs, reaching for her hair as she bats his hand away.

Our game is over, and I’m done playing when I see the rip in her top that she is struggling to hold over her breast. I pick up a fake bone prop while swinging at the light, shattering the bulb and plunging us into complete darkness.

Maeve screams, and I launch myself forward, slamming against the man.