Page 34 of Dark Prince

“To get to your grandfather. Yes, she would if it meant getting the one guy who has slipped through her fingers for years.”

“So you’re telling me that if I don’t marry you, then I could be used as bait.”

“No, I'm telling you that if we don’t make it completely irrevocably known, then you will in fact be used as bait.”

“Really nice family you have there Axel.” She pushes up out of the chair. “I’m so sick of people doing things for me without caring about how I’d like it or how I’d feel about it. You know, just for once I want someone to ask me permission.”

“I am now.” I stand up, closing the gap between us.

“No, you're giving me an ultimatum.”

“I am not.”

“You are, you just can’t see it. You’re telling me that no matter what I choose, my life as I know it is completely over. I will no longer be just me.”

“I-uh?”

“Either I submit to you, or I turn myself over to your mother. Well fuck you and your mom. I don’t want any of this bullshit. I just want to dance, carefree on stage, and maybe kill a guy or two here and there.”

I scrub my hands over my face. “You don’t get to just leave here and never look back little deer. You are mine, I will find you and drag you back kicking and screaming.” I spin her to face me, “I’m not letting you go, and I’m asking you to let me fucking take care of you so no one else will hurt you.” After hearing what Clayton did to her, I will murder whoever I have to, to make sure she never feels like she did under him. He never gave her a choice.

“You’ve hurt me Axel. You did the same thing he did. You took me without asking, you literally almost killed me and trapped me in some sort of fun house for your own entertainment.” She smacks my face so hard and I lean back and look down at her. “You took my choices away the second you looked at me that night. You knew I’d come over to see you, you knew I’d challenge you. You fucking knew. All because you love being right at predicting what someone will do.”

“I knew you’d be mine the second I saw you walk out on that stage.” I grab her face, pinching her cheeks, forcing her to look up at me. “And when I want something, nothing will get in my way of having it.”

I press my lips to her and even though she’s fought me nearly every step of the way, I know she wants this, wants me. When I break the kiss, she looks up at me with sad eyes. “I don’t want to want this.” She whispers, basically echoing my thoughts.

“Then stop fighting it and just be mine.” I backed her up against the wall, my hand moving to her throat. She doesn’t take her eyes off mine and as we stare at each other, I see that wall break in her eyes. “There it is.” I say, flicking my eyes between hers. “Submit and I’ll never let anyone ever fucking touch you again.” It’s the only promise I know I can keep, because I can’t promise her life will be easy, neither one of us can promise something so simple. Our lives are messy and covered in blood. I want my little deer painted in red with blue lips, gasping my name for the rest of my fucking life.

“Okay.” She breathes.

?Chapter Nineteen

?Cordelia

The black veil hangsover my face and shoulders. I’m barely wearing anything, a black lace bralette and some sexy underwear, thigh high stockings, black heels and a sheer lace dress over it. I’m wearing so much silver jewelry that I feel heavy. There are necklaces, rings, waist chains, bracelets, and anklets. My hair is curled and pinned back as I stand at the door, nervously waiting to go in there. My makeup is done heavily under this veil, but I was told to do it this way, he wanted to see it streaming down my face after the ceremony.

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