Page 34 of Pretty Little Threats

She doesn’t move, but wariness flickers over her face.

My jaw clenches in response. I’m not the enemy, at least, not right now. “I’m not going to hurt you.”

Not like this.

Though I’d love to watch the princess’s empire burn, there are lines that should never be crossed. Taking someone against their will is one of them.

Rose is still holding the knife to Eric’s throat. She wants to kill him, but her grip is loose, weak. She can’t do it. She can’t finish the job.

Before I can think better of it, I make my wayover to her, approaching her slowly, worried I’ll scare her off if I move too fast. Rose watches me. The usual fury in her hazel eyes is nowhere to be seen. She’s almost looking at me like I’m her savior.

But I’m no saint.

I stop beside her, taking in Eric’s battered face. “Well, he’s seen better days.”

Rose nods and tries to say something, but all that comes out is a strangely fragile noise.

It’s...agony given sound, and I don’t like it. Not at all.

My chest tightens. I should have let Rose be. I shouldn’t have followed her, but I couldn’t help myself. Some savage part of me wants to keep this woman all to myself, and coming to take her away from Eric was part of that plan. I had no idea what I would be walking into, and I never wanted this.

If I had stayed home, I wouldn’t feel this heavy anger beating its fists against my chest, demanding that I protect her. I wouldn’t see the fragile woman covered in blood, clearly in shock. I wouldn’t see Eric with a knife pressed to his neck and think he’s far too alive for my liking.

But here I am.

An idea forms, and before I can consider the merits of it, I squat until I’m at her level.

Tears shimmer in her eyes, but she’s fighting them. She’s stronger than she knows.

“I was thinking about your proposal,” I begin, inching closer. Glass crunches underfoot.

She stiffens and I wait a moment, giving her time to see I’m not here to hurt her, then carefully move until I’m crouched behind her. Her body is rigid, but when my chest hits her back, she softens ever so slightly.

My heart thumps again.

Brow furrowing, I try to ignore my body’s response to her and hers to me. There’s no reason for her to trust me. I hate her, and she hates me. But right now, that doesn’t matter.

Tonight, I’m not the beast.

Movements slow and deliberate, I cage her with my arms until my fingers curl around hers, the leather of my gloves crackling. My palm fits perfectly around hers. A breath trembles out of her, but she doesn’t pull away. That alone gives me dozens of ideas I shouldn’t have.

My pulse thunders as my mouth finds the shell of her ear. Her skin is soft, and over the thick copper scent of blood in the air, I catch the faint whiff of her amber perfume. Rose lets me cage her in, almost giving in to me too easily, as if she really does trust me.

She’s already mine, she just doesn’t know it yet.

“Did he hurt you?” I whisper.

“He tried to—” She cuts off, stifling a sound and then sniffs hard. “But he didn’t.”

Fury beats against my chest. As I said, Eric is far too alive for my liking. “Do you want to kill him?”

“I can’t.”

Fine. “Do you want him dead?”

“Yes,” she rasps, her voice cracking over the word.

My hand tightens around hers. “Then, your wish”—I press the knife into Eric’s skin, and Rose sucks in a breath—“is my command.” I drag our hands and blade across Eric’s throat, cutting deep. Blood bubbles up along the slash, then leaks from the wound, a rich stain of crimson against his pretty boy skin.

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