Page 51 of Bloody Kingdom

“If I wanted to, would you let me?”

The predator in me would never allow such a thing, but that’s not the reason I shake my head. “No,” I reply simply. “No, I wouldn’t. You could try, but I assure you that you will not get far. If I learned anything tonight, Quincey, it’s that I’m not ready to let you go just yet. Regardless of the debt you owe and against all common sense, I’ll hunt you down and bring you back to me if you run.”

Anyone who got in my path or helped keep her from me would end up like the dead men tonight.

“What do you want to do? Do you want to run from me now?” I take a step away from her, allowing her the space to get around me if she chooses. “I’ll give you a head start, but there are many hours until sunrise. I have all the time to find you again if that’s what you chose. Or will you let me care for you now? You’re bleeding and exhausted, I can help you if you’d only let me.”

Her eyes dart down the open path behind me as she contemplates her options. If she wants to try to run tonight, I will do her the courtesy of allowing it, but it won’t be long till she’s back in my possession.

“No more running,” Quincey says, her voice sounding stronger. “We’ve both been running enough lately, don’t you think?”

She’s referring to my two weeks of evading her.Hell, the majority of our weeks together have been spent with us failing to avoid each other. She asked me once if I was tired of all the anger that fuels my soul. I’m not yet tired of the anger, but I am tired of running from her.

I return to stand in front of her. This time she doesn’t flinch when I hold her face between my hands, my thumbs rubbing across her cheekbones softly. “Yes.” I surrender to her while also surrendering to the connection I’ve been denying for weeks.

Quincey’s breath hitches when I press my lips to her forehead. I inhale her scent as I kiss her. The lingering stench of fear and anxiety that clings to her clammy skin makes me snarl internally. She never should have been out here. From this moment forward, Quincey will never be permitted anywhere alone. That’s if I lift the ban of her leaving the four walls of the house. Right now, I’m even less inclined to grant her such freedoms.

Pulling away, I drop my hands to her shoulders. “Come on, love, we need to get these rags off before we leave.” It may be a standing tradition in this town for women to flash their breasts, but I will become murderous if anyone eyes Quincey’s exposed chest. After what she’s been through tonight, she doesn’t need any more unwanted attention.

As if she’s just now noticing she’s been partially naked in front of me this entire time, her arms cross in an attempt to cover herself. “I loved this shirt,” she comments exasperatedly. “I’m slowly running out of clothes.” She laughs softly, but it sounds forced. An ill attempt to lighten the mood.

I’ve seen her closet, she’s not wrong. She owns less than ten outfits—if that.

“Don’t worry over a shirt, it’s easily replaceable.You, however, are not,” I promise her as I undo the buttons of my shirt. It’s blood-stained and ripped, but it’s in better shape than the shirt she wears. Everything in my life is replaceable. Access to endless amounts of money means I can afford to replace anything, and the gift of infinite time ensures that nothing is everlasting. I learned long ago it’s best to not get attached to things or people, but I am failing on all accounts when it comes to her.

As gently as I can, I pull the fabric from her body. Her hands grasp at the shreds of her shirt to keep herself covered causing me to shake my head softly at her. “You never need to hide yourself from me. Let me help.”

Reluctantly, she drops her hands and allows the shirt to fall from her body. Blood is smeared all over her breasts and dirt is caked on her arms and legs. Probably from where she fell in the street.

I’ve just pulled my own shirt off my body when I hear him approach. “JesusfuckingChrist, Silas,” Duke scolds when he sees the massacre. “What a mess, what were you—” The rest dies out when he spots Quincey standing shirtless in front of me. “Q! Shit, darlin’ you okay?” He takes a step toward her, worry crossing his features.

With a meek squeaking sound, Quincey shifts closer to me, her small hands holding my sides as she hides her bare body from him. Instinctually, my arm wraps around her. Her warm skin searing me to my core as I press her closer to me.

The furious look I send him over my shoulder must convey my message because Duke staggers to a stop. “You have one second to turn around before I pluck your eyeballs from your skull.” I do not care that he’s my best man and the only person I can consider a friend, him seeing Quincey partially naked is not an option.

The shirt falls to Quincey’s mid-thigh once we get it on. Even ripped in places, it covers everything I need covered on her. She stands still, staring up at me with big eyes as I roll the too-long sleeves for her.Quincey has never been overly compliant, but right now, the shock of what’s happened has made her docile.

I need to get her home and cleaned up.

The adrenaline and fury I’d felt when I first showed up at the cemetery had distracted me just enough that her blood didn’t call to my beast. But now it’s becoming the only thing I can focus on. The cut on her neck has a thin stream of succulent blood falling from it and flowing down her chest. I can’t seem to get myself to look away from it.

Quincey follows my gaze and when she grasps what I’m staring at she wisely takes a step away from me. Her trembling hands move to cover the cut, but that does little to stop the bleeding.

“Silas.” Duke’s voice is low, an unspoken warning. “Maybe I should take Q and get her fixed up. I’ll bring her back when—”

I don’t let him finish. My response comes out like a feral snarl. “No.”

He shifts forward, eyes darting warily between both Quincey and me. “It’s okay, I won’t let anything happen to her. I’ll bring her back to you when the blood is gone.”

Grinding my teeth, I bite out, “I said no. I can bear it.” Even as I say it, I don’t know if it’s true, but for her, I’m going to try my damnedest. “Call a team, get this shit cleaned up. Find out what you can from the bodies before you get rid of them.”

Duke reluctantly nods, the concerned look never leaving his face as he watches Quincey. “I’ll go get the car and drive you two back while I wait for the team to show up.” I don’t have to worry about how he’ll keep tourists from wandering onto the grisly scene in the meantime, Duke always has a trick up his sleeve. He turns to leave, but Quincey’s soft voice stops him.

“The case is in an empty grave a couple rows over.” Her blue eyes flick to mine. “I’m assuming it shouldn’t be left behind considering the…contentsof it.”

She was able to open it, meaning she knows what she was foolishly protecting with her life. Blood is easy to come by, there is always more of it. No doubt she thought she was protecting something more valuable. She should have just dropped it and let them take it, but how was she to know that was an option?

“I’ll grab it when I come back,” Duke reassures her. “You did good, Quincey.”

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