Page 58 of All Your Bloody Lies

My gaze shoots beyond Xeraphine to Clay. “Remove your fucking hand or I’ll take your entire arm.” The only reason I restrain myself from completely snapping Dominic’s neck is because that would bring the Beyond on Hause Sidence, and I just don’t have the patience to clean up that mess.

However, if they test me, I’ll destroy even my own Hause loyalty.

Clay releases her neck, and I reach down, grabbing her arm and tearing her from his lap.

“Sirion of Achille, Kairhyse, right? Shit, man,” Dante comes into my view. “Release my brother; she wanted it.”

I slowly bring my gaze down; her head is tilted up at me. The corners of her eyes seep with black, like ink filling a fishbowl. My hand quickly comes to the back of her head, pulling her to my chest.

I heard her; she was about to say cinnamon...

“I find that hard to believe,” I hiss, but my grip on Dominic loosens and before long, I let him go.

Clay crosses his legs, and I can see him strained against his pants for my little demon. The absolute rage that nearly sends me into has me gripping her tighter. “She isn’t claimed, Kairhyse, it’s not our fault. She came here, don’tget pissy with us.”

She leans back and once again looks at me, her eyes no longer turning demonic. I think she’s looking for confirmation, and I give her a gentle nod.

Turning her head then, she looks at Dominic, but rests against my chest. “Sorry,” she whispers. I don’t know who she’s saying that to, but I’m going to assume it is to the dead twin I swear I’m preparing to snap in half. Not only because she obviously didn’t want him to touch her, but I can see the sheen across his lips that is not for anyone to be graced with but me.

I turn my gaze to Dante, who I know is the leader between the two of them, “If you ever see her again, remember that she is mine. Do not fucking touch her.”

Her hands are gripping at my shirt, and when she turns her forehead back to my chest I hear her murmur, “Stop.”

No.Fuck that.

“Do I make myself clear, Dante?”

He raises his hands and steps aside. “Keep her on a shorter leash, or claim her, that is on you Kairhyse. You know this world just as well as we do.”

“Sorry man,” Clay chimes in, “but Dante is right. The only person you should be lashing out at is that dainty little treat in your arms.” Her heart is racing so hard against my stomach. Why is she acting like a damsel? Why did she need me to step in to save her? She has enough power to kill at least the twins.

I swallow as it dawns on me.

“Let’s go.” I don’t continue the conversation, as now I think I may have made a mistake. My arm drapes over her shoulder, and I drag her past them and down the stairs. Before we exit the building, I tear off my jacket and place it over her shoulders.

Her head is down, a shadow cast over her eyes. My anger just moments before is replaced by concern and ache.

I lead her to my car, and as I’m opening the door, she keeps walking. “Wait, Xera…” I close it and immediately get back to her side. “Talk to me.”

“I don’t want to talk about it,” she says, still with her head down, and I can see the small bumps on her neck from the chilly night. “Just…” I wait for her to tell me to leave her alone, ready for her to tell me to fuck off. “I don’t want to talk about it, please.”

I’m utterly taken aback when she stops and presses her forehead against my chest. She doesn’t hug me; she just leans against me, her hands cupped and tucked between us.

Just as I’m about to embrace her, I hear rushing footsteps, and my head shoots up to see Dominic running out of the nightclub.

“Kairhyse! Wait!”

I feel her tense, and when I see her widened eyes at him approaching, I immediately realize that he is the problem, not Clay. Instinctively, my arm wraps around her head, as if to hide her from him.

When Dominic is just a few steps away, he provides a wide smile, “Listen, those guys are dicks man, please. No hard feelings. We had no idea. She isn’t marked and we—”

“Just heed what I said, Dominic, don’t fucking touch her.” My demeanor makes it clear that my threat will only hold true once. The next time, his head will be rolling on the ground.

“Right, I got it, but let me make it up to you. We haven’t had representation from Hause Sidence in so long, come to my father’s Sixtieth birthday celebration. Hmm?” There is something layered beyond this boy’s act. He seems genuine, but if anyone can see someone’s true character, it’s my little demon.

She shifts in my hold, “You should go.” Her gaze moves from Dominic, to mine, offering me a fake smile. “Make up for my idiocy.”

I swallow, and want to deny the request, but her eyes are pleading with me.

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