Page 33 of Heir of Darkness

Allister turned to him, only when he was sure Gianna was gone. “What’s your plan? You’re not actually going to let her go through with another marriage, are you?”

“There’s nothing for me to do. She didn’t want me to trap her, so I let her go. We all knew this was the alternative,” Valerio said, standing.

“Despite all that, you still love her. You know you do. She cares for you too. She did before and I’m sure she still does.”

Valerio froze in his spot. In the next second, he had his hand around Allister’s throat, holding him against the wall. “You don’t know anything,” he spit out.

He didn’t need false promises about whether Luna cared about him or not. She told him she never would. She promised she never would.

But what if she did?

Allister gasped for air. “I won’t be surprised if you crash that party tonight.”

Valerio released his neck and left the room. He made his way into his office, attempting to take in a deep breath to calm himself, but it didn’t work. He leaned against the desk, letting out a scream before she swiped all the items on the desk on the floor. Valerio turned around, lifting the coffee table off the ground and throwing it at the wall.

He felt disastrous, destructive. Something dark swirled inside him, wanting to destroy something—someone. Over his dead body would Luna be marrying anyone other than him. He gave her a chance, an out. He did something good.

But that wasn’t who he was. He wasn’t good. He wasn’t the hero. He was the one that took what he wanted and destroyed those who denied him.

He was coming back to take his wife, and this time, he wasn’t ever letting her go.

FOURTEEN

LUNA

Luna hatedthe white dress she wore. The straps were too tight on her shoulders, and it showed off too much of her legs. Her hair was pinned back, curls flowing down the length of her back. The pearl necklace hung around her neck like a collar; a gift from her mother to celebrate her engagement.

Her cheeks were pink as if she were a young blushing bride, but really it helped to hide the fact Luna was as pale as a ghost.

The ballroom her parents had rented out was decorated with white doves hanging from the ceiling, the tables covered with food and drinks. Luna didn’t recognize most of the people there, but they weren’t her focal concern right now. She tried to find a way out, a window or door, but security stood at every entrance, keeping her locked inside. Her parents had assumed she would try to run, so they made sure there was no place to go.

Soon she would be meeting her future husband for the first time. The thought made her feel sick; everything in the room made her feel sick. The music, the bright lights, the fake smiles from the guests even though she was practically being sold off. It was all disgusting.

“There you are. We’ve been looking for you,” Cecilia told her, rushing up. Blair and Gianna followed her.

“Here I thought I was blending in,” Luna said.

“You’re the only one wearing white, you stand out like a sore thumb,” Gianna said.

“Have you met him?” Blair asked.

Luna shook her head. “Not yet.”

“I can look at the contract again. Try to find anything that forces Valerio to stay in it,” she suggested.

“No. I’m not forcing anyone into anything,” Luna said.

“What’s your plan then?” Cecilia asked.

She didn’t answer the question. Her mind had gone to a dark place far too many times in the past week, but she didn’t dare voice that out loud. If she was truly trapped with no way out, then she would have to do whatever was necessary.

She just feared it might be sooner rather than later.

“Have you seen your parents anywhere?” Blair asked.

“My mom was down here talking to some people, but last I saw my father he was upstairs,” Luna told them. She didn’t have to think hard to know who he was meeting with or what he was discussing.

“Speaking of your parents, they’re literally over there with some old dude,” Gianna said. Her eyes were wide, her face pale.

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