Page 36 of Asphyxia
I pulled away, dropping the blade to my side as I eyed the thin line of blood that dripped along his neck.
“What is all this?” I breathed in shock and surprise.
This wasn’t like him—an over-the-top display of affection—an attempt at romance for a man who had given up on that notion long ago.
“I have a surprise for you, sweetheart.”
Adrian pulled me towards the bed, gesturing for me to siton the edge as he reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a black velvet box.
“Adrian, no—”
“You don’t even know what I am going to ask.”
I knew well enough what came in a ring-sized box to understand what he was about to do.
“You’re going to propose…” I uttered, my eyes fixed on his.
“I’m going to offer you the world,” Adrian grinned, opening the velvet box as he fell to one knee and presented the most captivating engagement ring I had ever seen.
The band was white gold with a woven branch design, inlaid with sixteen scattered ruby accents that highlighted the marquise-cut black sapphire stone in the center.
The ring itself was stunning; it was—
“A ring fit for the future Queen of an underground empire.” Adrian finished my thought, and I almost forgot how to breathe.
“Adrian,” I spoke breathily, unable to take my eyes off the ring he held.
My hands started to shake at the thought of giving him the last piece of me—the single thin thread I had been trying so hard to hold on to.
I loved Adrian—but did I want him to have all of me? Could I?
“Underground empire?” I questioned as I snapped out of my daze and returned my attention back to him.
“Anathema. It’s ours.”
“Whatdid you do…” My voice was barely a whisper as I swallowed the bile that had started burning the back of my throat at his words.
I knew all about Anathema and what they were capable of, but what I didn’t know was that the man standing before me was working for them—and evidently was now their leader.
“I did what was necessary to ensure our future.”
His words were like poison—a loaded gun held against my head.
Adrian was a man of all things destructive.
He would see this world burn before letting anyone get anywhere near what he felt he rightfully deserved.
His future.
Ours.
What did he do…
Derekstormedoutofthe office moments after Eli spilled his shit on Alexis—fucking Alexis. I swear that woman was becoming as reckless as she could possibly get, and this was just the tip of the goddamn iceberg with her.
“You!” I snarled in Eli’s direction, Dean already positioning himself to stand between us as fury started to fuel the fire within my soul.
“I told you, I didn’t fucking do anything!” Eli barked back as he shot up from his seat and stepped towards Dean, who had already managed to block me.
