Page 144 of Architecti
“He fucking used me…” she whispers.
A knock at the door startles us both.
“You expecting company?”I ask.
She shakes her head, wraps the blanket around her like a towel and cracks the front door open.
Lucy gasps and stumbles back.“Father…”
Oh, fuck.
Ignatius’s eyes fall straight to the runes on her body, then scan the apartment, the debris of sex and kink.His skin deepens to a rouge that reminds me of lava.He snaps to face me.
I’ve never feared him.Not once.But tonight, I get close.He stalks across the living room, scruffs me by the neck and hauls me off the sofa.
“What did I tell you about Lucy?”
I grab at his wrist.His grip is too tight, I can’t breathe, let alone speak.
“Put her down,” Lucy’s voice cuts through the tension.
Ignatius flinches.
“Now,” she says, and I spot a glint of steel jabbing his side.
His grip loosens.She stabs the knife in.
“Release her properly.”
He opens his hand and I stagger back.
“Can I trust you two long enough for me to gather clothes?”Lucy says.
“Don’t look atme,” I say.
Ignatius gives her a curt nod, and she dashes from the room.Neither of us move.
She returns with impressive speed.
“What do you want?”she barks at him.
“Why do you have celestial runes on your body?”Ignatius asks.
“You are well aware of why, perhapsyoushould tellme,” she says.
Ignatius rubs a hand over his face and notices the contract on the coffee table.“How the hell do you have that?”
“I’m not answering any questions until you start talking,” Lucy says.
I’m in a dangerous position now.I should leave.Thanks to Lucy, I have leverage on Ignatius, but I don’t want to jeopardise her if he finds out.
“Why are you here?”
“I came to protect you,” he says, suddenly looking old.
“You cause her more pain than protection,” I blurt and instantly regret it as he lunges for me.
Lucy steps between us, holding the knife under his chin.
