Page 124 of Summoned
My voice lowers. “Despite my mother’s delusions about my good heart, I’m selfishand I don’t hesitate to take what I want. Don’t make me break the last thread of self-control I still have.”
There’s a wild gleam in her eyes—a reflection of what’s raging deep within me.
The darkness continues to spread inside me, pushing me to the edge. It whispers,What good is there in letting the woman I love suffer because of me?
Yet, another more reasonable voice reminds me,Would it have been any better to make her an accomplice to murder?
“I have one condition,” I say. “Stay in my castle tonight. If you still want this in the morning, I’ll tell you what it would take.”
* * *
The moment we teleport into the castle, an unexplainable feeling of danger floods over me. I sharpen my senses, scan the area for anything strange. Everything appears normal. Still, my heart pounds faster than it should.
I know why. It’s fear. It was already too good to be true when she forgave me for lying to her. Soon enough, she’ll snap out of her childlike stubbornness and realize that certain lines shouldn’t be crossed… not even for me.
I glance down at her, so light in my arms. This time, she didn’t pass out during the trip, but her legs gave out. Next time will be better…
Next time. My knees go weak.There could be no next time.
I shake the thought away. Now, all I need to do is give her tonight. One whole nightto feel.To choose.
Her body tenses. She lifts her head, her eyes widening at the sight of the shadows. They’re so close, she could reach out and touch their misty surfaces.
She scans the trophy display next, the wall of names, and then the window. Beyond, the graves lie in neat rows, silent witnesses to my truth.Forgive me, Baroness.As much as I want to give you beauty, tonight it will only be me, you… and the raw reality.
She steps out of my arms, straightening her shoulders.“I know what you’re doing. You think if I spend the night among them, I’ll give up.”
“I think nothing, my Baroness.”I’m trying to frighten you… and praying that you won’t be frightened.
“I’ve already seen it.” Her eyes lock on mine. “But I’d rather look at this.”
My lips twitch, but the weight in my chest won’t let the smile form.“Did you tell your friend what you want to do?” I ask. Nicole insisted on speaking to Daria before we came here, and I let them have privacy.
She presses her lips together.“No…”
“You don’t even dare to admit it, Nicole. Then how will you dare todoit?”
“It’s not that. I just don’t want to burden her. She’s had enough to deal with during the last five years. She wouldn’t try to change my mind, but she’ll worry about me. It’s enough that I told her I’m leaving with the man I’d been running from just a day ago…”
I arch an eyebrow. “Did she tell you you’ve lost your mind?”
Nicole lets out a faint laugh and meets my eyes. There’s a spark in hers now. “Actually… she told meshemust havelost her mind because sheactuallybelieves that you care about me. She said you seemed like you’d murder anyone who dared to look at me the wrong way.”
A slow smile breaks across my face. “She’s not wrong.”
Nicole takes a step closer, lifting her chin. “See, that’s why I can’t allow you to stay trapped in this cursed castle forever.”
Her words land heavily on my heart, warming me in a way I haven’t felt in a lifetime. And yet, I can’t miss the subtle wavering in her voice, carefully masked behind her confidence.“Has it occurred to you that maybe I’m lying?” I say. “That I’m just tricking you into helping me gather myharvestsfaster… and then I’ll take both them and you? You know I’ve done it before.”
She stares at me, unblinking. “Is that what you’re doing, Gaetano?”
“If I tell you the ending, will you stay to watch the rest?”
“Yes. If it ends with sex.”
Heat floods my veins and shoots downward to the most primal part of me, burning away every scrap of self-control in its path. “My bold baroness…”
My gaze slowly traces her form. She stands before me in nothing but jeans and a T-shirt—no gowns, no makeup, no glittering shoes. And in that simplicity, she’s radiant. At once confident and fragile. Wrapping fear in brave words without backing down.
