Page 67 of Right Hand Of The Reaper
“Why?” Rayne growled.
“Because I want to find out what’s happening to my vampires and…” I trailed off, unable to put into words how much I needed them. How much I needed to close the divide I’d put between us.
A firm hand suddenly gripped my chin tightly and I found myself looking into the cool gaze of Rafe. I knew how to tell them apart just by looking in their eyes. That’s how well I knew them. Rafe, the calm one on the outside, the charming psychopath and Rayne, the sociopath with violent outbursts. I’d been watching them over the years since that night we spent together, keeping an eye on them, unable to stay away. It was an obsession, watching them from the shadows, watching their differing levels of violence. Just waiting until the moment was right.
“And what?” Rafe said, his fingers digging into the flesh of my cheek. I whimpered at the pinch of pain. “Tell me, boy, and don’t lie.”
“I want to atone.”
Rafe’s nostrils flared at my words, his sharp intake of breath loud in the room. “I’m not sure you can.”
“I know. I’m sorry.” And I was. I wanted so much to just pick things up where we’d left off, but I’d hurt them. A lot.
“Why did you reject us?” Rayne spat.
Now was the time for honest truths. If I ever wanted to put things right, I needed to tell them everything. No matter how much it hurt me to do so. “I was trying to protect you.”
“We’re Hell Hounds,” Rafe said.
“We don’t need protecting,” Rayne added.
“Normally, I’d agree but…”
Rafe squeezed harder still, and I winced. I was sure he’d just sliced his fingernails into my skin. “Stop stalling, boy. Just tell us.”
“Vampires are fickle creatures. If the Elders thought I had feelings for a pair of Hounds, you’d have been publicly murdered as a warning to others. You’d have been made an example of and there would have been nothing I could have done to save you.”
Rayne scoffed. “You expect us to believe that? You made us feel like the shit on the bottom of your shoe and you’re expecting us tothankyou? That we should be grateful that yousavedus?”
“No! I’m trying to explain!”
“Well do better,” Rafe seethed. “At the moment, when we look at you, all we see is the look of disgust in your face. All we hear is the sound of your voice calling us dogs.”
“I’m sorry,” I whispered, overcome with the emotion I was trying to keep buried. “You were too precious to me to lose.”
Rafe’s fingers loosened around my face. He glanced at his twin, and they had a silent conversation, their eyebrows moving with quiet questions.
Rayne focused his attention back on me, kneeling before me and pinning me with his intense blue gaze. “We believe thatyoubelieve that. But it isn’t going to change the fact that every time we look at you, we want to strip your skin from your bones and hear you scream over and over again until there’s nothing left of you but the shadow of your former self.”
I gulped. Shit, that sounded awful and why was my dick perking up? Trust me to find everything the twins said sexy. It didn’t matter if it was dirty words or threats, that low delicious tone they used had me hard as a fucking rock.
I tried to adjust my hips to relieve the pressure behind my zipper. I hoped it had gone unnoticed but the pair of them cocked their heads to the side, the movement uniform and a little eerie.
“Please,” I begged. “Just give me a chance. That’s all I’m asking.”
They had another silent conversation, and I couldn’t stand it. Couldn’t stand the silence.
“I need you,” I blurted. “So much that sometimes I can’t stand it. I ache and I’m tired. Tired of ignoring the need I have for you, of fighting against how much I want to burn the world just so I can be free to take what I want.”
“That’s not how the world works,” Rafe said slowly.
“No. And I needed to make the vampires better. I needed to take back the throne. But now I’m ready.”
“For what?” Rayne asked.
“To take what’s mine.” I rushed forwards and captured Rafe’s mouth with my own, whimpering at finally being able to touch him again. Gods, I was so desperate, so needy. I poured everything into that kiss. All my sorrow, pain, and hope.
Then everything changed. Rafe pulled away, confusion and lust burning in his eyes, before his brother swooped in and sealed his mouth over mine. He forced his tongue past my lips, and I gasped deep into his mouth. I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t focus. Rayne stole my breath as he aggressively took what he wanted.
