Page 50 of Shackled to the World
Annora tipped her head to study him, and he’d swear the whole world narrowed down to her. She stepped toward him, and he clenched his hands at his sides to keep from shaking some sense into her.
But instead of saying anything, she placed her hand on his chest, then leaned up on her tiptoes, and his whole world stopped when she touched his face with her other hand.
“That’s good, because you’re mine. If she tries to take you back, I’m afraid I might have to kill her.” Then she gave him a bloodthirsty smile that made his cock harden so fast it was almost painful. When her gaze dropped to his mouth, every thought in his head but the need to taste her vanished, and he forgot how to breathe when she leaned closer. “Mine.”
Then her lips brushed his and his control snapped.
He wrapped her in his arms, sweeping her off her feet lest she thought to pull away. He kept his kiss light, seducing her, afraid she would pull away if she knew how much he needed her…needed this.
She was his everything, heaven and hell all wrapped up in a gorgeous package he couldn’t resist. She burned bright like a star, and he was determined that no one would douse her spark while he stood guard. And if he got burned in the process, he was starting to believe she would be there to make everything better.
With shaking hands, he lowered her slowly, afraid if he didn’t stop now he’d take things too far. He’d wanted her for too long, and what little control he had left was nearly ready to shatter. He lifted his head, the taste of her making him yearn for more, especially when her eyes fluttered open and she gazed up at him with what he wanted to believe was love. “I’m yours. I’ve only ever been yours.”
He was enchanted by the light blush that dusted along her cheeks, and he pulled away to resist temptation, very conscious of the bed looming behind her. It was much too soon for her—she needed to trust them more—all of them—and he refused to push her too fast, too far, and scare her away again.
He grabbed the threads of their previous conversation. “You need to stay away from Sadie. She’s dangerous, and I won’t tolerate her harming you.”
“You don’t think I can take care of myself?” Annora retreated, her eyes narrowed in challenge as she glared up at him, and his heart tripped in his chest.
“It’s not about strength. The life Sadie and I had growing up was brutal. While yours wasn’t any treat, we were raised in cruelty and war. Each of us is basically a nuclear bomb waiting to go off if we lose control, and I don’t want you to get caught in the blast. There is a reason our people keep to ourselves—we’re dangerous, not only to ourselves but everyone else as well if the afterworld escapes our control. Only with a lot of practice can we survive the touch of other phantoms without destroying each other.”
Edgar cupped her face, allowing his fingers to brush against her skin, unable to stop himself from stealing the light caress. “After everything you’ve been through, it’s a miracle you survived as long as you have without killing yourself or others. I suspect that using your powers has helped bleed off the worst of the power buildup.”
“So…fuck. You’re saying that my uncle’s torture saved me.” She let out a bitter laugh that hit him like a blow to the solar plexus, and he tightened his hold on her when she would’ve pulled away. While he was sure she’d much rather have detonated and taken the fucker with her, Edgar was infinitely grateful she survived.
Hatred welled up in him at the mention of her uncle, and he looked forward to the next time he saw the bastard, relishing the moment when he could finally make him pay for laying his hands on Annora. “I’m saying that if you’re strong enough to survive your childhood on your own, you’re strong enough to stand up to your father. Your power is contained, keeping you camouflaged in a way that’s unique.”
“Or maybe it’s because we’re mates? Maybe that’s why phantoms are so volatile…they have no one to hold them steady.” She gazed up at him with her brown eyes so dark he’d swear the afterworld stared back at him.
He suspected that, while part of what she said might be true, it wasn’t the whole story.
She was special in ways she couldn’t imagine, and he’d do whatever it took to protect her. “Possibly, but now that others know about you, more will follow.”
“How much longer do we have before Sadie reports us?” Annora reached up and wrapped her hands around his wrists, the heat of her like a brand as she gripped him tight.
“She’ll keep quiet for now, but it’s only a matter of time before the truth comes out.” He pressed his forehead against hers. “I’ll do everything in my power to keep you safe.”
Even if he had to sacrifice himself to do it.
All he needed was to get close enough to Daxion. He’d been storing up his power. Once the man got close enough, he would let it loose and hope it was enough to destroy the man who had enslaved an entire race.
* * *
Annora didn’t like the way Edgar went silent, no doubt plotting something she wasn’t going to like, and she pressed against him, suddenly afraid. “Promise me you won’t do anything foolish. Give my plan time to work first.”
She listened to the steady beat of his heart, only relaxing when his arms came to rest around her. “By starting a war between the races?”
She tipped her head back to glare up at him. “If that’s what it takes to keep you.”
He was hers.
She was determined to do whatever it took so he wouldn’t have to go back to that life of hell.
She pulled away, then walked over to the closet. Before she opened the door, she allowed the afterworld to spill into the human realm. Darkness crept along the wooden frame like mold. Then she grabbed the knob and opened the door.
Inside was the pure blackness of the afterworld. Although there were shelves inside, she could see the other realm beyond, the shadows moving in the darkness. Edgar latched on to her arm, the grip bruising, ready to rip her away, and she quickly grabbed the book.
She’d barely pulled it free when Edgar slammed the door shut, the wood practically nipping at the tips of her fingers. Dust plumed up from the door, then drifted to the ground like the magic had been expelled, leaving them staring at an ordinary closet again.
