Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 46899 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 234(@200wpm)___ 188(@250wpm)___ 156(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46899 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 234(@200wpm)___ 188(@250wpm)___ 156(@300wpm)
The fire crackled.
I thought of Grandpa Frank. Of his voice. Of all the moments I’d swallowed myself whole to make everyone else comfortable.
I should’ve listened. I should’ve run. I should’ve screamed instead of kneeling.
Slowly, I slid off the couch and sank to my knees in front of him. I looked up, vision blurred.
“Make it quick,” I whispered. “I don’t like long goodbyes.”
His blue eyes locked onto mine—steel-hard, unreadable. His jaw ticked so hard I thought it might shatter right along with my heart. How poetic of us.
“Thanks for marrying me,” I said softly. “Tell Cassian I’m sorry I didn’t finish… whatever this was.”
I didn’t wait for an answer.
I smiled at death. At least it was handsome. At least it was him.
“Don’t,” Louis said, his voice breaking. He inhaled sharply. “Ever.”
His hands shot out, gripping my elbows as the gun slid away. He hauled me onto his lap like he couldn’t stand the distance another second.
Before I could speak, he kissed me—hard, desperate, unrestrained. The kind of kiss that wasn’t about pleasure but proof of how he felt—about us, about the shitty situation, about everything. This kiss was mine and only mine—no vials, no sister, no Family—us.
“You’re mine,” he said against my mouth. “Through life and death. You stay by my side. No matter what.” His voice took on a desperate sort of tone as he kissed me harder like imprinting himself on me was the only way to get through the next few hours. I’d always wanted to be seen—and now I knew—I hadn’t just wanted to be seen—I’d wanted to be needed with such ferocity that the person was sick with it. I’d needed to be someones air.
His fingers tangled in my hair, tilting my head back as his mouth traced my throat. “Say it.”
Tears streamed down my face. I didn’t understand what was happening—only that I didn’t want it to stop.
“Yes,” I whispered. “Yes. I’m yours.”
His breath hitched. “Good.”
He stood with me still in his arms and lowered me back against the couch. The fire snapped and hissed as he tore at his tie, then his shirt, stripping down with frantic purpose until he stood bare before me, lit by flame and shadow.
I reached for him without thinking, greedy, desperate, my legs hooking around his hips as he fumbled with my skirt. My heels struck the floor. Our mouths collided—clumsy, hungry, unfinished—like we were afraid time would run out if we paused.
The moment felt raw. Untouchable. Not just desire—devotion.
This wasn’t sex the way I’d known it. This was a vow. Body. Mind. Soul.
In our family, there were whispers about couples who were fully committed—how they didn’t just give their word, but their bodies, their souls. Their blood.
Louis stilled above me.
He pulled a knife from nowhere and sliced his palm open.
I gasped—but before I could speak, he took my hand and did the same. The sting barely registered as he pressed our palms together, blood to blood, and kissed me hard, sealing it.
I knew then.
We had crossed something.
“In life,” I murmured.
“In death.”
“Forever.” A tremor rolled through me, slow and visceral.
“Blood in,” he whispered against my mouth.
“No out.” I nodded. “We get in alive,” I added softly. “We get out dead.”
His hands anchored my hips as he pulled me fully to him, the motion so incredibly decisive—final—as if he were carving the promise into both of us and using the pain of the situation to make sure we remembered. My palm burned where it was cut. The fire flared, flames licking higher as the pact was made as he thrust into me and pinned me against the couch, eyes locked on me just daring me to look away while he staked his claim. I greedily wrapped myself around him as waves of pleasure washed over me. It was always supposed to be like this, crazy, fast, insane to it’s core, a relationship full of bloody oaths and no promises but the moment. I’d been chasing all this time and I’d lost the race. I hadn’t realized that I should have waited for the person willing to cross the finish line with me no matter the cost. His hips moved as he lifted me up gripping my ass angling himself so deep I lost my breath. There. So intimate. Right there. Tears of pleasure and pain welled in my eyes.
“I only see you.” He whispered. “And you’re terrifying.”
I devoured whatever else he was going to say with my mouth while my body gave into every inch of pleasure it could, sucking him dry, pulling him down with me. The fireplace roared in front of us while our bodies slid against each other. Vows made. Pleasure peaked. “You’re beautiful when you let go.” He tugged my ear with his teeth. “Now let me hear you scream.”
He slid his hand between us and I nearly lost consciousness it was just what I needed to fully lose control, to be sent over the edge into madness. “Louis!” I bit down on his shoulder as waves of pleasure washed over me. Panting he looked down as blood dripped from his shoulder right along with two small teeth marks. “Dangerous girl.”