Page 13 of Moth & Flame
I’ve taken a lot of care to ensure my identity remains hidden, living in relative peace. The fact Hella had been able to simplyhiresomeone to find out who I was is deeply unsettling. It also means that whoever she paid already knew who I was. She’ll tellme who, but they’ll need to be dealt with, lest the hierarchs of Blackspire–or any of my former enemies–find me.
But first,I’m going to claim mysoulbound.
The lift’s glass doors face the outside world, and my eyes scan the bird’s eye view of the city before us. I’d set this entire city ablaze to protect Hella. The elevator gives its haunting melodic cathedral organ chime, and the doors reveal the open-plan space of my penthouse foyer and living room. I stalk through to march us down the hall to my bedroom.
My heart gives a beautifully painful squeeze as I lay Hella across my bed. The sight of her naked and nestled safely against the dark duvet tugs at something in my chest.
Hella tugs nervously at her lip as she stares up at me.
“You have a beautiful home.”
Still standing above her to savour the sight, I don’t dare crawl onto the bed with her until I’ve made my demands and she’s given me her decision. While I seek her approval in all things, there is only one thing on my mind.
“I want you to leave your fiancé.”
A watery grin splits across her face. “I already have.”
My breathing stills as emotion rises.
“Truly?”
She nods, tears slipping. “I visited my magistrate today. He’s sending Blackspire Blood Vaults my resignation and myex-fiancé a notice of dissolution for our engagement first thing in the morning.”
In the next moment, I’m pulling her against my chest as I lean back against the headboard. She chews on her cheek, trying to tame her emotions as more tears spill, and I can’t help but kiss them away.
“I want you to know that I never loved him. My family and their business partners forced the engagement upon me. Myfiancé has no love or loyalty for me. He has only ever proven to be as cruel as his family.”
I hadn’t thought it possible to desire this male’s death any more than I already do.
“Who is he?”
“Alister Belmont.”
That slimy fucking weasel?
Rage summons the beast inside me upon learning this precious female was forced into the vile arms ofAlister Belmont—a male that I have met on more than one occasion and have fantasized about killing every time our paths crossed. The only reason I hadn’t killed him was the fact that he is under the protection of the Blackspire Empire—my former employer.
Stealing Hella for myself will have repercussions, but there is nothing I wouldn’t sacrifice for her. And nothing will stop me from killing Alister Belmont now.
“Do you know him?”
The question takes a moment to reach my distant, whirling mind.
“I do.”
Hella curls tighter into my arms as I stroke soothing circles on her back and press a kiss to her forehead.
“Then you know there will be consequences to me trying to escape him… dangerous ones.”
“Yes.”
“And you would still want to be with me?”
Hooking a finger beneath her chin, I draw her gaze to mine.
“Hella, I’ve spent my whole life killing for a living. What’s a little more spilled blood when I’d forge a river of it just to lay my eyes on you?”
Does she really not know who we are to each other?
