Page 69 of Betrothed in Fury
“You look like shit,” Malaki says as we FaceTime.
“I haven’t been sleeping well since the attack. I’ll feel better once our guys find the bastards responsible.”
That’s true enough, though it won’t magically fix everything, definitely not what I’m feeling—and now that I don’t have Killian’s seed in me anymore, I feel as empty as ever.
“Well, at least it’s better than needing to get a ten-page essay done for Psych with a six-foot-seven guy breathing down my neck. Kidding!” I feign a smile, but my brother can tell it’s forced, and asks, “So, you gonna tell me about this wedding shit or what?”
“Huh? Oh. Wrath told you.”
“Who else? You think Masters was gonna tell me shit?”
“I told him not to say anything.” But then, when has that ever worked?
“I was chatting with him more than normal when he was recuperating, and he accidentally let something slip, and when I pressed, he squealed like a pig.”
“I don’t think that’s the expression.”
“Are you avoiding my question?”
“Yes.”
He glares at me.
“Nothing’s been finalized.”
“But…?”
“In light of what’s been happening, it’s not exactly the priority.”
“Well, I expect to be invited.”
“I don’t even know if there will be a big ceremony.”
“It’s the Lordes. I’m sure it’ll be bigger than it should be.”
He’s not wrong.
“Can we not talk about this right now? I have too much to think about, and this isn’t what I want to discuss.”
“Oh, sure. I thought it was kind of funny, is all.”
I remind myself that in his mind, this is just a signature on the dotted line and then we’ll have safety for the rest of our lives. He doesn’t realize what Killian demands of me. The life force he seems determined to imprison. But being on the phone with my brother, whom I’d do anything to protect, I already know it’s worth it. My life is a small sacrifice to ensure everyone else can be happy in theirs.
I remember the day I signed those papers, without caring what the fuck they said. If Dad wanted it, he could consider it done, and I won’t let him down now that he’s gone.
“Well,” I say, “keep me posted if there’s anything you need while we’re under this security.”
“Just trying to get this piece-of-shit bodyguard to give me some space. Kind of crowding me when I’m flirting with girls, you know?”
I force another smile, pretending I’m in a better mood. As the baby, he shouldn’t have to worry about any of this, especially since he wants no part of the family enterprise, and I want him to have the freedom that was never mine.
Once I get off the phone with him, I head to my bedroom, and as I step into the shower, this wicked impulse rises within me.
I want to make Killian pay for what he said.
24
KILLIAN
