Page 44 of Fatal Fantasy

“Well, I want to do this right. I’m going to knock you out with a killer proposal speech,” Tyson smiles, his dark eyes alight with hopefulness, love, and desire.

“Yes, but I want to marry you before I die,” I explain, not sugarcoating my feelings or fears in the slightest.

While I do expect them to honor my wishes, I didn’t think ahead to realize that maybe Tyson and Jasper have fantasies about how they want their wedding day to go, too.

Tyson wants to propose properly, and Jasper probably would love to do a satanic blood ritual, but I’m not picky, all I need for it to be a perfect day is the vows, the rings, and of course, them.

“Carter, you do understand that is the very last option, right?” Jasper asks, wrapping a hand around my tangled hair, pulling until he disturbs the roots, and my eyes meet his.

“I do, and while I don’t obsessively think about dying every second anymore, I am realistic. If something happens to me, I want to die knowing that I devoted myself to the two people who risked their lives to save me.” I hold my ground, not letting them talk me out of this, or attempt to try and fill me with their relentless positivity.

There’s a million things that can go wrong, the exact reason why we have a backup plan, but we’d all be dumber than we were last time if we didn’t think about things from every angle.

“Whenever, wherever, my little wife. I’d marry you a thousand times.” Jasper releases the stranglehold on my hair, tenderly rubbing my scalp where he had the brunt of his grip, and I sigh beneath his gentle touch.

I’ve always felt the safest when both Tyson and Jasper have me in their embrace, and even though we’re trapped in a four door sedan, nothing compares to the fact that I can feel them both.

Our connection is stronger than ever, even where it was previously splintered, but with every breath we’re repairing those broken spaces.

“If we make it out of this alive, I’m holding you to that. Both of you.” I stare them down, ensuring they understand my words, and fear my wrath if they break this most sacred promise.

“Any other requests, baby girl? You’ve got us in the palm of your hands,” Tyson adds, and I mull it over for a few beats, until a devilish thought crosses my mind, one I know is a terrible idea.

“Get me drunk,” I say, and I immediately feel Jasper’s presence against the back of my seat, his body at full attention once again.

“Absolutely not! We’re running for our lives, and we need to be on alert,” Tyson argues, jumping into the protective beast that I love, yet despise at the same time.

“I wasn’t even allowed mouthwash, alright? God forbid a girl wants to let loose a little bit, locked away at a cabin in the woods with her boyfriends,” I sigh, upping the dramatics to the highest I can muster, and just when I think I’ve lost, a little birdie chirps in my ear.

“Just a couple drinks, Principessina. Tyson’s right, but you deserve to lose your inhibitions a little. Right?” He looks to Tyson, who has his eyes glued to the road, hand cemented to the steering wheel, likely running through the scenarios in his mind.

“Fine, we could all use a little fun. Nobody’s getting drunk, though,” he warns, and Jasper and I high-five like little kids who bargained with their mother for ice cream, but I couldn’t be happier.

This is exactly what I need, a chance to let everything I carry on my shoulders — deep inside my chest, and at the forefront of my mind — go, even if it’s for only an hour or two.

“Thank you, Tyson.” I press a kiss to his cheek, offering the slightest distraction while he drives, but he squeezes my thigh, a reminder that he’s got me, even when he’s otherwise preoccupied.

Another drop of humanity has been deposited into my tank, another moment where I feel alive, and a dash of adrenaline courses through my veins, willing me to find a reason to bring the beast out to play.

This may very well turn into a night to remember — if I deal the cards right.

TWENTY-ONE

TYSON

What Carter wants, Carter gets.

As much as my brain is telling me this is an awful idea, my heart only wants to make the beautiful girl beside me happy.

Controlling Massi is easy, I know exactly where his limits lie, but Carter is a wild card, either succumbing to the liquor straight away, or staying up all night until every last drop is gone, all while seeming stone-cold sober.

Which version of her we get will be up to the powers that be, but nothing will stop me from protecting her, especially since our stock of weapons is waiting at the cabin.

My father’s old friend was happy to let us stay, supplied us with a few pieces from his collection, and left us a gassed up car that can’t be traced by the Cassini’s.

I’ve done everything in my power to ensure we’re moving incognito, almost like ghosts in the night, and while we recuperate in the woods, the people trying to guess our next move will be so far ahead of us, they’ll be scrambling to pick up even a trace.

The only blip thus far is Carter's father not believing our story right off the bat, but it was always a long shot, considering he knew I was the one who abducted her.