Page 19 of Storm

Choking on my own saliva, I stammer, “YOUR WIFE. I—” Wholey fucking fuck-balls. Motherfucking asshole. He steps closer, and my hands fly out to plaster against his once-clean shirt and jacket. There’s an odd satisfaction in knowing I made him dirty. “NO.”

“Do you wish me to bring the keepers back and offer you up to them instead? I believe they are both unwed.” Mouth open, I stare. I get a fucking choice? That’s laughable. Either I choose Stupid and Stupider, and get to experience what it’s like being “passed around” as a wife of the Halo keepers, or I get to choose their leader. No doubt, it’ll be the same with him. This will end in either his death or mine. There is no other way. With my mind spinning, he takes me in, gripping my chin and making me look into galaxies. “I will not touch you unless you ask me. I do not force women into my bed, and I won’t start now.”

“You’re touching me right now,” I grumble between clenched teeth. The hollows are liars. I can’t trust a word that comes out of his mouth.

“I reserve the right to touch you if you are hurt or you run from me.”

“Those are very specific. Have you said those words before, com-an-der?”

Releasing my chin, he pushes between my slightly parted legs. My hands squeeze until I hit the rigid flesh underneath with my jagged nails.

“No. Never,” the commander responds without flinching or blinking, giving me full eye contact, allowing my hands to push into him, his arms positioned on either side of me.

“You won’t touch me?”

“Unless you ask.”

“Unless I ask.” He nods. “And what about my family?”

“We will be family. You don’t require any more.” Should’ve just punched me. Put a bullet in my skull. The blow that rips through my system is worse than a strike. Catching me off kilter once again, he takes my hands, wiping them with a cold, stinging thin towel.

“Fuck!” I try to pull away, but his grip is so stiff, it only serves to tug me closer. “Fuck you. We are not family. If touching you is what you want, save my brother and mother, and I’ll touch you all damn day.”

“No.” The heart he continues to stomp on only shatters into smaller pieces.

“What do you mean, no? Ow. Stop doing that.” I yank, and he tugs, slathering both of my palms in antiseptic.

“No, I will not make a deal with you. I am the commander. You will do as I say.”

“No. I. Won’t.” I pull. It’s no use. This man is made of iron. Regardless of my anger, I won’t be able to defeat him. Gaining what’s left of my logical mind for a moment, though it’s barely hanging on by a thread, I try to weave together a plan. He may best me in strength, however, if I bide my time, I might be able to escape. “You won’t touch me?”

He’s binding my hand with a clean white bandage. It practically sparkles with its sickening spotlessness as he works from left to right with a brutish sort of gentleness. I narrow in on his lips, seeing them move in a soft mumble.

When he finishes tending to my wounds, he answers. “We will marry, and I won’t touch you.” Worlds collide as he finds me slack-jawed again. “Until you beg me to.”

My mouth closes in utter disdain.

“I don’t beg, Commander.” Slackening, my hands are released, and he steps away, taking a wide berth from where I’m perched, sullying his desk.

“You will.” He’s so distinctly sure of himself. I find the rage back with vengeance, springing up to jab a finger in the solence I left behind on his shirt.

“Don’t count on it, asshole.”

“You won’t last a year, wife.”

CHAPTER 7

WHEN THE COMMANDER GIVES YOU LEMONS

Twelve Years Later

“Mama, look.” Round, radiant grey eyes look up at me from beneath thick dark lashes. His father’s eyes. Even though he is uniquely himself, my son encapsulates the gruff, demanding man who sired him. A face I created from my womb, pure innocence and love shining from his chubby five-year-old cheeks. He is growing too fast, and I dread every moment he gets closer to his transition into manhood.

“What did you find, sweet boy?” His smile grows wide, showcasing a missing tooth.

“A worm.” He points in astonishment at the pinkish creature he found in our garden soil.

When I arrived in Halo twelve years ago, I was placed in the hands of Lord Commander Melek Abaddon. Coming face to face with the commander after witnessing the precursor to the death of my brother renewed a fight in me… But it was useless. He was bigger and stronger than any hollow I had seen before.