This is getting good. Somebody bring the popcorn...
“That’s not true!” Amabella shouts. She gets up but sways and has to steady herself on the armrest. “I’m not lying!” She struggles to breathe. “You don’t know who you’ve let into this house. He...forced himself into my room. Into my b...bed.”
I freeze when Dean turns to me with raised brows and I throw him a warm smile. “I heard Amabella having a nightmare the other night. I knocked on her door to gently awaken her but she must’ve been delirious and thought I walked inside or...forced myself inside.”
“Girls and their fantasies,” Bryce snorts and I add,
“Don’t blame Amabella. It’s common for girls who read romantic tales to get their heads twisted.”
With flaring eyes, Amabella turns to me and I smirk.Nice try.
She’s out on her luck. Both Dean and Bryce are so far up my ass, they won’t ever suspect me of any misdemeanor. I rule this house. Coiled myself around it like a snake around a tree trunk. They’re all in my grip but it’s only Amabella that I want.
Rubbing his eyes, Dean drags a palm down his face before looking at me. “Good grace, man, your kindness knows no bounds. How can you just sit there while my daughter’s accusing you?”
I flare out with my hands to get him to settle down. “What can I say, Dean. It’s not in my nature to be vicious. Besides, it’s the least I can do since you’ve all been so kind to me.” I glance at my love. “And we shouldn’t be too quick to judge Amabella.” My eyes bore into hers. “I’m sure she’ll come around.”
A choked sound comes out of Amabella and her father and brother turn to her and now Dean’s properly worried. Rubbing his chin he says, “Maybe I should send you to your aunt Jen. To the rustic countryside. Some fresh air would do you good.”
“Yes...,” Amabella pleads, filling with gratitude, “p...please...” Her eyes go to mine and whatever she sees in them, makes her cower. “He won’t let me leave,” she whimpers and her eyes fill with tears. “He won’t ever let me go.” She sways, whispering, “Will you...?”
Her eyes roll back in her head and she topples. I jump out of my chair, my hand catching her head last minute and I lay her down on the carpet. She blinks deliriously up at me as I loom over her.
“Shush now, Amabella,” I whisper. “Don’t be afraid.” A smile crosses my face. “I got you.”
“Nathanos...,” she weakly slurs and I look down at her in triumph. Dean and Bryce leave for the village to get the doctor, leaving me alone with her and I stroke her face.
“You’ll never get rid of me, sweetheart,” I purr and pull her up to my chest. “Better get used to your fate.”
Her face twists with dread. “Do I have a choice? You’ll kill them if I refuse won’t y...you?”
My eyes flash. “Oh, I will.”
Gasping, she passes out and I nuzzle her throat, delirious now that she’ll always be mine. Frowning, I realize that the fire has died out and the living room should be cold. I should be freezing. But I’m not. There’s no chill in my bones anymore. I’m perfectly, perfectly warm.
Lifting Amabella off the carpet and onto the couch, I sit beside her and my eyes land outside the window and zone in on the doghouse. Ah...my old home. That’s where they used to keep me. Chained and collared in the middle of the winter. The Lord and the Lady thought their son needed to be disciplined and the methods they used were...brutal, shall we say. Sometimes they would come by, carrying a plate of food and I would lunge at them until the chains snapped against my skin. I would claw at them, do anything to keep them close.
It’s what you do when there’s no love. You claw for it, hang onto it, using everything you can.
But they’d always run from me and leave me in the cold.
My temperature was never quite the same after that.
Until now.
Until Amabella.
Not that I ever will tell her about my history. Why burden her with the dark past. It’s what you do with the people you love. You protect them. The same way Amabella protects me with her warmth.
Kissing her lips in gratitude, I smile when she stirs.
Her eyes flare and a tear slides down her cheek. “Teach me how to hate you,” she whispers.
“Hate is very difficult.” My eyes roam over her loveliness. “I’m speaking from experience. And you don’t have the heart for it,” I whisper. “But don’t worry, my sweet. I’ll be good to you. I’ll take you away from here like you’ve always wanted. I’ll make everyone love you like you’ve always wanted. I’ll cherish you, until you forget everything I’ve done and it’s nothing but a distant memory.”
“But...,” she blinks up at me, “I’ll never forget.”
She will. I’ll make her forget just like I made her love me.