Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 108721 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 544(@200wpm)___ 435(@250wpm)___ 362(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108721 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 544(@200wpm)___ 435(@250wpm)___ 362(@300wpm)
I swallow the visual, shaking my head, and reach behind them for another bottle of liquor. “I’m not afraid of Ely.”
As badly as I don’t want to, I need to try to fix this however I can. There's no way in hell I'm leaving her outside, in the dark, alone with Yanov still out there. When I turn in the direction of the back door, my worry of being able to get through the crowd eases when the masses part on their own as I cross the room.
Maybe the look on my face is enough warning, who knows. Or at least it is to everyone except Aries. He doesn’t give a fuck if I’m pissed off.
He cuts into my path, blocking me from exiting the back door. “Where’ve you been, man? I didn't see you get here.”
The smell of alcohol and pussy seeps off his pores. “I need to go out that way, asshole. Move.”
Grinning, he steps aside with a sweeping bow. “Good luck fixing that clusterfuck.”
Everyone thinks Aries is a playboy, stupid and attractive, but they don’t have the first clue how fucked up he is, or worse, how dark and malicious he can be. I slip past him and exit through the door, traipsing onto the grass. It’s darker than fuck out here.
I scan the dark grounds, but I don't see her anywhere. Nor do I want to call out for her because, depending on how upset she is, I wouldn’t put it past her to run away from me. It takes a moment for my eyes to adjust to the darkness, but when they do, I can make out movement near the tree line, and that's when I spot her leaning against the trunk of a tall, fall-stripped oak. The moonlight plays across her fair skin, fading away into the dark of her hair.
My stomach twists into a tight knot as I stalk toward her. I can tell the moment she notices me, her dark gaze resting on me. I pause, waiting to see if she runs.
Do it. Run, Little Prey.
I’m playing with fire here, since I already know I won’t be able to control myself if she takes off on me. The thrill of the hunt is too much to resist.
Unfortunately, she doesn’t move. She stays right where she is, her back pressed firmly against the tree, looking every bit like the prey I call her, caught in a trap and waiting for the big monster to come and eat her.
I smile. “What are you doing out here alone in the dark, Little Prey?”
26
Elyse
His commanding voice greets me in the dark. I knew he would follow me as soon as I saw him walking toward Bel and me in the house. I was hoping he would take the hint and give me some time to cool off out here alone, but apparently, even a moment of peace and quiet is too much to spare.
I turn to stare at him, watching as he basks in the moonlight like a god cut from stone. His biceps are accentuated and hugged tight by the dark gray Oakmount T-shirt he’s wearing, and there’s something about a guy in gray sweatpants that does it for me. There’s a feral look in his eyes, his usually perfect hair mussed around his forehead.
Mussed because some bitch had been all over him. I have no right to be angry. He’s not mine, and I’m not his. I know that, but I can’t stop the jealousy from forming so I grit my teeth and fix my gaze somewhere off in the distance over his shoulder.
“Why do you care what I’m doing?”
“Because I do.”
Even though I’m angry, I don’t intend to play into his bullshit.
He walks all the way over to me, stopping with only a few inches separating us. With him this close I can feel the heat from his body wafting off him. Looking down, I spot a bottle of liquor in his hand. The guy has a drinking problem, but I know better than to tell him that. It never helped when I told my father, either.
“Don’t you have someone else to harass?”
“I do, but no one I get as much joy out of harassing as you.”
“Well, stop getting joy from it and go bother someone else.” I try not to sound as hate-filled as I feel.
“Nope, not going to happen.” He takes a swig from the bottle and wipes the excess alcohol from his lips with the back of his hand. “So are you going to tell me what the fuck you’re doing out here alone in the dark with Yanov lurking around? I believe we had a conversation once before regarding your safety.”
His words sting, and I scan the dark trees, suddenly feeling exposed and vulnerable. He’s right; Yanov is still out there. Waiting. Watching. It’s only a matter of time. I swallow around the knot of fear that forms in my throat at that reminder.