Wicked Love - Michelle Dare Page 0,213

you tell me, just tell me whatever it is.”

Bash swallowed and placed his fingertips over my temples.

“I didn’t want to lie, but it seemed so much easier.”

“The truth is hard, but it’s worth it don’t you think?” I cupped his hands to the sides of my head and closed my eyes letting him do whatever it was he needed to do. I felt warmth and then pain, so much pain as if my life had drained away or bled out if the memories I saw were real. I’d reached the part of my terrible dreams where he slid the knife out of my chest and pain made sense. I didn’t have time to process the rest because the bedroom door burst open and Dorian prowled inside a little crazed, and pacing back and forth. A dagger in his hand dripping with black liquid was aimed my heart.

“Dorian, what are you doing here?”

“I can’t watch you do this a third time.” He said wildly brandishing the dagger. Bash looked at me and then at the door that led toward the bathroom suite. He wanted me to run inside and lock myself away. I couldn’t do it. I’d just gotten him and if Dorian was crazy enough to kill him, I would die with him.

“Brother, what have I said about playing with your food?” Dorian cocked his head stepping closer.

“You took my wife and then Aileen. I won’t let you take Jane.” Bash held his arms wide to protect me. I wrapped the sheet around my body and crawled up to my knees in bed.

“You mean the bitch who turned us and then the witch who branded us?”

“You benefited greatly from the daylight marking.” Bash tried to talk sense into him but it wasn’t working.

“Ah, and there’s the picky eater now. How does your fair lamb taste?”

“Do not speak her name.” Bash slammed him into wall using his speed to attack him quickly. The wall dented and a painting crashed to the floor. I would have cared it was an original Monet if not for the weapons being brandished.

“Careful, such anger will leave you with an upset stomach.” Dorian continued his taunts and push Bash backward. The force knocked him to the bed and I fell from knees to all fours.

“Is this what it’s supposed to be? A fight to the death? You’re no match for me. Younger. Weaker. Less.” Bash snarled.

Dorian entertained the thought for a moment before coming back at Bash.

“Why don’t you tell her the truth, dear brother?”

“What is he talking about, Bash? What haven’t you told me?” I implored for either of them to tell me what was going on. The violence between them made the room swell and my head hurt. “Bash, whatever it is, tell me.” I begged him reaching for his shoulder when he gently pushed me back behind him.

He refused to look at me. “I will not burden her with my problems.”

Dorian chuckled and the sound was like cackling crows.

“I hardly call killing her a problem.” He said.

“We’re bonded. You’re right. I can feel it.” Bash punched his chest with his fist and I felt it too, the connection between us was stronger and growing.

“Because you love her? Oh please.”

Dorian dismissed the claim but I listened for it. I listened for the slightest hesitation, for the lie that would tell me otherwise but it never came. Bash was telling the truth as he spoke.

“I do lover her.” He turned to look at me. “I love her with every fiber of my being.” He grabbed me and kissed me soundly as Dorian rushed us simultaneously, the blade raised in his hand.

Bash put his hand out and Dorian frozen blade in the air struggling. Our lips parted and I raised my hand with Bash and concentrated on the fact that Dorian would have killed us. I twisted my mind around the blade and pushed back with all the mental energy I possessed.

Dorian yelled, “You know the strongest foundations are not built with love.”

“With what then?” Bash asked his only surviving blood until me.

“Merciful lies.” Dorian hissed and I cranked up my thoughts and forced him to drive the blade home, right into his own chest.

16

All’s well that ends well.

BASH

The psychic energy in the room caused a seismic implosion pulling wallpaper and curtains clean off the wall. Luckily, Jane fell back on the bed, but she seized immediately going through the damn change at the worst time possible. Dorian was possibly dying by his own hand, with