me and wasn’t quite sitting right even after he delivered his little speech, revealing his plan for me. His sick and twisted plan. I was such an idiot to think I had him wrapped around my finger again. He doesn’t forgive. And he lets no man touch what is his.
But I knew something else too. The ripped clothes and broken makeup stuff told me that clearly. He means to batter me some, break me some, and then he’ll be satisfied, then he’ll put me back together. Then I’ll be forgiven. Good. I can take a battering. If Colt is waiting for me on the other side, I can do anything. I tried to tell him not to do anything stupid or rash, whispered it to him as soon as I found his eyes in the sea of glaring, angry ones surrounding me. The only eyes full of love and nothing but love for me.
There was no way he could’ve heard what I said, but I hoped he did too. I believed he did.
I was wrong. He didn’t.
I can’t say my whole body didn’t melt with love and hope as he made his offer for me.
But now they’re dragging him up here, and Monarch is so pissed off he’s seething like a pot of boiling water from it.
I no longer have any reason to think either one of us will survive this.
“You’re an idiot, Colt,” I hiss at him as they drag him up the three stairs. “I told you I can handle this.”
He looks so confused and hurt I smile, willing him to feel all the love and happiness at seeing him again I feel. “But I love you more than anything else in the world,” I tell him. “Thank you for being my knight in shining armor.”
He grins at me. “Anytime, princess. Now and forever.”
Which might be a very short time for us. The front door slams open in the distance, bringing in a waft of cold, clear air from outside, like the winds of destiny blowing clean and fresh. In a very twisted way, this is still the very best day of my life.
“Enough jabbering!” Monarch says in a clipped voice that tells me he is beyond livid, despite the perfectly calm voice he’s using. “How about we make this fun? Maybe the two lovebirds can put on a little show for us.”
Then he turns back to the room. “And bring me the ones who were with him to, I don’t want any more interruptions.”
Stormi is there, and Ace and that best friend of Colt’s. I didn’t notice them before. I only saw him and now my heart is once again racing in fear. This is all the backup he brought? It’s worse than if he came alone.
“Now,” Monarch says, turning to us, while the three of them put up a fight by the door. A huge silver hunting knife is suddenly in his hand.
“You will kill her,” he tells Colt. He’s totally lost his grip on reality. He was near the edge before, with all his pretending he’s really a king and such, but now he’s sailed right off that edge into stark, raving madness.
“No, I won’t,” Colt says, and it’s a clear statement of fact, no shock or fear or anything of the sort in his voice.
“You will if you don’t want to watch every man in here fuck her,” Monarch says. “I’ll have them fucking her for as long it takes to kill her. I’m sure we can find a dog or two to help them along.”
Revulsion replaces the stark calm in Colt’s eyes. It’s quickly replaced by fear, and something very close to regret.
“I’m sorry,” he says to me, and I have no idea why. He doesn’t mean it. He won’t let any of those things happen. Will he what?
He turns to Monarch and extends his hand. “Give me the knife.”
“What for?” I yell. “He’s just fucking with you, Colt. He’s so full of shit he reeks of it. Don’t fall for his bullshit.”
“Stop talking, bitch!” Monarch yells, backhanding me so viciously the whole world goes black before I even feel any pain.
I stumble and almost fall, would have, if Colt didn’t catch me. It’s only because of his strong arm holding me steady that I manage to hold onto consciousness and my sight.
“Oh, fuck it!” Monarch roars. “I’ll kill them both myself. No one fucks with the King!”
“I can’t let you do that, Monarch,” a calm, collected voice says. It’s so welcome and