Epilogue
Zaiah
(One year later…)
Breaking News!
Usurn’s Founding Family Member Found Murdered.
Just hours after receiving a 25-to-50-year sentence for embezzlement, sex trafficking, and money laundering, Conor Shio was found brutally murdered in his cell. Authorities have launched an investigation into the deaths of Marco Lombardi and his son Remy Lombardi, Shio’s accomplices. The public rejoices at the possibility of a vigilante following the discovery of Shio’s murder.
We contacted Conor Shio’s ex-wife, Numi Shio, who reported that she and her daughter Lillie are happily settled into their new home on Raynetel, and that “Conor got what he deserved.”
“Damn, mom!” Lillie laughs, handing me my multi-slate. “Who knew she was such a badass? Has Devyn seen this?”
“Have I seen what?” Devyn asks as he walks through the front door. Numi and Lillie’s house here on Raynetel is even bigger than it was on Usurn. They left the planet eight months ago, and their matching bright smiles every time we visit make Devyn incredibly happy.
However, his big scowl makes it impossible to tell right about now.
Devyn plucks my multi-slate out of my grasp before I can even reply and scans the article. His features contort with rage, and his crimson eyes lock onto mine. “Lillie,” he grits out. “Mind if I have a moment alone with my fiancé?”
“Uh-oh,” she laughs. “Someone’s in trouble.”
“Lillie.”
She waves a hand in the air. “Yeah, yeah. Calm down. I’m leaving.”
Before she’s even fully out of the room, Devyn has me pressed up against the counter with his hand around my throat.
I moan.
His grip loosens, and he rolls his eyes. “Fucking hell, how am I supposed to punish you if you like whatever I have to dish out?”
I bat my lashes innocently and grind my hard erection against his. “Why would you have to punish me, Demon?”
“Care to explain to me why Zar called you just minutes after my father’s brutal murder ?”
I shrug, and he slams his free hand against the cabinet right behind my head, causing me to jump.
I blink. Then his words register. “Wait. What the fuck? You never got rid of that damn tracking device you put on me?” I shove against him, but he’s like a fucking brick wall.
“Zaiah,” he growls. “You didn’t answer the damn question. Why did my fellow Black Hart call you last night?”
I roll my eyes and shrug again. “He called to offer us his congratulations on our upcoming wedding.”
“You’re lying.” His grip loosens even more.
I lean forward and bite his bottom lip hard enough to bleed. He shuts his eyes and pulls me into a vicious kiss. We’re both breathing hard by the time he finally pulls away.
“I’m not lying,” I reply. “I asked Zar for a favor. I didn’t want to marry you with some knock off ring. I wanted you to have your grandfather’s ring. The family crest. It’s not my fault Conor told Zar to pry it from his cold, dead body.”
“You got me my grandfather’s ring?” he asks, eyes sparkling.
“Well, technically, Zar did it. But if he wasn’t up for the task, I would have been.” I give him a wicked grin. “How else am I supposed to test my newfound knife skills?”
He tips my chin up to meet his eyes. “Light, you cutting a man, all covered in blood, with this wild look on your face might be my new fantasy. You are so fucking beautiful, Praeda. My lovely plaything.”
I arch against him and moan.
“You, my doll, remind me of a flower, always have. You bloom under my praise, stretching and yearning for more. Always so fucking desperate to reach up toward the sky.”
Damnit. He isn’t wrong. If anything, Devyn Shio is the sun. I’m desperate for his rays of light to touch me, no matter how dangerous. I want whatever he’s willing to give me, even his pain. Because let’s face it.
I fucking burn for this Black Hart.
Reaching between us, I stroke Devyn’s thick erection through his pants. He laughs, grinding against my hand. “My sister will hear.”
"I don’t care, let the whole world hear."
Devyn may think he owns me, but he’s sorely mistaken. I own him . I’m just as obsessed with him as he is with me… maybe even more.
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Thank you for taking the time to read my debut dark romance!