Chapter 22
CHAPTER
TWENTY-TWO
Stephan
S hit.
Now I can feel her, the intake of breath, those other vibrations in the air that connect to me and only me. How she’s scared, miserable, filled with guilt, and consumed with desire. The princess wants me. Wants to get on her knees and worship my cock. Wants to lie back and spread herself open to welcome me into the depths of her body and take my knot.
I don’t just feel this.
I know .
Because with my mark, she’s my princess now.
What the fuck have I done?
Heath speaks again, and this time it registers. His presence cuts through the haze over me, that connection to her, and she moves into me even as her brother puts hands on me, pulling me away.
And I let him.
“I said what the fuck have you done?” he says, throwing me into the opposite hedges.
“Heath—” Violet’s voice trembles.
“Shut up, Vi. Go with Mom, now. I’m going to talk to Ashford.”
I look at her, not moving. It isn’t for myself, it’s for her. She looks like she’s going to throw up, and she’s avoiding my eyes, like she knows if we connect then things will explode.
“It’ll be fine, Princess.”
That earns a growl from Heath. But she turns and runs.
Once all the women have disappeared, he rounds on me. “You fucking, pathetic asshole.” He makes a fist and draws back, but I launch myself at him, pinning him where I had Dominic.
And the irony isn’t lost on me.
The beat in my veins is all for her. Mine. Mine. Mine. And Heath’s in my way. I could break his neck if I wanted, the way I feel, the way the urge to lay claim surges, and if he’s in my way, then ending him will?—
Fuck.
Not even with CeeCee did I have this kind of visceral, animalistic response. Where instinct and primal needs obliterate common sense and higher thinking.
I’m blood and flesh and need.
Violet is mine.
Nothing will get in the way.
Nothing. No one.
I swallow hard and force myself to let him go. This is my friend. I shouldn’t be fighting him, so I stumble back and wipe a shaking hand over my face. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean?—”
Heath walks up to me, then punches me so hard in the stomach pain blooms as I double over, unable to breathe. Then he shakes his head, as if clearing himself of his own anger.
“Don’t you ever fucking touch me again or I’ll rip you a new asshole. Friend or not,” he says.
Threat heard loud and clear.
“I’m sorry. I don’t feel like myself.” I pace a few steps away and then come back, everything inside me buzzing. “Stockton just… I lost my cool when I saw them together. I…”
“On their walk?” Heath asks.
“He tried to take her. Not just bite. He was forcing himself on her. Touching her.” I gnash my teeth as the fury bubbles up again. “The bastard was going to rape her if I hadn’t stepped in.”
“What?” Heath’s anger now mirrors mine. “Are you serious?”
“Dead fucking serious. So if you want to kill someone, kill him. I’ll fucking join you.”
Heath glances over his shoulder like he’s deciding whether to do just that. “He fooled me into thinking he was serious about her.”
“The only thing he was serious about was not letting her say no.”
“You should have killed him,” he says. “Now I’m pissed you didn’t. ”
There’s still time.
“So then what?” Heath goes on. “You decided you were going to take his place and bit her instead?”
“I didn’t mean to. Violet’s so much more than you can possibly even think. She’s good, and sweet, and smart, and I needed… I wanted to protect her and I guess…” I look helplessly at her brother. “Man, a part of me thought if she had my mark, she’d be safe. And?—”
I stop because there’s a cliff drop after that and . Something deep and new and wild.
“Shit, Ashford. Do you…do you love my sister?”
I don’t answer. How can I when I’m not sure of the answer myself?
Everything is moving too fast. It’s like the world has been tilted on its axis and I don’t know which way is up.
“You’re starting to scare me now. You have that look, one I haven’t seen since Cecilia.”
I close my eyes. “Please don’t say her name.”
“But Violet’s my sister, Ashford. My sister. And it’s not like you can give her what she wants.”
“Why not? I can be a good mate. I have money, a good paying career. I’ll be faithful, and?—”
“Vi wants a big family.”
Panic swirls up. Oh no, not that. “I can’t. You know I can’t. I can’t have kids.”
“It doesn’t matter now because you bit her. You can’t get out of it. You’re going to have to tell Violet the truth,” he says. “Talk to her.”
I swallow. “I will. When I can.”
“As soon as you can. She may not think so, but her happiness is important, too,” he says. “And now, as her mate, that’s your responsibility.”
Shit.
“I’ll talk to her.”
Heath nods, seeming satisfied, then turns to leave. I watch him go, letting out a slow breath as the weight of it all settles over me.
I just don’t know if Violet’s happiness and me being in her life can exist at the same time.