Whispers in the Dark (The Alarie Heirs #3)

Prologue

Alina

Ican’t breathe. Panic consumes me as his fingers stretch around my neck, crushing my windpipe. I gasp for air, feeling on the verge of passing out.

“You’re going to fix this,” he snarls, his face inches from mine. His grip tightens, causing black dots to dance in my vision. “Or should I remind you what’s at stake if you don’t?”

With what little strength I have left, I shake my head.

“Good.”

He releases me without warning, and my legs give out, hitting the icy ground, the cold seeping straight through my clothes. I drag in a heavy breath, then another, my chest heaving as tears coat my eyes.

My gaze drops to his worn-looking boots, covered in droplets of dried blood.

He runs a rough hand over the back of my skull and grips my hair in a tight fist, yanking my head back.

I yell out in pain as the tip of a knife pricks the underside of my chin, leaving me frozen. Terrified to make one wrong move.

“Don’t disappoint me, sister.” He emphasizes the last word, causing my stomach to twist violently.

I glare into his eyes, instantly regretting my choice, for his depthless, soulless gaze sends a current of icy fear through my veins.

This man is the stuff of nightmares—a true monster in human form.

A cruel grin spreads across his face as he shoves me down and stands to his full height.

“I think I’ve made my point,” he muses, folding the knife and tucking it into his pocket.

“Do what needs to be done, and there won’t be any problems. Don’t…

” His voice drops. “And you’ll face the consequences. ”

“But…” I breathe in a lungful of freezing air. “How? I can’t just—”

“How is not my problem,” he interjects with calm fury, his dark eyes daring me to argue. “It’s yours.”

Then he’s gone.

I’m a shaking mess as I crawl across the gravel, every muscle in me screaming out in protest as I press my body against a brick wall, collapsing behind a large dumpster.

A shiver overtakes me as snow coats my body, the unforgiving wind whipping against my thin jacket.

Hugging my legs to my chest, I bury my face against my knees, letting the tears soak into my jeans.

“This can’t be happening.” I begin rocking back and forth, trying to process everything that just occurred.

Every word spoken.

Every threat made.

Every horrifying revelation unveiled.

“This… This is just a bad dream. That’s all,” I whisper. “I’m going to wake up, and everything will be back to normal.”

But no matter how hard I try to wake up, I can’t.

Because I’m trapped in a living nightmare I can’t escape.

My phone vibrates against my thigh, and I freeze. Slowly, I pull it from my pocket, and when I see the name on the screen, I take a deep breath, lean my head against the wall, and, with a trembling finger, answer the call.

“Hi, Dad.” I sniffle, instantly regretting the pathetic sound of distress in my voice.

“Alina.” He pauses. “Is everything okay?”

I use the back of my hand to wipe my cheek. “Just have a bit of a cold.”

For a moment, a heavy silence echoes between us, and I know it’s because he doesn’t believe me.

“You know I can help if there’s a problem, right, sweetheart? I’m your dad. That’s what I’m here for.”

I roll my lips in, my chin quivering.

There was a time when he truly could help.

A time when I lived in a fairy tale, just like the books I love to immerse myself in. A time when I felt safe and happy, when the weight of the world’s problems wasn’t resting heavily on my shoulders.

Most importantly, a time when I was never alone.

I swallow the truth before it can escape. “I know. But everything is fine. I promise.”

The lie slips easily between my lips.

But it’s for his own good.

Because I can fix this.

I will fix this without him ever knowing.

I drag a hand down my face, stifling the sob that claws at my chest.

I just need to get…married.