Chapter Seventeen #3
“You can. Take it for me. Take it for your father and mother, for all the years they gave my monster of a father. The Veylor legacy belongs to you now. You earned it.”
“I don’t give a fuck about a legacy. I don’t want it if it means losing you.”
She pulled back, tears streaking both our cheeks, but her eyes burned with determination as she moved straight into trying to save me.
“You have to run. We can run. I’ll make sure Konflict never finds us. We could leave right now. I have people who could get us out, we’ll disappear—”
“Valery,” I cut her off. “I don’t want to run.”
“Fuck, Serenity. You can’t do this. You can’t just quit on life. If you won’t fight for yourself, fight for me. Fight for us,” she said, pressing her hand to her stomach.
My eyes went wide. Was that what I thought it was?
“Oh my god, Valery. Are you… are you pregnant?”
Tears streamed down her cheeks. “I just found out. I want you to be the godmother. So you can’t leave. You have to be here. You have to be godmother to my child.”
My throat clenched with pain, Kate Korven’s words echoing in my mind.
She told me to hold on, for two people. They wouldn’t survive without me.
Now I understood. But I couldn’t do it. What kind of life would Valery give her baby if she ran with me?
If she left with me, Konflict would kill her too.
I would never let anything happen to her or the baby.
“Listen to me, Val. You’re the strongest, smartest person I know.
I know you’ve already run through the situation in your head, and you know you can’t disappear with me.
You have a future to give this child. As godmother, I’m leaving you what you’ll need to protect that future.
Take the casino, for my godchild. Let me live through those walls.
Please, let me go so I know nothing will ever happen to you or your baby. ”
She broke down again, holding me tight.
“If you change your mind, if you want to live, everything’s already ready for you.
I’ll leave an envelope in your room with everything you need to get out.
I hope you take it. Even at the last minute, Serenity, before Konflict comes for you at the estate.
If you feel even a spark to keep living, promise me you’ll take it and run. Promise me.”
“I promise,” I whispered.
It took us a long time to let go.
For the rest of the day, I spent time speaking to every single member of my staff, even sharing a few warm words with Kalash—a first, since he’d always just been his boss’s eyes in the casino.
I made sure to talk to everyone at the Korven estate, too.
And before dark, I visited Kate Korven’s grave one last time.
“I know you told me not to come join you too soon, but I can’t stay. I’ve done everything I can to protect the two people you said needed me. They’ll be safe, even after I’m gone.”
The wind picked up, the leaves rustling, as my throat tightened with what I had to say.
“I’m sorry your greatest wish didn’t come true.
I couldn’t make him love me. Please, don’t blame him if he decides I need to join you.
He loves you with everything he has, just like I love you.
Losing you broke him so badly, he wants to bury everyone connected to the one responsible for this mess.
My pain is just as heavy. I can’t keep living in a world where you’re gone and the man I love hates me more than anything. ”
Tears ran down my face and I felt ready, resigned to what was coming, ready to join the rest of my family. But first, I had one last thing to do.
When night fell, I went to the place Valery had chosen and told Vixen to send Knox.
I knew I wouldn’t have much time with him, but I needed him one last time.
I wanted his body against mine, his hands, his mouth, his dick inside me.
I wanted him so badly I was scared I’d never be able to let go after I marked him on my skin one final time.
My nerves had me pacing the room back and forth, waiting for Knox to arrive.
I didn’t even know if he would come. Vixen hadn’t confirmed if he was okay with the change of location.
It was Valery’s idea to meet here instead of our usual spot since it would be easier for him to leave the city afterward.
Everything was set for his escape. But as time ticked by, my anxiety only grew.
What if Konflict had him followed? What if he planned to catch him, to kill him?
What if he already had Knox somewhere, hurting him right now?
God, please, let him be safe. He once told me if I didn’t show up at Vixen’s, he’d go straight to the Korven estate.
God, I hoped he hadn’t been stupid enough to do that yesterday while I was unconscious.
My chest tightened at the thought of Knox in danger.
I could barely breathe at the idea of something happening to him.
Panic set in. I was about to call Valery, or Vixen, or even Konflict himself, anything to make sure nothing had happened to Knox, when the door finally opened and the man I was desperate to see walked in.
My breath caught the second Knox stepped in.
He had his mask on, just like always, hiding his face.
His presence alone brought air back into my lungs.
I felt like I was learning to breathe all over again, so relieved just to see him standing there.
I was such a mess I rushed to him and threw myself into his arms, holding him tight, needing to feel his heartbeat against mine to convince myself he was really there.
“Oh God, you’re here,” I said, my voice shaking.
Knox wrapped his arms around me, pulling me in close. He was probably surprised by how desperate I was, but I couldn’t help it. I just needed to feel him, one last time. I needed this memory, because I knew I’d never get another chance to feel his warmth, his strength, his body against mine.
“Hey… are you alright, Venus?” he asked, tipping my chin up so he could look into my eyes.
“I… I was worried. I thought something happened to you. My husband… he… Knox, you’re in danger. You have to leave Emberwick tonight. You have to go now. I set everything up for you. There’s money, connections, everything you need to get out. We don’t have much time, I…”
“Hey… princess… sweetheart… breathe. Please, my love, just breathe for me,” he said, his voice so gentle it calmed every nerve in me.
My fear, my panic, all of it faded under the softness of his words, the depth in his eyes.
My heart thudded wildly as those words took root, healing something raw inside me.
God, it felt so good to hear them, even if it was pathetic how much I wanted to believe it was Konflict whispering them in that moment.
But it felt too good to let go of, and tonight I accepted how pathetic I was.
“I… I just don’t want him to hurt you…” I murmured against his lips as he leaned so close I could feel his breath on my mouth.
“I know but I don’t want you stressing about it, alright?”
“It’s just… I’ll feel better if you go and you’re safe. Please, let me help you escape. Let me get you away from him…”
He nodded, eyes locked on mine. “I’ll do whatever makes you feel better. If you want me gone, I’ll go. But I’m not leaving until I taste you one last time.”
His lips moved closer, his warm breath ghosting over my face. My heart slammed against my ribs, wild and out of control.
I wanted him safe. I wanted him gone. But God, I wanted him even more. I craved his hands on my skin, his tongue on my clit, his dick deep inside me. I needed him as badly as I needed to breathe.
“We don’t have enough time, Knox…”
“How long?” he cut in.
“Less than two hours,” I whispered.
“Then I’ve still got time to mark your body, carve my name into every inch of your skin and ruin you. I want to memorize your scent, map you out one last time, make you feel what it means to be worshipped, adored, loved. Let me make love to you, Serenity.”
My heart stopped beating for a moment, then started up again, pounding even harder.
“Knox…” I managed to whisper.
“Konflict,” he corrected softly.
I looked into his eyes, letting every wall fall away.
“Please… Make love to me one last time, Konflict.”