My hands curl around her impossibly tiny waist. So small, so fragile. So broken. But shattered into a hundred even more beautiful pieces I’d gladly cut myself on if I could hold them in my hand.
I’m fully shaking now. The bloodlust, the need for her roars to the surface, demanding.
Pierce her.
Drink her.
Mark her.
Fuck her.
So I do what I must.
I drop the softest kiss where her neck meets her shoulder before I step away, forcing her to let me go.
“No.”
When I pull back, I see an expression that far exceeds the purple death. If she could incinerate me with her outrage, she would. In fact, I swear I almost smell something burning.
“Why?” Her question is a blend of pure agony and hatred.
I have to scare her off this idea. Off this entire endeavor. It’s getting too dangerous. It’s going to hurt her no matter what, I see that now. So I’ll do what I never thought I’d do.
Show her the real me.
“Because I love you.”
I close the door between us, locking it for good measure. My chest is in danger of caving in on itself, and I press a hand to it to brace myself.
There’s a crash and then something shatters against the adjoining door.
For the first time, I realize neither of us are going to come out of this unscathed. I’d been a fool to think that taking the crown wouldn’t create a body count. I just didn’t count on it being like this.
Chapter 43
Cornered by Piranhas
CINDER
Another fucking ball.
Another fucking bullshit evening, and I can’t even pretend I don’t want to set fire to this entire castle.
Worst yet. I’m here by myself.
I was told by one of my royal dressers that the prince would not be attending tonight. He’s “not feeling well.”
It was a message.
This is over. You can’t do this without me.
Well, Prince Charming can go fuck himself off a cliff and right in his own butthole. Because I’m tired of holding back on everything.
He said he loves me. Loves me!
I only wish I’d had time to go home to tell Goldie, Red, and Snow about his dick move.
If he thinks he can manipulate me with his so-called charm and woo me into doing whatever he wants, he’s got another thing coming.
