Throwing my hands in the air as I pace, I dislike how much sense everythingismaking.More so, I dislike that Fabia was right.She’snever going to let me live this down.
Live.
I snort.
At least my deathwillhaveone silver lining.
My feet grinding to a halt, Ithinkabout all the things I planned on doing with my life.All the dreams I made thathaveyet to come to fruition.And okay, most of them I couldhave already done had I not kept putting them off, but, like, that was different.That was before I knew I was actually going to die.But now I do.And thereisnothing better for stopping one’s procrastination than the approach of death.Unfortunately, the whole thing about the approach of death jolting you out of your comfortable laziness, is that you no longer have the time to do the things you wanted to do.
And isn’t that just cruel?
Screaming,I start to pace again.I need to find out how much time Ihaveleft.Then Icanstart planning for all the things I want to do, like –
My eyes widen as I rememberthewasps.Although I separated them all before the wedding, the buggers will chew through my walls if they’re hungry.And then they’ll kill each other, just like Hyatt did Bo.
Just like Richardisgoing to do to me.
But itdoesn’tmatter how Ifeelabout himright now.Ihaveto do right by my pets.Opening the door, I demand to see my executioner.
For them.
For me.
But mostly for them.
Twenty-Four
A good brownie loves having sex.
Even if it’s with the person trying to kill me?- Arienna
Dear gods, Ihavemade a mistake,I realise as soon as Jacelets me into the study and picks me up in his arms.Richard isn’t at his desk –of course he isn’t at his desk; it’s too early for work– and now I’m flyingup to the mezzaninewhere he often sleeps.It wrapsaround the back of thestudy, but there are no stairs for me to climb.“I bet you’re glad I haven’t had breakfast yet,” I squeak as my stomach rolls.
“Not at all.A woman should –” He cuts himself off as he sees the terrified look on my face.Grinning, he places me on solid ground, and I spread my arms out as I wobble.I want to fall to my hands and knees and kiss the floor.I want to sprout nails and cling to the wood because I know that if there aren’t any stairs to get up here, then there aren’t any stairs to get down.
But then my eyes snag on the reason why I’m here, and Irealise I’m in way more danger than I realised.Mylipspart in asilentO as I land eyes on my king.He’s standing beside abed with rumpled sheets,having clearly just woken up.His black curls have yet to be tamed.His chestis still bare, only a pair of trousers covering him.His violet eyes are filled with that sleepy hazethat speaks of restless, sex-filled nights.And now they’re focusing on me as if I’m the coffee that gives him life.Crossing hislean,muscled arms, he covers a small scar near his heart, but there’s another one slicing across his left side.
This is a mistake.I should’ve stayed far away from him.My mouth dry, I run my eyesover his body, taking in every line of his muscled torso.Heisn’tas big as his brother.His shapeismore athletic, less gained from the gym – a slender, toned god of beauty.Faint abs angle down into a sharp V, which disappearsbeneath his waistline.
A whimper buildsin my throat.
Dear gods, whydoI have such crappy taste inmen?First Patrick, then Simon, Jack, Karl.And now the biggest douche of them all: a man who wantsme dead.My king.
“Well, I’ll leave you two lovebirds to it,” Jacesays.
“Jace –”Richardstarts, but hecuts himself off with a scowlashis bodyguardflipsoff the mezzanineand spreads his wings.
My eyes widening, I scrambleto grabhim.“Don’t leave!”I need him to stand between us.
An arm wrapsaround my waist, hauling me back from therail-freeedge.Itrynot to thinkaboutwho that armisattached to.Trynot to feel the chest pressingagainst my back.But it’sfreaking impossible when his morning woodis pokinghardagainst my spine.
Closing my eyes, I struggle to control my breathing.
As Jace leaves the study, the door clicksclosed as solidly as itdidlast night.
My mouth waters.
Sodoesmy pussyas all those sensations from last nightslam into me.
