Page 34 of Trust the Fall

“You bastard!” I yell, continuing my assault. “You’re not taking me anywhere. I won’t go.”

“Jesus Christ and Christmas, will someone get her under control?” Nolda bemoans.

My fists are caught in River’s solid grip as he bears down on me with that same infuriating grin. I want to slap it from his entirely too beautiful face.

My chest heaves with every shallow breath I take. The walls are closing in, and I know I need to get myself together or else suffer a major panic attack in front of these vile people.

“Calm down, Victoria.” River leans into me so that only I can hear his next words. “You don’t want to show weakness here.”

I continue flailing, trying and failing to kick River in the shins. I’ll show him weakness. “You … monster.”

River crashes me to his chest. “I’ve been called worse, princess. Now calm the fuck down.”

His tone is one of warning. And it pisses me off even more. If he thinks that dominance is the way to get my submission, he doesn’t know who he’s messing with.

I stomp my foot down onto his, slap him across the face, and bring my knee up into his crotch.

Then … I run for it.

I don’t get far before strong arms circle around my middle, hauling me back into his firm chest. I know it’s him without even looking. The intoxicating scent of pine, leather, and whiskey gives him away.

“Let me go!” I screech, kicking my legs out.

“Damn it, Victoria,” he curses into my ear, before loosening his grip and spinning me around to face him. “Can’t you just trust me?”

“Hell no!” I snap out breathily. “Why would I trust you? Huh? You’re fine with just letting these demons torture and kill innocent humans. Children, River. How can I trust you knowing that you’re fine with all of that so long as you get your holiday?”

He sighs heavily, taking a step back, but still holding my arms to my sides.

“There is more at stake here than you know. I have a part to play, and you might not know what that entails, but you have to trust that I’m not the bad guy. Can you try that, Victoria? Can you give me some time?”

“Do you really plan to take me away from here?”

“Yes.”

“I won’t go. I can’t, River. He’s coming for me.”

He throws his head back in frustration. “He can’t. They won’t allow him in, Victoria. It’s why Heaven sealed the doors. I was meant to find you here and take you home. The queen said so herself.”

“How do you know this? How did she?”

“On my part? Call it a very strong intuition. As for the queen, she knows things that are beyond my comprehension. All I can tell you is that Heaven is trying to keep you safe while also preventing an all-out war.”

“And going to the reaper kingdom, which by the way I didn’t realize existed, is the way to keep me safe and prevent war?” I throw my hands up in the air.

“I believe so.”

“You believe so? That’s not good enough, River.”

“It has to be. It’s all I can offer you at the moment.”

“Detain her,” Nolda screeches, drawing our attention. “She’s assaulting the reaper prince.”

“For fuck’s sake, Nolda, I can handle myself,” River barks.

“Be that as it may, our conversation isn’t over, and I’d prefer she not maim you until I have your oath.”

River groans. “Take her,” he instructs the demons from before. “But if you harm a hair on her head, your life will end.”