Page 135 of Silk and Sirens

“Fucking hell, she’s hot,” Langdon signed in my face, grinning like a maniac when I shot him a glare. “She’s going to be the death of you.”

Aeris leaned in closer, her lips brushing Vivienne’s ear in a mocking caress even as her eyes collided with mine. “The best part is that it’s going to take hours,” she whispered. “You’re going to be just sitting here, alone in the dark, while experiencing the worst pain of your life.”

Vivienne was shaking uncontrollably now, soft, broken whimpers escaping through clenched teeth.

“And while you’re sitting here, waiting to die, I’m going to destroy everything you and your mother have ever built. Every alliance and dirty little secret. I’m not going to stop until the Blackwater name is completely erased.”

Aeris was fucking terrifying in her revenge. Beautiful. Especially when she turned away, not caring as Vivienne let out a choked, agonised sob as her body jerked violently from the poison coursing through her body.

“I want to finish this,” she said, her voice steady. “But I want to be there when Selene gets the news.”

Pulling out my phone, I called Hendrix.

“Yeah?” he answered immediately.

Aeris’s eyes met mine, gleaming with that ruthless hunger I fucking revelled in. The kind of darkness that matched my own.

“Do it.”

Chapter 56

Aeris

Selene barely acknowledged me, her gaze on the setting sun in the distance as she leaned against the railings. The sea violently clashed against the cliffs below.

“Why Renley?” I asked, knowing not to step out on the deck, to do this quickly so I could face my monster and put the past in the past.

“I see you can still walk,” she said smoothly, turning to face me. “Good. I’d hate for you to be out of commission too long.”

My fists clenched at my sides, but I forced the anger down before it could unravel me.

Selene cocked her head, closing the distance between us as lightning flashed in the distance.

“I wanted your fear to be real,” she said, her long nails reaching to caress my cheek with mocking gentleness. “Threats alone clearly weren’t enough, as you were still keeping secrets from me. Hunting people down one by one. Killing quietly while searching for your sister.”

She leaned closer.

“Oh, child,” she whispered. “I know everything.”

My stomach twisted, but I remained standing tall. “So you chose him⁠—”

“Because why not choose the man who already violated you?” she cut in coldly, all softness vanishing from her voice. “The one you still look at with such exquisite hatred and fear after all these years.”

“I don’t fear him.”

“Of course you do.” Selene’s smile was cold. “You wouldn’t have played so perfectly into my hands, otherwise.”

Another flash of lightning split the sky, closely followed by a deep rumble of thunder.

“Renley’s been following you for years,” she continued casually. “Tracking every body you left behind. Every rapist and thug you’ve poisoned.”

I steeled my spine.

“I knew dangling your sisters’ lives over your head wouldn’t control you forever,” she said. “So I needed something stronger. Something fresher. Newer punishments that would keep you in line.”

“You knew?”

“Of course I knew.” She laughed softly. “You really believed I’d ever give you that much freedom?” Her gaze swept over me with open disappointment. “Stupid child.”