“You spoke out of turn.”
“That wasn’t what I meant. What happened after I left? I agreed to this because Grayson was supposed to be safe—his family safe.”
I couldn’t say the word prisoner. It was too surreal.
“He is. They are. But did you think that the stunt you pulled at the Nutcracker Masquerade would have no consequences? That’s naive, even for you.”
West gripped my chin, and on instinct I shoved him. Mistake.
He gripped my wrists. “You need to learn your place, Angel,” he gritted. “I can’t protect you—”
“If I refuse to understand the rules.” I fought the urge to roll my eyes, but by the way his grip tightened I’m sure he got the gist.
West was a number of things, but he was not my protector.
He thrust me to him by my wrists until we were flush against one another. “Who needs to die for you to realize this isn’t a game? That your kisses have consequences?”
I breathed through my nostrils, refusing to answer him.
I know. He thinks I’m not aware of how precarious my love for Grayson is? I was viscerally aware. I’d barely been back hours and nearly ruined everything.
The ways I was allowed to love Grayson kept dwindling.
“Don’t get any ideas about leaving this wing.” His grip bruised. “Don’t wander the halls without me. Don’t speak unless explicitly addressed.”
My heart raced. “Or what? This has been my home for over a decade.”
A look passed over his eyes, but then he let me go.
“Have you given my proposal some thought?” He dragged a thumb along the edge of his square jaw, watching me. Waiting.
I’ll kill him before I let that happen.
I looked away.
“You loved me once,” he said softly, one knuckle glancing the fresh bite on my neck. “Be my angel, fall for me.”
I jerked my head away. “You are not my god, and I will never bleed for you.”
He clenched his jaw, nostrils flared, and I took a step to him, feeling a little bit more empowered. I raised my chin.
“You want my heart, West? How do you think I or anyone could ever love you if all you do is lie?”
“Grayson Crowne tells you the truth?” He smiled venomously. “Is that why you’re so curious as to what happened while we were gone?”
I know Grayson has another secret.
Something was very wrong.
But I could feel Grayson’s truth bleeding from him in a way that West would never understand. Our connection went beyond simple truth and lies. I just had to wait for him to tell me why his eyes ached.
So I stood taller. “He tells me all his truth. Grayson Crowne is more honest than you will ever know how to be. Because you’re wrapped in so many lies, I’m starting to wonder if even you know the truth.”
His eyes flashed.
“I tried to warn you,” he yelled. “All those months ago…I told you he would marry her, and I told you this is all you could ever have. A place at my side.”
His words stabbed my kidney. Stabbed that constant, needling fear…that maybe he was right. Maybe no matter how hard Grayson and I fought, we wouldn’t ever win.