Eating to live is one thing but murdering another in anger is completely different.
“I didn’t kill Isaac to eat,” I whisper, nearly choking on his name.
I can still see the look of love and betrayal in his eyes…
A look that will haunt my dreams for the rest of my immortal life.
Asher chuckles again, his chest vibrating against my breasts. “If I recall correctly that honor is all mine. He was still breathing when I snapped his neck.”
When I open my mouth to argue that point, Asher’s lips crash into mine. Be at ease, my sweet little angel, and know you did him no harm. In fact, you did him a kindness.
How so? I ask, unable to understand how anyone could mistake what I did as a kindness.
It certainly wasn’t my intention at the time.
Asher deepens the kiss. You spared him from suffering the full force of my wrath.
Anticipating my reluctance to accept that, Asher swamps my head with images of all the things he wanted to do to Isaac before I interfered with his plans.
By the time the last picture fades away, I’m shaking in his arms. Not only deeply disturbed by the depth of his depravity but amazed by the strength behind his need to get vengeance on my behalf.
So you see… you did him a kindness, he growls, his voice inside my head rough and husky with repressed violence.
After what he showed me, I can only agree and let go of my guilt.
It would have been far crueler to let Isaac live through what Asher had in store for him.
Far, far crueler.
Finally melting in Asher’s arms and returning his kiss with the same passion he’s showing me, I’m not sure who the bigger monster is.
Asher for what he had planned…
Or me for loving him for it.
Twenty-Five
Asher
Pulling carefully back from the bond we share, I keep my eyes focused on Chloe’s. She’s still in a vulnerable state, regardless of what white lies I’ve told her.
Her willingness to fight the voice that lives inside all us monsters though is what gives me hope that she’ll soon be whole.
It's the voice that begs to be let out, encouraging us to fall to our lesser instincts. It craves blood and carnage, and it promises security, but it’s a lie. Too many of us have fallen into its seductive embrace. Too many of us have died because we believed the falsehoods it spewed.
Taking a deep breath, I smell the filth that covers us, including my newest son’s blood.
“You smell bad,” I say with a smirk.
Eyes widening, Chloe stutters, “ I—I don’t…”
Taking another sniff of her, I say, “You smell really bad.”
Eyes burning now with anger, Chloe leans forward. “You don’t smell so fresh yourself, and you… you... fucked me.”
Wrapping both my arms around her, I lift us off the floor. “Very true.”
Carrying her into the bathroom, my smirk becomes a grin as she purses her lips and stares daggers into my eyes.
“But I’m a man who cares little about such things. I’ll fuck you anywhere, anytime, regardless of the situation. Just say the word.”
Chloe begins to soften in my arms, some of her anger fading.
I sweep back the shower curtain and lower her to her feet.
Unable to resist stirring her up again, because I love to see the fire in her eyes, I say, “What’s your excuse?”
Chloe gasps at me, and I tip my head back, laughing.
Shaking her head, she pushes past me, stepping into the shower.
I eye her juicy ass as she moves.
It’s perfection. The way it sways and jiggles as she walks…
I want to bite it. I want to lick it.
I want to feed from it.
Fuck, even after all these centuries, I still get fascinated by something truly precious.
“I suppose I have none,” Chloe says as she bends over, purposely sticking her ass out as she fiddles with the knobs.
I’m behind her in an instant, my hands grabbing and kneading her juicy flesh. I grind my hips against her, rock-hard and ready to go again.
Chloe laughs, and then she’s gone. Leaving me fondling emptiness as ice cold water blasts me in the face.
"Chloe!" I bellow.
Her musical giggles fill the bathroom as I jump out of the shower.
Growling in anger, I hide my own amusement as I stalk toward her, water dripping everywhere.
"You're going to pay for that."
"Oh?" she asks, smirking saucily and jutting out her hip in front of the sink.
"Yes," I grin, advancing on her.
The sexy little minx is going to pay by giving me that ass.
“I don’t know…” Chloe says as I push her toward the basement stairs.
“It’s time we do this, Chloe,” I say, nudging her down the hall. “Your children are waiting to meet you formally.”
She lets out a loud groan and looks back at me. “I look like a gothic barbie doll!”
“Not at all, my kitten. You’ll fit in perfectly.” I smirk, repressing the snicker that begs to be free, then point down at myself. “We fit together.”