Montgomery Kingston tumbled to the ground holding his face where my fist had just punched. I hoped the motherfucker’s jaw broke with my force.
“You son of a bitch,” I roared. “I expect this from these assholes, but from you? You?”
“You know what these Trials are like,” Montgomery said as he stood back up, rubbing the sting from his face. “And for the record, I had no fucking clue what was going to happen. I would never do that to you, brother.”
“You think that fucking matters? You think you can still call yourself my brother? You’ve become one of them,” I spat. “I thought you were better than that. Just because you now wear a robe doesn’t mean you have to be as fucked up as these old limp dicks.”
“You’re trying to become one of them too,” Montgomery countered. His eyes narrowed and his jaw hardened. “Check yourself, Sully. You don’t want me as an enemy.”
Redirecting my anger, I stopped glaring at Montgomery and narrowed my gaze to the Elders.
“Are you happy?” I shouted as I took a few steps back and extended my arms wide. “Is this the outcome you wanted?” I pointed at Portia where she stood clutching my jacket around her, dirt-stained and shaking. “Is she scared enough for you? Did she scream for mercy enough while you all drank your bourbon and smoked your cigars?” I extended my scraped and raw hands. “Do you want me to spread my blood on her naked body?”
I marched over to where Portia stood, her mouth open and her eyes glassy with unshed tears. I parted my jacket, placed my palms on her breasts and ran them down her body, smearing my blood in a path of the blackest and darkest sickness.
“Like this, you sick fucks? Like this?” I spun on my heels and eyed each one of them in unleashed fury. “You all can go to hell.”
Montgomery stepped up to me, which really took a set of balls considering I still wanted to strangle the man. “Settle down, Sully.” He took another step toward me, looked at Portia and asked, “Are you all right?”
Portia came to my side and held on to my arm. I wasn’t sure if it was due to her needing support or if she was trying to leash the beast inside of me that raged to be unshackled. I wanted to kill every single man who stood before me in their robes and with their canes.
“I am now,” Portia said lightly.
Montgomery nodded and said, “I had to go through my own near-death Trial. I remember just how awful it was. They hung Grace at the gallows. I remember all too well. But you have to stay calm. Think bigger picture here, man. Don’t let them push you to the breaking point. Don’t allow it. Remember why you’re here.”
“Sully VanDoren,” one of the Elders called out. “You have completed the evening's Trial. You are one step closer to joining The Order of the Silver Ghost.”
“Fuck you all,” I spat as Portia’s trembling legs finally gave out on her. I caught her right before she hit dirt, hiking her up into my arms and marching us out of that damn cemetery. “I will never be you. Never.”
I would fight until my bones gave out to not lose myself to this insanity. Yes, there was a bigger picture. My sister. I knew that. But I would never lose myself.
Had the Order broken me?
Yes.
Shattered the man I thought I was.
All that was left at the moment was a monster with the thirst for revenge. If I didn’t leave with Portia, someone would get seriously hurt.
Something had to change. The Oleander had turned into a den of vipers, and I refused to be another serpent in its grips.
19
Portia
Sully’s arms felt amazing around me. After the cold and the dirt and the death of that tomb they’d stuck me in, his life-giving arms carrying me to safety…
I curled into him. I tucked my face against his solid chest and listened to his heartbeat. He was alive and because of him, so was I.
I wanted to wrap my arms around him and never let go. Never, ever let go.
For as long as we both shall live.
We got to our room and Sully kicked open the door.
I hoped he would take me straight to the shower and cleanse me lovingly. I needed to be taken care of. I needed my strong protector to keep taking the lead. After that experience tonight, I seriously had nothing left.
But instead, Sully went into the room, shoved the door closed with his foot after us, and deposited me on the bed.
Okay, well, I was dirty, but I could understand his need to immediately connect with me after all we’d just been through. I could get with this new program. And I would welcome his body into mine with open arms. In fact, I was getting wet just thinking about it—