Soulless (Starcrossed Lovers Trilogy 2)

“Thanks,” I said, and it was the most pathetic word in the world.

His smirk was broader than ever.

“You’re very welcome, Elaine.” His eyes were fire on mine. “He will be the first of many.”

“Many?”

His grin made me light up inside.

“Many. Believe me, baby, I have a whole list of the next candidates. I’ll be savoring every single one of them.”

My brain was spinning just thinking about it. I was still trying to comprehend whether I was reading this right, because if I was . . .

“You mean people alongside Reverend Lynch?”

“I mean every man who has ever laid his sick twisted hands on your sweet little body. Payback will be divine,” he said.

Yeah, he was certainly boyfriend material. I didn’t know what to do so I did nothing, still trying to get a grip on my thoughts. I took my mug from him with shaking fingers, still blown away by just how casual the monster was in the aftermath of butchering someone up close.

I stared at him, loving him. The full weight of what he’d done for me slammed me like a train when I finally came to my senses enough to process it. Reverend Lynch was dead, and the girls around him were free. I’m not sure who was more surprised when I launched myself at Lucian’s body and wrapped my arms around his neck. He was still wet with blood, but I didn’t care. All I cared about was being up tight to the man I loved.

I didn’t just love Lucian Morelli, I adored him. I adored him as much as it could ever be possible to adore someone. He was like a god to me – a beautiful, vicious god who’d killed for me like a noble avenger.

“Thank you,” I whispered, and this time it sounded from right down in my heart. “Thank you for loving me, Lucian.”

He pushed me away just far enough to look me in the eyes.

“I told him I loved you, you know,” he growled. “I told that sonofabitch I was in love with you before I knifed him to death.”

The thought made me proud. It filled me with glee that Reverend Lynch knew that finally someone loved me enough to make him pay for his sins. Just a shame it was one of the Morellis and not the Constantines.

Lucian ran his thumb down my cheek, then pressed his lips to mine. His kiss tasted like blood, but I didn’t care. I’d already kissed him in someone else’s blood. Both times were because he was hurting them for hurting me. Boyfriend material didn’t even come close to it on reflection.

“What did you do with the bodies?” I asked. “Are they just lying there? The police will come find them, right? Will they know it was you?”

His laugh was evil but hilarious.

“Lynch’s body is in the trunk outside,” he said.

“In the trunk?”

The whole thing was growing more bizarre by the second.

“Yeah,” he told me. “In the trunk. They’ll find plenty of blood in that fuck-up of a manor, but they won’t find him. The police might well find the scene, but they won’t be coming after me. The fellowship will be damned sure his death stays well hidden.”

The relief when I heard that was a beautiful thing. The idea of Lucian being arrested and taken away from me was becoming the most unbearable thing in the world.

“And what about Margaret?” I asked him.

He was still smiling. “Margaret was dumped somewhere suitable. They won’t be finding her anytime soon.”

I didn’t even want to ask about that. I held him tight again, breathing against him, grateful to have him in my arms. I wanted nothing but Lucian for all time. I wanted him at my side through every step I took, right to the end of my life. I couldn’t be away from him if I tried. I’d never make it. I’d never want to make it.

“I mean it,” he whispered. “I’ll kill them all, baby, one by one. They’ll all rue the day they ever looked at you that way, let alone touched you. That’s a promise.”

His warmth against me was blissful, even soaked in blood. I squeezed him, kissed him, did everything I could to let him know just how much I loved him, and then I asked him all over again.

“Please, Lucian, please will you fuck me now? I need to feel you inside me, please.”

He brushed my hair from my forehead and smiled down at me with dark, sparkling eyes.

“Yes, sweetheart, I’ll fuck you now. It’s time.”36LucianElaine Constantine’s sweet virgin pussy was the greatest jewel in the crown there could possibly be. It was still amazing to me that taking the prize mattered less to me than how much she would enjoy me taking it. But still, I wanted her to gasp and beg, desperate for every second.