by Ashley Black
“What if I told you I knew my powers wouldn’t help my dad,” he went on in a whisper.
“What?” I gaped at him.
“What if I told you I hastened his death so he could ask you that exact question. So you could answer with your agreement to marry me. Before you went off and married Mr Cruel and Unnecessary? Hey here’s an idea for you! Maybe you should write that as a young adult fiction, with a very young lady who quivers and falls over at the sight of a cock. It would, on my good authority, be a best seller, Elena!”
I tried to step back.
His fingers only tightened around my skull and pressed me closer to his insane warmth and hardness for my resistance.
I blinked up at him. “I would say you are full of fucking shit Mr. Darko, except the bit about Mr. Cruel and Unnecessary, I am certain if I had the inclination to write young adult fiction, that story about a young woman overwhelmed by a cruel and callous cock would be a best seller.”
He threw his head back and laughed.
The dark booming sound of it bestowed much relief.
He was joking, I realized.
“Why did you say that?” I whispered, tension dissolving. “That was fucking awful!”
Thorn cocked a dark brow at me. “As a reminder. I am not a very nice person. I was so excited when dad trapped you into marrying me I could barely stand in my own skin. I rejoiced over my good fortune. Because I couldn’t figure out how I could get the same result, without you killing me of course. Dad handed you to me on a gleaming platter of fucked over, and you didn’t even realize it,” he smirked at me.
I placed two hands on his chest and pushed him away from me.
The smile on his face was smugly triumphant. “Let me guess?,” he snarled, huge arms folding across his chest. “You agreed out of sympathy to marry me, intending to divorce after the curse was dissolved and have a life with soft cock?”
I was such a fool! An idiot to agree to anything with this man without checking the fine print. I had committed to marrying him. I had to marry him or we would both die. Brett was going to fucking kill me for being so stupid.
“Well” Thorn snapped. “I’m waiting? Shock me! Tell me I’m wrong.”
“I don’t want you to die Thorn,” is all I said.
“We’ll see,” he said softly.
His phone rang.
He slammed it to his ear and answered on a bark. “Yes.”
His severe countenance, softened. “What?” he murmured. “When? Sure, yes, of course, I will come.”
He stalked away from me to his boat, the Black Eagle.
“Thorn?” I called to him. “Where are you going?”
He whipped around, “Brett and his soldier buddies just set fire to my home. I need to see if everyone is all right.”
What was Brett thinking? I fretted. He’s going to get himself killed.
“If he has hurt anyone Elena, I will fuck him up,” Thorn growled.
I shook my head. “No!” I wailed. “Please. If he did, it’s been a terrible mistake. An accident!”
“Then his death can be a terrible mistake. An accident!” Thorn offered a cold smile to me as he smoothly sprung up onto his boat.
I was stunned that he would leave me behind.
That he would let me go.
Seeing my amazement, he sniggered. “You are mine. But I need you to stay the fuck away from me for a little while. I need some time. Don’t attempt to run away. Don’t, if you value your life, attempt to marry that soft cock during my absence, if, I allow him to live tonight. Don’t try to hide from me either. There is nowhere on this earth you can hide Elena now that you have committed to becoming my wife.” His eyes flashed with dark, twisted mayhem. “I will come back for you love, I will claim you, and you will let me.”
“What?”
The man was giving me emotional whiplash.
“Why are you being so fucking cruel?” I howled at him. “You are seriously going to hold me to this fucked up agreement? How can you do this to me?”
“I am not well, Elena.”
Thorn’s words stabbed me in the face.
Because in the dark, delicious throb of his voice,
I wanted to hear evil.
I wanted to hear malice.
All he gifted, was heart crushing sadness.
Twenty Five
I had stood there, stricken, staring after Thornton Darko’s boat believing I couldn’t move.
Couldn’t breathe.
The man had me fucked. I let the dark chaos of feelings boil in my stomach awhile, before I gave myself a mental slap that forced me to the road. To my absolute relief and astonishment, I happened upon a cab that was dropping three intoxicated ladies off at the pier.
Once inside, I borrowed the drivers phone and called Brett.
“Hello?”
He sounded like he had been crying.
“It’s El,” I choked out.
“I’ve been looking for you everywhere,” his voice was a tremulous rush over the line. “I’ve been worried sick.”
“I know.” I flinched, thinking of Bob’s story of being knocked over and left on the floor.
“I heard,” I added. “Bob.”
Brett was silent a moment. “Go to ours, Clarissa and Aaron are there. I’ll come get you.”
“Where are you?” I asked.
“Back at the base,” he sounded uncomfortable, like he was lying to me.
“That was quick. Weren’t you were just at Thornton Darko’s home, attempting to burn it down?” I accused. “Thorn knows you were involved. He’s pretty pissed. Watch your back babe.”
“Back is covered. Yes, we were at Thorn’s. We’re back at base now. Stay safe. Take care El. I’ll be there soon.”
He ended the call.
Fifteen minutes later, I stumbled into my home feeling heavy with misery, it felt like a stone on the ruby red floor of my heart.
I heard the news blaring from the lounge room.
I frowned. “Hey guys!” I shouted.
Aaron burst into the foyer, arms wide, eyes wet with tears. “Els! Thank God you’re all right.”
“Elena!” Clarissa yelled, sounding deeply disturbed. “Get your gorgeous ass in here. We need to talk.”
Aaron hissed at me, eyes slitting.
“What the fuck?” I whimpered. “Does everyone in my life have to act like a fucking crazy person tonight?”
My friend swept behind me and ripped Thorn’s coat from my shoulders. “Why in the fuck are you wearing – oh.”
Fantastic.
Now I was naked.
Eeeeewwww. I realized what a fucking mess I still was.
Covered in his blood. Caked and dried on my skin.
Aaron slammed a hand over his eyes. “You can explain this shit later. Take a shower.”
“Gladly!”
Gratefully, I fell into the heated embrace of the shower.
I closed my eyes as the scalding hot water fell over me.
Brett seldom shared showers with me. I always ran them too hot.
I liked the dull ache of pain that lingered on my skin.
I sighed as the water hissed over my raised nipples, down, to tickle the ache between my legs.
I was oddly, horny as fuck.
I bit my lip in frustration.
It was wrong to feel this way.
On such a hideous night.
Everything that mattered was fucked.
The tears that slid from my eyes were hotter than the water.
I started, eyes widening at the sudden booming echo of the news.
The two ridiculously huge flat screens Brett had insisted on mounting in the bathroom of all places, switched on.
I shut off the water.
Stared, mesmerized at the images that filled the screens.
Fire.
Something big was on fire.
Twenty confirmed dead, the news report said.
Images of young men dressed in all their military finery rolle
d along the bottom of the screen.
“Military base,” the news readers voice droned on.
“Suspect,” a man’s voice chimed in.
An image of Thornton Darko in his Cellrager get up flashed.
More pictures.
Pretty pictures of the formidable man half naked in a field.
That gorgeous, sensual brooding, intense as fuck, face, splashed all over the screens in the bathroom.
“The fuck!” I screamed and nearly fell ass over head as I exploded from the shower.
“What?”
I barely whispered as the accusations about Thornton’s involvement in the explosion rang out thick and fast. “Have you done Thorn?”
I hurriedly yanked on a long sleeved black dress I had pulled absent mindedly from the closet and stared at the screen. Terrified.
“Elena!” Aaron’s voice clamoured outside the door.
I unlocked it.
“Oh babe, so sorry!” he wailed, engulfing me in a hug.
I pointed at the screen, unable to speak. Unbelieving.
“Promising artist and ex-soldier, Brett Argosy confirmed among those dead in the military base explosion.”
The news politely informed me.
I screamed, snapped my body from Aaron’s arms.
I couldn’t be touched.
No one.
Nothing.
Could touch me now.
Clarissa rushed into the room, took one look at me and freaked out. “She’s going into some kind of shock, let’s lie her down,” she yelled at Aaron.
I pushed her aside, stumbling awkwardly down the stairs. The absolute last thing I felt like doing was lying down.
“Where’s my fucking phone!” I roared. “Where is it?!”
“Here!” Clarissa couldn’t hand it to me fast enough. “I found it downstairs.”
I called Thorn.
Aaron who had peeked around at what I was doing, freaked out. “She’s calling the monster, that fucking killer!”
Thorn didn’t pick up.
I text messaged him. Where are you? I need to see you.
He responded at once.
See the news? Like my work?
With soft cock dead, we can be together forever. No more complications. No more of your divided attention Enchantress. I will not and cannot abide it as your husband.
Want to see me?
You know where I am.
Come get me.
Twenty Six
“Oh, I’ll come and get you,” I hissed, as I looked down at the message from Thornton Darko for what was possibly the millionth time.
I was helpless to the compulsion to look at the damned thing.
On some fucked in the head level of delusion, I hoped I had misread it.
I hoped the disgraceful message was a mistake.
I hoped Brett would wake me up from this nightmare.
“El,” Aaron took the phone from me, and placed it face down on the back seat of the car. “Stop torturing yourself.”
“Aaron’s right. Stop looking at that fucking message.” Clarissa hollered from the driver’s seat.
“So he didn’t say where he is?” Aaron frowned.
I nodded. “It doesn’t matter. I know where he is.”
Yep. I knew exactly where that fucked up piece of shit circus freak was. On a soul grinding night like this, I imagined Thorn would be whipping himself pointlessly again before the dead town folk and his family in the forest reserve they were buried in.
My throat burned.
I was drinking too much vodka.
I wanted to be numb when I killed Thornton Darko.
I saw what I wanted to do to him vividly in my minds rather fucked up eye.
Pull out his heart.
Lick it as he choked on unending blood.
Stomp on it.
“Ease up Els,” Aaron pulled the bottle from my shaking hand. “You are confronting Thornton Darko. He is epic bad ass. I agree, don’t get me wrong, he’s too scary to confront sober. But you still need to make sense to yourself woman.”
I gratefully patted his shoulder, flashing him a strained smile in thanks.
Brett.
Oh. Holy fuck Brett!
“This is all my fault,” I wailed.
“It sort of is,” Clarissa agreed.
“Fucks sake!” Aaron shouted angrily. “Things not to say, bitch!”
I saw Clarissa’s shoulders bob in a shrug. “I’m sorry. I was being harsh. But Elena honey, come on? This tragedy should hardly come as a surprise to you. You should know an Enchantress and a Warlock aren’t ever going to happen. One of them always fucking breaks the other! It was always going to end in tears.”
“Again, things not to say!” Aaron hissed between pursed lips. “Where is your fucking heart, witch? Elena just lost the love of her life!”
“By inviting a dirty fucking wizard into her bed!” She sighed.
“Fuck you Clarissa.” I snapped. “How dare you judge me. You fucked an almost married man!”
“And even if Brett had lived, what could you have given him?” Clarissa braked sharply, blowing out an angry breath. “When you promised yourself to him! To the dirty wizard himself!”
My eyes widened.
“What?” Aaron’s head snapped back and forth between us. “What is she talking about Elena?”
“How could you know that?” I whispered, horrified.
Clarissa whirled around, hazel eyes glittering with tears. “How could I not know it? The whole magical community is talking about the crazy thing you did.”
“What crazy thing?” My friend wanted to know.
“Elena agreed to take Thornton Darko as her husband.”
Aaron groaned, head falling into his hands. “The magic fuck stick strikes again! Elena please! It’s all cock thrall gorgeous. Have I not explained this before? It is just a cock. Remember the utter scum bag that is attached to the cock!”
“Aaron!” I snapped. “Fuck you.”
“Both of you,” I added, throwing a dagger glare into the back of Clarissa’s head. “I’m going to find Thorn.”
“Where is he, exactly?” Clarissa asked, glancing down at her mobile phone that was flashing in her hand.
“In a cemetery,” I hissed as I flung myself out of the car.
“Nice one!” Aaron congratulated, as he tumbled out after me. “Way to kick ass! You already buried him huh?”
I screamed when I saw the fire.
Thornton Darko’s castle looked like it had been flattened by a bomb.
Only half of the structure remained and that was quickly going to the shit. Crumbling, eaten away by hungry flame.
Brett. What the fuck did you do?
My heart pulsed with ugly dread.
A fresh wave of scalding tears descended.
This was such a fucking mess.
Later, as I strode into the wet, cool forest, I honestly didn’t know how I was upright.
Because I was on my fucking knees here.
Thornton Darko had killed Brett.
Murdered my everything.
I wanted to fuck him up with my hate.
I wanted him to swallow my misery and choke on all the tears.
Thorn clearly wanted to end.
He must.
To do this to me.
To … us.
Why?
My gaze swept over the graves of the town folk, his family.
Until it tripped and fell over Him.
I froze.
He knelt there, torso bare, viciously flinging that whip over his back. His bulging inked arm was a blur of speed and craziness as he applied himself to his pointless self flagellation.
I squinted, making out the name on the headstone of the grave he was kneeling before.
Alice, his little sister.
Blood sped down his tortured skin.
“Why is he doing that?” Clarissa whispered loudly behind me.
“Fucked if I know,” Aaron answered.
>
Ignoring them, I ran at Thornton Darko, aiming my body squarely at him. I wanted to flatten him, as he had me. I screamed. Well, I tried to scream. But no sound came. I didn’t have the air. He stole the breath right out of me. A strange breathy, strangled, agonised rasp fell from my lips instead.
I was overcome by devastation for all he had done.
All the cruelty.
All the bull shit.
All the manipulation.
All the lies.
Thorn snapped his huge body around, dark green eyes going wide with surprise.
He released the whip.
“Elena,” he said thickly.
“How could you?!” I wailed. My body slammed into his. I knocked him over onto his back. I leapt atop of him and punched him in the face. My fist was a haze of insanity as it pummelled his cracked up porcelain skin.
I wanted to smash his beautiful face in.
“What?” Astonished, his huge hands flashed to grip my wrists, stopping their violent trajectory. He pinned them to the cool grass as he rolled us over. I was trapped beneath him, held firm between his muscular thighs as he straddled me. His breath fell like warm silk over my neck.
“No!” I protested and brought my knee up. It struck his repulsive huge ball sac.
He grunted, one hand falling from my wrist to flash protectively over his groin.
I flipped, writhed frantically and got free from beneath him.
“I fucking hate you!” I screamed and crawled away from him.
“Elena!” he growled.
His huge arms wound around my waist as he slammed me onto my stomach. My flushed cheek cracked against the ground. He covered my body with the insane heat and press of his. “What the hell has gotten into you?”
I scrunched my eyes shut against the sensual assault of that body.
The coolness of the nipple ring digging into my shoulder blade.
How deliciously firm, taut and well cut his muscles were as they pressed urgently through the thin black material of my dress onto my skin.
His enormous cock stirred against my trembling ass.
His lips as they nipped my ear, were a hot devastating caress.
“Please?” he implored, on a broken cry. “I thought you would be happy. Did you get my message?”
I could barely process what he was saying.
