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“You have no choice.”
Rainer steps forward, his fist balling at his side. “The hells she doesn’t—”
“‘The Ioworths always pay their debts,’” Eoin says mockingly. “Isn’t that what you said to me? Well, consider this your debt paid. I am taking the girl.”
Fury burns bright in Rainer’s face. He squeezes his eyes shut for a moment.
“Rainer, you can’t let him—”
“I don’t have a choice.” His lips flatten, his voice monotone.
“What?” My heart drops. Did he just use me as a pawn to pay some stupid debt? “You can’t be serious, Rainer.”
“You need to go anyways, Alessia. You aren’t safe here.”
He’s doing the same thing he did the night I kissed him—pushing me away because he thinks it’ll protect me. It’s only a facade.
The heartless Prince of Fear does have a heart, even if he hides it.
I grit my teeth. “No.”
Rainer sighs, his eyes penetrating me to the core when they finally swing my way. “It’s only a matter of time before you end up like Felix.” His words are cold, callous, his jaw tight.
Cruel Rainer is back.
And I’ll be damned if it doesn’t take my breath away in the worst way.
“You’re wrong, Rainer. I’m perfectly safe here.” But I need him to admit it. Need to hear him say it. Maybe then I can lie to myself.
Because seeing Felix’s body laid out on Rainer’s floor is all too sobering. It’s a reminder of how dangerous it is here.
How deadly Rainer and his kind are.
That I’m only human.
A fresh wave of tears threaten to fall, and I bite my lip.
“Tell me he’s wrong, Rainer,” I whisper. “Stop pushing me away.”
He narrows his eyes. “You think you’re an exception? That I won’t want a taste of your blood eventually?” His tongue darts out and wets his lip as he looks me over, head to toe predatorily.
“Stop, Rainer,” I whisper. “This isn’t you.”
He gives me a sad smile. “Isn’t it, though? If you stay here, this is your fate.” He gestures to Felix’s body. “It’s in my nature.”
“No! You are not a bloodthirsty savage, Rai. You are in control. You know your triggers. You’re aware of your limits. I trust you. Why can’t you trust yourself?”
“I’ve done it before. I’ll do it again.” His eyes flicker dark before settling on their normal pale blue.
I shake my head. “You’re not the same little boy as you were then. You’ve grown. You’re stronger. You would never do this.” I gesture toward Felix’s body.
“You’re wrong.”
I step forward, pounding my fists into his solid chest. He grabs my wrists as tears stream down my cheeks. For a fraction of a second, he softens, but I see the moment his mask slips back into place.
“Use me instead of Fern,” I say. “Take what you need from me instead. I can handle it.”
“I can’t.”
